Jan Muusse

Article by Alan Trout

Jan Muusse was a South African jockey who made a promising start to his career in Britain with four wins in 1911. There were two more in 1912 but none in 1913.

He had his first ride in Britain at Newbury on April 7, 1911, when he partnered Highflight, who finished unplaced after being slowly away in the Juvenile Selling Plate. It was not until May 26 at Lingfield park that he achieved his first victory on British soil when Better Still, trained by Atty Persse, won the Village Handicap by three lengths. Persse also supplied Jan with his three other wins that year.

Jan rode just two winners in 1912, both of them in July. After winning on Princess Sterling at Nottingham, he won Goodwood’s Findon Stakes aboard Grignouse on the final day of the month. That proved to be the last of Jan’s six wins in England, all of them trained by Atty Persse.

He only had a few rides at the tail end of the 1913 season. On the first day of the 1914 campaign, March 23, he finished second on Earldom in the Hainton Plate at Lincoln, a race won by Elijah Wheatley on Asparagus. That proved to be Jan’s final ride in Britain. He presumably then returned to South Africa to continue his career and was seen no more on an English racecourse.

Jan Muusse’s British wins were, in chronological order:

1. Better Still, Lingfield Park, May 26, 1911

2. Lady Americus, Kempton Park, June 3, 1911

3. American Speed, Kempton Park, August 8, 1911

4. Bachelor’s Hope, Derby, September 6, 1911

5. Princess Sterling, Nottingham, July 9, 1912

6. Grignouse, Goodwood, July 31, 1912