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Worcester, October 1970. Terry Biddlecombe leads the way on Smokey Princess. Immediately behind him are Billijac (Bob Davies) and the grey Trickle-Charged (Reg Major).
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
West Midlands jump jockey Reg Major held a licence from 1958 to1974 and rode a total of 29 winners during that time.
West Midlands jump jockey Reg Major held a licence from 1958 to1974 and rode a total of 29 winners during that time.
Reginald Frank Major spent his entire career as stable jockey for Frank Mann, who trained at Bishops Itchington, near Leamington. He rode his first winner on Mann’s selling hurdler Wonrood, a 10/1 shot, at Warwick on February 27, 1960. His only other winner that season was when dead-heating on another of Mann’s selling hurdlers, Rash Decision, at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday.
Reginald Frank Major spent his entire career as stable jockey for Frank Mann, who trained at Bishops Itchington, near Leamington. He rode his first winner on Mann’s selling hurdler Wonrood, a 10/1 shot, at Warwick on February 27, 1960. His only other winner that season was when dead-heating on another of Mann’s selling hurdlers, Rash Decision, at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday.
Rash Decision also provided Reg with his sole success the following season, at Stratford in October 1960, and with his only two winners the next, scoring at Uttoxeter on Easter Monday and Whit Monday 1962. Uttoxeter was also the venue for two of Reg’s three winners in 1962/63, which included one on Shane for Frank Mann’s cousin Wilmer Mann. His next two wins were both at Newton Abbot, a novice riders’ race in May 1963 on Jomarbet, and a handicap hurdle on Leyland Jessica on Easter Monday 1964.
Rash Decision also provided Reg with his sole success the following season, at Stratford in October 1960, and with his only two winners the next, scoring at Uttoxeter on Easter Monday and Whit Monday 1962. Uttoxeter was also the venue for two of Reg’s three winners in 1962/63, which included one on Shane for Frank Mann’s cousin Wilmer Mann. His next two wins were both at Newton Abbot, a novice riders’ race in May 1963 on Jomarbet, and a handicap hurdle on Leyland Jessica on Easter Monday 1964.
It was Easter 1965 before he rode another winner, Shane at Southwell, losing his 7lb claim in the process. But then he won on Leyland Jessica at Bangor the next week, and rode another winner ten days later. Leyland Jessica was his only winner of 1965/66 when landing division two of the Landon Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Hereford. Westmoreland Jane at Taunton was his sole success of 1966/67.
It was Easter 1965 before he rode another winner, Shane at Southwell, losing his 7lb claim in the process. But then he won on Leyland Jessica at Bangor the next week, and rode another winner ten days later. Leyland Jessica was his only winner of 1965/66 when landing division two of the Landon Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Hereford. Westmoreland Jane at Taunton was his sole success of 1966/67.
Nearing the end of the 1967/68 campaign Reg had again ridden just one winner, but then he achieved his first two wins over fences on Frank Mann’s novice chaser Lucky Too, and won two selling hurdles within four days in June on Owen Davis and Ginger Miss, giving him a score of five for the season.
Nearing the end of the 1967/68 campaign Reg had again ridden just one winner, but then he achieved his first two wins over fences on Frank Mann’s novice chaser Lucky Too, and won two selling hurdles within four days in June on Owen Davis and Ginger Miss, giving him a score of five for the season.
Selling hurdler Rocky Dart then proved Reg’s salvation, supplying both his wins in 1968/69, his sole victory of 1969/70, and the first of his two in 1970/71, the second being the grey selling hurdler Trickle-Charged at Worcester at the end of December 1970.
Selling hurdler Rocky Dart then proved Reg’s salvation, supplying both his wins in 1968/69, his sole victory of 1969/70, and the first of his two in 1970/71, the second being the grey selling hurdler Trickle-Charged at Worcester at the end of December 1970.
Reg equalled his best score with five more winners in 1971/72, beginning with a pair of novice hurdles on John Spearing’s mare Glendale. They were followed by chase wins on Frank Mann’s pair Heather Mary at Southwell in January and Whaddon Green at Leicester in February. Then John Spearing’s juvenile selling hurdler Autumn Leaves obliged at Southwell on Thursday, March 30, 1972. That turned out to be Reg’s last winner.
