Jimmy Mumford
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Jimmy Mumford was a National Hunt jockey from the late 1940s to the early 1960s, beginning as an amateur but soon turning professional. During the 50s he rode for Edward Courage and partnered his good mares Tiberetta and Tiberina to success on several occasions.
Jimmy Mumford was a National Hunt jockey from the late 1940s to the early 1960s, beginning as an amateur but soon turning professional. During the 50s he rode for Edward Courage and partnered his good mares Tiberetta and Tiberina to success on several occasions.
Born in Brackley, Northamptonshire, on February 2, 1928, Edward Frank Mumford, universally known as Jimmy, was the son of George Mumford, a butcher by trade who also owned and trained a few horses. Jimmy was only 12 years old when he first rode in a race, finishing sixth on his father's River Fox in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 29, 1941.
Born in Brackley, Northamptonshire, on February 2, 1928, Edward Frank Mumford, universally known as Jimmy, was the son of George Mumford, a butcher by trade who also owned and trained a few horses. Jimmy was only 12 years old when he first rode in a race, finishing sixth on his father's River Fox in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 29, 1941.
One of those horses trained by his father was Warnborough Lad, who gave Jimmy the first two winners of his career at the annual Cartmel Whitsun fixture in 1947. Having ridden him to a 20/1 shock victory in the Cavendish Hurdle on Saturday, May 24, 1947, Jimmy won the Cartmel Town Hurdle on the bank holiday Monday, this time at more respectable odds of 5/2.
One of those horses trained by his father was Warnborough Lad, who gave Jimmy the first two winners of his career at the annual Cartmel Whitsun fixture in 1947. Having ridden him to a 20/1 shock victory in the Cavendish Hurdle on Saturday, May 24, 1947, Jimmy won the Cartmel Town Hurdle on the bank holiday Monday, this time at more respectable odds of 5/2.
That Cartmel double did not exactly spark a rush of winners, for there were only two over the span of the next three seasons. However, he began to make progress when registering four successes in the 1951/52 campaign, including two on his father’s novice hurdler Middle Park at Southwell in April and Towcester in May, plus one over fences on Dorothy Paget’s Kellsboro’ Lad, for trainer Fulke Walwyn.
That Cartmel double did not exactly spark a rush of winners, for there were only two over the span of the next three seasons. However, he began to make progress when registering four successes in the 1951/52 campaign, including two on his father’s novice hurdler Middle Park at Southwell in April and Towcester in May, plus one over fences on Dorothy Paget’s Kellsboro’ Lad, for trainer Fulke Walwyn.
But the real breakthrough came towards the end of 1953 when winning novice chases on full sisters Tiberetta and Tiberina. These were the first of many races Jimmy would win in Edward Courage’s famous maroon and yellow halved colours. By Tiberius out of Drumrora, Tiberina (foaled in 1947) and Tiberetta (foaled in 1948) would go on to form the backbone of Courage’s racing and breeding operation, producing between them the likes of Spanish Steps, Tamoretta, Trajan, Quintus, Lictor, San Angelo, Lira, Neapolitan Lou and Saccone.
But the real breakthrough came towards the end of 1953 when winning novice chases on full sisters Tiberetta and Tiberina. These were the first of many races Jimmy would win in Edward Courage’s famous maroon and yellow halved colours. By Tiberius out of Drumrora, Tiberina (foaled in 1947) and Tiberetta (foaled in 1948) would go on to form the backbone of Courage’s racing and breeding operation, producing between them the likes of Spanish Steps, Tamoretta, Trajan, Quintus, Lictor, San Angelo, Lira, Neapolitan Lou and Saccone.
Jimmy won three races on both mares in that 1953/54 season. He won three more on Tiberetta the following season and also won on another Courage-trained horse, novice hurdler Acceleration, at Wincanton. Other trainers to provide him with winners that season included Arthur Jones, for whom he won a Uttoxeter novice hurdle on future Champion Hurdler Merry Deal, and George Owen, who supplied Jimmy with a high profile victory on Tout a L’Heure in Haydock’s Tom Coulthwaite Chase on January 8, 1955.
Jimmy won three races on both mares in that 1953/54 season. He won three more on Tiberetta the following season and also won on another Courage-trained horse, novice hurdler Acceleration, at Wincanton. Other trainers to provide him with winners that season included Arthur Jones, for whom he won a Uttoxeter novice hurdle on future Champion Hurdler Merry Deal, and George Owen, who supplied Jimmy with a high profile victory on Tout a L’Heure in Haydock’s Tom Coulthwaite Chase on January 8, 1955.
