Robert Mason
1912-1995
1912-1995
Born in 1912, National Hunt jockey Robert Mason rode a total of 27 winners over jumps during the 1930s.
Born in 1912, National Hunt jockey Robert Mason rode a total of 27 winners over jumps during the 1930s.
He had his first ride at Chepstow on 4 April 1930, finishing fourth of nine runners on Cailin Dubh in the Ross Selling Hurdle. He rode his first winner on 6-1 chance Coole in the Cowbridge Selling Handicap Hurdle at Glamorgan Hunt (Cowbridge) on 7 May 1931.
He had his first ride at Chepstow on 4 April 1930, finishing fourth of nine runners on Cailin Dubh in the Ross Selling Hurdle. He rode his first winner on 6-1 chance Coole in the Cowbridge Selling Handicap Hurdle at Glamorgan Hunt (Cowbridge) on 7 May 1931.
He rode four winners during the 1931/32 campaign, then had his most successful season in 1932/33 with a score of ten. They included four wins within a six-week period on a five-year-old black gelding named Vivacious, landing novice chases at Ludlow, Nottingham and Manchester in October and Cheltenham in November.
He rode four winners during the 1931/32 campaign, then had his most successful season in 1932/33 with a score of ten. They included four wins within a six-week period on a five-year-old black gelding named Vivacious, landing novice chases at Ludlow, Nottingham and Manchester in October and Cheltenham in November.
Sadly, he was unable to build on that level of success, his scores for the next three seasons falling to three, two and one. He had mounts in two races over the Grand National fences but failed to finish on either occasion, falling on Vivacious in the 1932 Molyneux Chase, then slipping up on the flat on Jimmy James in the 1933 Grand Sefton Chase.
Sadly, he was unable to build on that level of success, his scores for the next three seasons falling to three, two and one. He had mounts in two races over the Grand National fences but failed to finish on either occasion, falling on Vivacious in the 1932 Molyneux Chase, then slipping up on the flat on Jimmy James in the 1933 Grand Sefton Chase.
He enjoyed a revival in the 1936/37 season, riding six winners, the first of which came in a short-head success on three-year-old hurdler Shy Monk at Wye on 9 September.
He enjoyed a revival in the 1936/37 season, riding six winners, the first of which came in a short-head success on three-year-old hurdler Shy Monk at Wye on 9 September.
He rode 33-1 rank outsider Tapinois in the 1937 Welsh Grand National but they were well in arrears when pulling up. He then won a brace of novice selling chases on Nepolitane, scoring at Beaufort Hunt and Cardiff in April.
He rode 33-1 rank outsider Tapinois in the 1937 Welsh Grand National but they were well in arrears when pulling up. He then won a brace of novice selling chases on Nepolitane, scoring at Beaufort Hunt and Cardiff in April.
The last of Robert’s six wins that season was also the last of his career, in the Dart Vale Selling Handicap Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on 17 May 1937. It came in a dead-heat on 3-1 chance Invershie, the judge being unable to separate them from fellow 3-1 shot Jack Of The Vale, the mount of Vernell Hobbs.
The last of Robert’s six wins that season was also the last of his career, in the Dart Vale Selling Handicap Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on 17 May 1937. It came in a dead-heat on 3-1 chance Invershie, the judge being unable to separate them from fellow 3-1 shot Jack Of The Vale, the mount of Vernell Hobbs.
He made the briefest of comebacks when National Hunt racing resumed after World War Two, his final ride being on Kruger, who finished unplaced in the Pittville Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on 17 March 1945, having led for a long way before fading out of contention.
He made the briefest of comebacks when National Hunt racing resumed after World War Two, his final ride being on Kruger, who finished unplaced in the Pittville Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on 17 March 1945, having led for a long way before fading out of contention.
Robert Mason died in 1995.
Robert Mason died in 1995.
Robert rode his first winner on Coole on May 7 1931