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Reg Mansbridge’s first winner was achieved by way of a walkover on Rockspring for the River Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on January 12, 1955. Rockspring was trained by Bill Marshall and was often ridden by Basil Foster.
Reg Mansbridge’s first winner was achieved by way of a walkover on Rockspring for the River Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on January 12, 1955. Rockspring was trained by Bill Marshall and was often ridden by Basil Foster.
It was Foster who, having by then embarked on a training career, based at Enfield, in Middlesex, sent out the nine-year-old Rockspring to win the Woodlands Selling Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on December 6, 1955, giving Reg his second winner, this time by beating eleven opponents.
It was Foster who, having by then embarked on a training career, based at Enfield, in Middlesex, sent out the nine-year-old Rockspring to win the Woodlands Selling Handicap Hurdle at Nottingham on December 6, 1955, giving Reg his second winner, this time by beating eleven opponents.
To prove this was no fluke, just 24 days later Rockspring and Reg landed the Yatesbury Selling Hurdle at Newbury by three lengths with leading jockeys Bryan Marshall and Dick Francis among their beaten rivals.
To prove this was no fluke, just 24 days later Rockspring and Reg landed the Yatesbury Selling Hurdle at Newbury by three lengths with leading jockeys Bryan Marshall and Dick Francis among their beaten rivals.
On Tuesday, April 3, the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting, Reg rode the Basil Foster-trained Siren Light to win the Mathern Long Distance Handicap Hurdle, the fourth winner of his career. It was to be his last.
On Tuesday, April 3, the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting, Reg rode the Basil Foster-trained Siren Light to win the Mathern Long Distance Handicap Hurdle, the fourth winner of his career. It was to be his last.
At Cheltenham just eight days later, Wednesday, April 11, 1956, Reginald Frederick Charles Mansbridge, aged 18, climbed aboard Siren Light in an attempt to follow up that Chepstow success in the BBC-televised Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.
At Cheltenham just eight days later, Wednesday, April 11, 1956, Reginald Frederick Charles Mansbridge, aged 18, climbed aboard Siren Light in an attempt to follow up that Chepstow success in the BBC-televised Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle.
When Reg told his mother that he would be riding Siren light in a race on television, she was thrilled and could not wait to see him in action.
When Reg told his mother that he would be riding Siren light in a race on television, she was thrilled and could not wait to see him in action.
The ground that day was officially given as ‘firm’, but it was actually rock hard, with jockeys and trainers saying that the surface had not recovered from its pounding through the season. Two intended runners, Pointsman and Spartleton, were sent home without being saddled.
The ground that day was officially given as ‘firm’, but it was actually rock hard, with jockeys and trainers saying that the surface had not recovered from its pounding through the season. Two intended runners, Pointsman and Spartleton, were sent home without being saddled.
Three flights from home, the leader, Mandavee, ridden by Arthur Freeman, took a fatal fall, bringing down Bert Morrow’s mount Galloway Hills. Siren Light, just behind them, jumped into the fallen horses and was also brought down. Reg received a kick in the back of the head.
Three flights from home, the leader, Mandavee, ridden by Arthur Freeman, took a fatal fall, bringing down Bert Morrow’s mount Galloway Hills. Siren Light, just behind them, jumped into the fallen horses and was also brought down. Reg received a kick in the back of the head.
The TV cameras swept on with the rest of the runners and showed Colonel Bagwash winning the race. Viewers did not see young Reg lying motionless where he had fallen.
The TV cameras swept on with the rest of the runners and showed Colonel Bagwash winning the race. Viewers did not see young Reg lying motionless where he had fallen.
Watching from her home in Tangmere, Sussex, Reg’s mother had been cheering Siren Light on. The horse looked well placed. Then she saw the fall. At first, she thought she saw her son get to his feet, so she was not overly dismayed.
Watching from her home in Tangmere, Sussex, Reg’s mother had been cheering Siren Light on. The horse looked well placed. Then she saw the fall. At first, she thought she saw her son get to his feet, so she was not overly dismayed.
However, Reg had been knocked unconscious. He was rushed to hospital but was dead on arrival. A fractured skull was diagnosed as the cause of death.
However, Reg had been knocked unconscious. He was rushed to hospital but was dead on arrival. A fractured skull was diagnosed as the cause of death.
When the news came that Reg had died on the way to hospital, Mrs Mansbridge was left shocked and devastated at the loss of her son.
When the news came that Reg had died on the way to hospital, Mrs Mansbridge was left shocked and devastated at the loss of her son.
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