Numerically, the 1955/56 campaign was Jimmy’s most successful with 13 winners. Although Tiberetta failed to score that season, he nonetheless enjoyed plenty of success, including four wins on Edward Courage’s chaser Tetranard at Market Rasen, Huntingdon, Market Rasen and Towcester; four on Noel Furlong’s chaser Russet, including the first leg of a Hereford double on November 5, completed by Ronnie Horton’s Hippogram; and another Uttoxeter victory on Merry Deal.
Numerically, the 1955/56 campaign was Jimmy’s most successful with 13 winners. Although Tiberetta failed to score that season, he nonetheless enjoyed plenty of success, including four wins on Edward Courage’s chaser Tetranard at Market Rasen, Huntingdon, Market Rasen and Towcester; four on Noel Furlong’s chaser Russet, including the first leg of a Hereford double on November 5, completed by Ronnie Horton’s Hippogram; and another Uttoxeter victory on Merry Deal.
On December 6, 1956, Jimmy rode Tiberetta to win the Christmas Dinner Handicap Chase over Liverpool’s Mildmay course, which in those days comprised smaller versions of the Grand National fences. He won twice more on Russet that season and also won twice on Tetranard, including the Charles Vicary Memorial Saddle Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on May 18, 1957. He was led up that day by John Buckingham, who was then just starting out on a career in which he would gain immortality as the rider of 1967 Grand National winner Foinavon.
On December 6, 1956, Jimmy rode Tiberetta to win the Christmas Dinner Handicap Chase over Liverpool’s Mildmay course, which in those days comprised smaller versions of the Grand National fences. He won twice more on Russet that season and also won twice on Tetranard, including the Charles Vicary Memorial Saddle Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on May 18, 1957. He was led up that day by John Buckingham, who was then just starting out on a career in which he would gain immortality as the rider of 1967 Grand National winner Foinavon.
But as John Buckingham’s career had yet to get going, Jimmy’s was nearing its end. He rode just two winners during the 1957/58 campaign, including one on Russet at Stratford in October. He had just one the next season, his final winner – the 53rd of his career – on a horse named The Mall in the Hatton Handicap Chase at Warwick on November 11, 1958.
But as John Buckingham’s career had yet to get going, Jimmy’s was nearing its end. He rode just two winners during the 1957/58 campaign, including one on Russet at Stratford in October. He had just one the next season, his final winner – the 53rd of his career – on a horse named The Mall in the Hatton Handicap Chase at Warwick on November 11, 1958.
He continued riding for a couple more seasons before relinquishing his licence. The closest he came to riding another winner was when finishing second on Domain at Towcester on Easter Monday 1961, beaten a length by Derek Ancil on Wayward Muse.
He continued riding for a couple more seasons before relinquishing his licence. The closest he came to riding another winner was when finishing second on Domain at Towcester on Easter Monday 1961, beaten a length by Derek Ancil on Wayward Muse.
Jimmy Mumford’s seven wins on Tiberetta were:
Jimmy Mumford’s seven wins on Tiberetta were:
Southwell, Fosse Chase, November 26, 1953
Southwell, Fosse Chase, November 26, 1953
Market Rasen, Lynwood Novices’ Chase, December 26, 1953
Market Rasen, Lynwood Novices’ Chase, December 26, 1953
Newbury, Lambourn Chase, January 1, 1954
Newbury, Lambourn Chase, January 1, 1954
Uttoxeter, Foston Chase, September 24, 1954
Uttoxeter, Foston Chase, September 24, 1954
Towcester, Adstone Chase, November 13, 1954
Towcester, Adstone Chase, November 13, 1954
Wincanton, Corbet Handicap Chase, March 17, 1955
Wincanton, Corbet Handicap Chase, March 17, 1955
Liverpool, Christmas Dinner Handicap Chase, December 6, 1956
Liverpool, Christmas Dinner Handicap Chase, December 6, 1956
Jimmy’s three wins on Tiberina were:
Jimmy’s three wins on Tiberina were:
Wolverhampton, Wednesfield Novices’ Chase, December 28, 1953
Wolverhampton, Wednesfield Novices’ Chase, December 28, 1953
Leicester, Novices’ Chase, January 4, 1954
Leicester, Novices’ Chase, January 4, 1954
Southwell, Kimbolton Handicap Chase, April 17, 1954
Southwell, Kimbolton Handicap Chase, April 17, 1954
