Jimmy Millar
National Hunt jockey James (Jimmy) Millar rode a total of 34 winners over jumps – eight of them at Manchester – during the 1930s. They included no less than five doubles.
National Hunt jockey James (Jimmy) Millar rode a total of 34 winners over jumps – eight of them at Manchester – during the 1930s. They included no less than five doubles.
Jimmy recorded his first win on 5-2 favourite Reckless Girl in the Tasley Chase at Bridgnorth on 21 April 1931. He won one more race that season, aboard 10-1 chance Eagle’s Corrie in the Donnington Handicap Hurdle at Woore on 14 May.
Jimmy recorded his first win on 5-2 favourite Reckless Girl in the Tasley Chase at Bridgnorth on 21 April 1931. He won one more race that season, aboard 10-1 chance Eagle’s Corrie in the Donnington Handicap Hurdle at Woore on 14 May.
He rode five winners during the 1931/32 season, including a double at the corresponding fixture at Woore on 12 May, winning the Woore Chase on Nobile and collecting a second successive Donnington Handicap Hurdle on Eagle’s Corrie, The same month he rode Eagle’s Corrie to win the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap Hurdle at Wenlock.
He rode five winners during the 1931/32 season, including a double at the corresponding fixture at Woore on 12 May, winning the Woore Chase on Nobile and collecting a second successive Donnington Handicap Hurdle on Eagle’s Corrie, The same month he rode Eagle’s Corrie to win the Licensed Victuallers’ Handicap Hurdle at Wenlock.
Jimmy again rode five winners in the 1932/33 campaign, including a winner on both days of Manchester’s New Year meeting: Cinnamon Diamond in the New Year Selling Handicap Chase and Daggerdale in the Novices’ Chase.
Jimmy again rode five winners in the 1932/33 campaign, including a winner on both days of Manchester’s New Year meeting: Cinnamon Diamond in the New Year Selling Handicap Chase and Daggerdale in the Novices’ Chase.
He recorded a score of six for the 1933/34 season and then enjoyed a career-best campaign in 1934/35 with a tally of 15. He got off to a good start with a Ludlow double on 27 September, initiated by an eventful Juvenile Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle on Kentucky Kid, who, along with his sole rival, odds-on favourite North Star, was remounted after falling. He completed the double in less eventful circumstances on Done Again in the Novices’ Chase.
He recorded a score of six for the 1933/34 season and then enjoyed a career-best campaign in 1934/35 with a tally of 15. He got off to a good start with a Ludlow double on 27 September, initiated by an eventful Juvenile Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle on Kentucky Kid, who, along with his sole rival, odds-on favourite North Star, was remounted after falling. He completed the double in less eventful circumstances on Done Again in the Novices’ Chase.
Manchester’s two-day New Year meeting was again a source of winners, winning a selling chase aboard Half And Half on New Year’s Day, then registering a second-day double on Quagmire in the Peel Park Selling Hurdle and Done Again in the Canal Handicap Chase. Five days later, Jimmy rode Done Again to a follow-up success in the Wistow Handicap Chase at Leicester.
Manchester’s two-day New Year meeting was again a source of winners, winning a selling chase aboard Half And Half on New Year’s Day, then registering a second-day double on Quagmire in the Peel Park Selling Hurdle and Done Again in the Canal Handicap Chase. Five days later, Jimmy rode Done Again to a follow-up success in the Wistow Handicap Chase at Leicester.
The winners continued to flow steadily, including another Manchester success on Daggerdale in February. An Easter Monday win on Done Again in the Dauntsey Handicap Chase at Manchester was followed by a double at Tarporley on 10 April, landing the Beeston Castle Chase on Cubicle and the Open Handicap Chase on Daggerdale.
The winners continued to flow steadily, including another Manchester success on Daggerdale in February. An Easter Monday win on Done Again in the Dauntsey Handicap Chase at Manchester was followed by a double at Tarporley on 10 April, landing the Beeston Castle Chase on Cubicle and the Open Handicap Chase on Daggerdale.
Jimmy completed his fourth double of the season – and fifth in all – at Wenlock on 10 May 1935, winning a handicap hurdle on Black Pointer and a selling chase on Nobile. Daggerdale provided him with another victory that month when annexing the Leslie Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Oswestry & Llanymynech.
Jimmy completed his fourth double of the season – and fifth in all – at Wenlock on 10 May 1935, winning a handicap hurdle on Black Pointer and a selling chase on Nobile. Daggerdale provided him with another victory that month when annexing the Leslie Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Oswestry & Llanymynech.
Surprisingly, following his banner year, it was 12 months before Jimmy rode another winner. That came at Oswestry & Llanymynech’s corresponding fixture on 2 May 1936, when he drove 5-1 chance Dahomey to a neck victory in the Bromley Selling Handicap Hurdle. That would prove to be his final success. It may well be that injury intervened somewhere along the way, as his career effectively ended just when he was really getting going.
Surprisingly, following his banner year, it was 12 months before Jimmy rode another winner. That came at Oswestry & Llanymynech’s corresponding fixture on 2 May 1936, when he drove 5-1 chance Dahomey to a neck victory in the Bromley Selling Handicap Hurdle. That would prove to be his final success. It may well be that injury intervened somewhere along the way, as his career effectively ended just when he was really getting going.
Jimmy Millar rode for the final time when finishing unplaced on a horse called Sandon in the Linton Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby on 27 December 1941.
Jimmy Millar rode for the final time when finishing unplaced on a horse called Sandon in the Linton Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby on 27 December 1941.