Reg equalled his best score with five more winners in 1971/72, beginning with a pair of novice hurdles on John Spearing’s mare Glendale. They were followed by chase wins on Frank Mann’s pair Heather Mary at Southwell in January and Whaddon Green at Leicester in February. Then John Spearing’s juvenile selling hurdler Autumn Leaves obliged at Southwell on Thursday, March 30, 1972. That turned out to be Reg’s last winner.
He rode on for two more seasons and had his final ride on Frank Mann’s selling hurdler National Member at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday, May 27, 1974, pulling up two out when in arrears. When Mann relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of that season, Reg took his cue to hang up his riding boots.
He rode on for two more seasons and had his final ride on Frank Mann’s selling hurdler National Member at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday, May 27, 1974, pulling up two out when in arrears. When Mann relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of that season, Reg took his cue to hang up his riding boots.
In retirement, built up a thriving business as a plasterer, based in Northampton.
In retirement, built up a thriving business as a plasterer, based in Northampton.
Reg Major’s winners were, in chronological order:
Reg Major’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Wonrood, Warwick, February 27, 1960
1. Wonrood, Warwick, February 27, 1960
2. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, June 6, 1960 (dead-heat)
2. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, June 6, 1960 (dead-heat)
3. Rash Decision, Stratford-on-Avon, October 20, 1960
3. Rash Decision, Stratford-on-Avon, October 20, 1960
4. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, April 23, 1962
4. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, April 23, 1962
5. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, June 11, 1962
5. Rash Decision, Uttoxeter, June 11, 1962
6. Westroc Lady, Uttoxeter, October 6, 1962
6. Westroc Lady, Uttoxeter, October 6, 1962
7. Shane, Uttoxeter, March 23, 1963
7. Shane, Uttoxeter, March 23, 1963
8. Jomarbet, Newton Abbot, May 24, 1963
8. Jomarbet, Newton Abbot, May 24, 1963
9. Leyland Jessica, Newton Abbot, March 30, 1964
9. Leyland Jessica, Newton Abbot, March 30, 1964
10. Shane, Southwell, April 15, 1965
10. Shane, Southwell, April 15, 1965
11. Leyland Jessica, Bangor-on-Dee, April 23, 1965
11. Leyland Jessica, Bangor-on-Dee, April 23, 1965
12. Mariquita, Southwell, May 3, 1965
12. Mariquita, Southwell, May 3, 1965
13. Leyland Jessica, Hereford, March 13, 1966
13. Leyland Jessica, Hereford, March 13, 1966
14. Westmoreland Jane, Taunton, February 11, 1967
14. Westmoreland Jane, Taunton, February 11, 1967
15. Owen Davis, Market Rasen, September 23, 1967
15. Owen Davis, Market Rasen, September 23, 1967
16. Lucky Too, Worcester, May 2, 1968
16. Lucky Too, Worcester, May 2, 1968
17. Lucky Too, Wye, May 13, 1968
17. Lucky Too, Wye, May 13, 1968
18. Owen Davis, Stratford-on-Avon, June 8, 1968
18. Owen Davis, Stratford-on-Avon, June 8, 1968
19. Ginger Miss, Worcester, June 12, 1968
19. Ginger Miss, Worcester, June 12, 1968
20. Rocky Dart, Warwick, September 21, 1968
20. Rocky Dart, Warwick, September 21, 1968
21. Rocky Dart, Worcester, May 17, 1969
21. Rocky Dart, Worcester, May 17, 1969
22. Rocky Dart, Towcester, May 25, 1970
22. Rocky Dart, Towcester, May 25, 1970
23. Rocky Dart, Wolverhampton, November 28, 1970
23. Rocky Dart, Wolverhampton, November 28, 1970
24. Trickle-Charged, Warwick, December 29, 1970
24. Trickle-Charged, Warwick, December 29, 1970
25. Glendale, Haydock Park, December 1, 1971
25. Glendale, Haydock Park, December 1, 1971
26. Glendale, Stratford-on-Avon, December 30, 1971
26. Glendale, Stratford-on-Avon, December 30, 1971
27. Heather Mary, Southwell, January 14, 1972
27. Heather Mary, Southwell, January 14, 1972
28. Whadden Green, Leicester, February 8, 1972
28. Whadden Green, Leicester, February 8, 1972
29. Autumn Leaves, Southwell, Southwell, March 30, 1972
29. Autumn Leaves, Southwell, Southwell, March 30, 1972
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