John Moulton
John Moulton
John Moulton
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born around 1918, John Moulton rode a dozen winners over jumps during a career that was disrupted by World War II.
Born around 1918, John Moulton rode a dozen winners over jumps during a career that was disrupted by World War II.
It had begun at Kempton Park on December 1, 1934 when Toroku completed the course seventh of eight finishers in the Richmond Chase won by Fred Rimell on Armagnac. John had to wait nearly three years, until the meeting at Taunton on September 30, 1937, for his first victory, when Thanos, trained by Tommy Rayson, was a comfortable winner of the Corfe Selling Handicap Chase, beating Great Lad, the mount of Tommy McNeill, by ten lengths, despite conceding 26lb to the runner-up.
It had begun at Kempton Park on December 1, 1934 when Toroku completed the course seventh of eight finishers in the Richmond Chase won by Fred Rimell on Armagnac. John had to wait nearly three years, until the meeting at Taunton on September 30, 1937, for his first victory, when Thanos, trained by Tommy Rayson, was a comfortable winner of the Corfe Selling Handicap Chase, beating Great Lad, the mount of Tommy McNeill, by ten lengths, despite conceding 26lb to the runner-up.
He added two more wins before the season ended, then registered six in the 1938/39 campaign. He struck up a useful partnership with Grand National-winning jockey Tim Hamey who was just starting out on his training career.
He added two more wins before the season ended, then registered six in the 1938/39 campaign. He struck up a useful partnership with Grand National-winning jockey Tim Hamey who was just starting out on his training career.
John rode only three more winners, two of them when racing resumed after the war, the last being Panda, who won the Bridge Handicap Hurdle at Catterick Bridge on November 9, 1945. He rode for the final time seven days later when Chatmo was a faller in the Morton Novices’ Chase at Southwell.
John rode only three more winners, two of them when racing resumed after the war, the last being Panda, who won the Bridge Handicap Hurdle at Catterick Bridge on November 9, 1945. He rode for the final time seven days later when Chatmo was a faller in the Morton Novices’ Chase at Southwell.
He then trained for a few years under both codes, based initially at Doncaster, then at Wetherby, but relinquished his licence in the early 1950s.
He then trained for a few years under both codes, based initially at Doncaster, then at Wetherby, but relinquished his licence in the early 1950s.
John Moulton’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Moulton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Thanos, Taunton, September 30, 1937
1. Thanos, Taunton, September 30, 1937
2. Corn Law, Gatwick, January 8, 1938
2. Corn Law, Gatwick, January 8, 1938
3. Gypsy II, Fontwell Park, June 6, 1938
3. Gypsy II, Fontwell Park, June 6, 1938
4. Gypsy II, Newton Abbot, August 1, 1938
4. Gypsy II, Newton Abbot, August 1, 1938
5. Le Bizco, Derby, February 9, 1939
5. Le Bizco, Derby, February 9, 1939
6. Free Choice, Hawthorn Hill, April 4, 1939
6. Free Choice, Hawthorn Hill, April 4, 1939
7. Citizen, Manchester, April 8, 1939
7. Citizen, Manchester, April 8, 1939
8. Orderly, Uttoxeter, May 8, 1939
8. Orderly, Uttoxeter, May 8, 1939
9. Le Bizco, Towcester, May 29, 1939
9. Le Bizco, Towcester, May 29, 1939
10. Lisic, Windsor, December 26, 1939
10. Lisic, Windsor, December 26, 1939
11. School For Botany, Wetherby, March 17, 1945
11. School For Botany, Wetherby, March 17, 1945
12. Panda, Catterick Bridge, November 9, 1945
12. Panda, Catterick Bridge, November 9, 1945
John's final winner, Panda, came at Catterick