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John Murray, born in South Shields, caught a chill on the way to ride at Castle Irwell races at Salford and, after a fortnight's struggle, died at 12.30 on the morning of Tuesday 4 December 1906 at the Grosvenor Hotel, Manchester. He had recently celebrated his 21st birthday. Aged 14, he began his apprenticeship with Robert Armstrong, the Penrith trainer, before completing it at the Middleton Tyas stables of Captain Scott in Yorkshire.
John Murray, born in South Shields, caught a chill on the way to ride at Castle Irwell races at Salford and, after a fortnight's struggle, died at 12.30 on the morning of Tuesday 4 December 1906 at the Grosvenor Hotel, Manchester. He had recently celebrated his 21st birthday. Aged 14, he began his apprenticeship with Robert Armstrong, the Penrith trainer, before completing it at the Middleton Tyas stables of Captain Scott in Yorkshire.
Fellow apprentice Alfred Sharples travelled down from Penrith to Manchester to accompany John's body back to South Shields.
Fellow apprentice Alfred Sharples travelled down from Penrith to Manchester to accompany John's body back to South Shields.
He was buried at two-thirty at Harton Cemetery, South Shields, on December 7 after the cortège had left his grandmother's house at 141, Eglesford Road. Many jockeys and stable lads attended the funeral.
He was buried at two-thirty at Harton Cemetery, South Shields, on December 7 after the cortège had left his grandmother's house at 141, Eglesford Road. Many jockeys and stable lads attended the funeral.
John had his first mount on Dodridge at the 1902 Hamilton Park Spring Meeting, and rode his first winner, Turin, in the Renfrewshire Handicap at Paisley in the August of that year, beating Scotch Cream by a head. He gained and deserved much praise for his handling of the strong-willed Syncros when winning the City Handicap at Ripon; he also won the Doncaster Spring Handicap on the Royal Hunt Cup winner, Kunstler. John again excelled when getting Kersage home by a head from O'Donovan Rossa in the Stewards' Plate at the Liverpool Autumn Meeting.
John had his first mount on Dodridge at the 1902 Hamilton Park Spring Meeting, and rode his first winner, Turin, in the Renfrewshire Handicap at Paisley in the August of that year, beating Scotch Cream by a head. He gained and deserved much praise for his handling of the strong-willed Syncros when winning the City Handicap at Ripon; he also won the Doncaster Spring Handicap on the Royal Hunt Cup winner, Kunstler. John again excelled when getting Kersage home by a head from O'Donovan Rossa in the Stewards' Plate at the Liverpool Autumn Meeting.
John had ridden a total of 87 winners. In 1906 he had ridden 16 winners from 204 mounts before his untimely death.
John had ridden a total of 87 winners. In 1906 he had ridden 16 winners from 204 mounts before his untimely death.
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