Roy Mortimer

Roy Mortimer

Article by Alan Trout

Roy Mortimer, like his elder brother Baron, rode on the Flat without success in the early years of the 20th century, but did not manage as many winners over jumps, just seven altogether, against his brother’s total of 15. 

Born in 1889, he was apprenticed to trainer N. B. Johnson and had his first ride, Guinea Hen, at Chester on May 3, 1904. The following afternoon he rode Kentucky II in the Dee Stand Welter Handicap. Both horses were unplaced. 

Roy had his first ride over jumps on Palmerstown in the Clevelands Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 28, 1907. Palmerstown finished down the field, as did Baron on his mount Purdysburn. 

It was not until the meeting at Hurst Park on March 18, 1911 that Roy finally won a race when Symbolic triumphed by four lengths in the Hampton Handicap Hurdle. Baron had ridden the five-year-old on his two previous starts that year but Roy took over in the saddle to beat Collegian, ridden by Spink Walkington. 

Roy added four more wins before the year ended, including a double at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting, then started 1912 in good form with two wins in January. The second of these, the Ellesmere Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on January 22, was the only race run that day because of fog. Roy’s mount, Connie Ediss, beat Bons, ridden by Bob Trudgill, by four lengths. The seven-year-old was Roy’s last win and also proved to be his final ride when finishing third in the Beauclerk Handicap Hurdle at Clifton Park (Blackpool) five days later. 

Roy Mortimer relinquished his licence in March 1912.

His winners were, in chronological order:

1. Symbolic, Hurst Park, March 18, 1911

2. Bona, Manchester, April 18, 1911

3. Place-taker, Birmingham, November 27, 1911

4. Connie Ediss, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1911

5. Byzlar, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1911

6. Symbolic, Gatwick, January 4, 1912

7. Connie Ediss, Manchester, January 22, 1912