Roddy Owen
1856 - 1896
1856 - 1896
Hugh Owen was one of the best men who rode to hounds in the late 1800s; he was also a pretty good jockey.
Hugh Owen was one of the best men who rode to hounds in the late 1800s; he was also a pretty good jockey.
Yet it was his attractive younger brother, Roddy, who was to secure lasting fame, both off and on the racecourse.
Yet it was his attractive younger brother, Roddy, who was to secure lasting fame, both off and on the racecourse.
Whilst not having the artistry on the Flat as Arthur Coventry, he was, in his day, among the best over fences.
Whilst not having the artistry on the Flat as Arthur Coventry, he was, in his day, among the best over fences.
Born in Cheltenham on May 4th, 1856, Edward Roderic Owen always took the shortest way round and was not that fussed about how he got there. In a race he was like greased lightning, taking advantage of anything and anybody.
Born in Cheltenham on May 4th, 1856, Edward Roderic Owen always took the shortest way round and was not that fussed about how he got there. In a race he was like greased lightning, taking advantage of anything and anybody.
Trainers were anxious to book him: Roddy, for his part, thought nothing of taking rides off other jockeys if he felt that their horse could win.
Trainers were anxious to book him: Roddy, for his part, thought nothing of taking rides off other jockeys if he felt that their horse could win.
Not unnaturally, this made him very unpopular with the professionals who, at one Sandown meeting, decided to get their own back on the young upstart.
Not unnaturally, this made him very unpopular with the professionals who, at one Sandown meeting, decided to get their own back on the young upstart.
After a race which that was rather like a Rugby football match, Roddy emerged from the scrum and won.
After a race which that was rather like a Rugby football match, Roddy emerged from the scrum and won.
Minutes later back in the weighing room, Roddy and his fellow jockeys were all firm friends again, laughing as they recalled the race.
Minutes later back in the weighing room, Roddy and his fellow jockeys were all firm friends again, laughing as they recalled the race.
Roddy gained huge respect that day.
Roddy gained huge respect that day.
He was always very quick thinking: one very cold morning, riding work for trainer W. H. P. Jenkins in the company of his two friends and fellow jockeys George Lambton and Charles Kinsky, Roddy noticed that the trainer was on the other side of the hill. Roddy immediately suggested that they missed out the first hurdle, starting the wrong side.
He was always very quick thinking: one very cold morning, riding work for trainer W. H. P. Jenkins in the company of his two friends and fellow jockeys George Lambton and Charles Kinsky, Roddy noticed that the trainer was on the other side of the hill. Roddy immediately suggested that they missed out the first hurdle, starting the wrong side.
At the end of the gallop Jenkins asked, 'How did the young ones get over that hurdle?'
At the end of the gallop Jenkins asked, 'How did the young ones get over that hurdle?'
With Lambton & Kinsky still thinking of an answer, Roddy replied 'Oh, George and Charles sailed over it. My horse only got half-way up it, but recovered himself and will do better next time.'
With Lambton & Kinsky still thinking of an answer, Roddy replied 'Oh, George and Charles sailed over it. My horse only got half-way up it, but recovered himself and will do better next time.'
He was once accidentally knocked over the rails by George Lambton when persistently trying to come up on Lambton's inside. Roddy cut his head badly, and was carried back to the weighing room.
He was once accidentally knocked over the rails by George Lambton when persistently trying to come up on Lambton's inside. Roddy cut his head badly, and was carried back to the weighing room.
'Never mind,' he said to an anxious Lambton. 'It served me damned well right! I had no right to come where I did.'
'Never mind,' he said to an anxious Lambton. 'It served me damned well right! I had no right to come where I did.'
Roddy also owned (and rode) his own horses, and he entered his Parasang, a hard-pulling bay gelding, in the Paris Steeplechase and for which he had been given 10 st. 10 lb.
Roddy also owned (and rode) his own horses, and he entered his Parasang, a hard-pulling bay gelding, in the Paris Steeplechase and for which he had been given 10 st. 10 lb.
Then Roddy took a bad fall and asked George Lambton to take the ride.
Then Roddy took a bad fall and asked George Lambton to take the ride.
Roddy and George arrived in Paris the day before the race, stony broke.
Roddy and George arrived in Paris the day before the race, stony broke.
Roddy forbade George from eating strawberries and cream, drinking champagne or smoking. On the morning of the race, Roddy appeared in George's bedroom, insisting that they take a walk round the park.
Roddy forbade George from eating strawberries and cream, drinking champagne or smoking. On the morning of the race, Roddy appeared in George's bedroom, insisting that they take a walk round the park.
The race was run on the hottest day in Paris for twenty years. George, unable to take a drink, was close to fainting.
The race was run on the hottest day in Paris for twenty years. George, unable to take a drink, was close to fainting.
Roddy, having taken off his black coat, tall hat and collar, was also suffering but retained the air of a man whose fortunes were about to drastically improve.
Roddy, having taken off his black coat, tall hat and collar, was also suffering but retained the air of a man whose fortunes were about to drastically improve.
The race needs little description. George, so well was he going, took up the running after two miles then, three fences from home, was joined by the French mare, Fierte. At the last Fierte went on by a length. On the run-in, in the appalling heat, both horses were almost dead. They staggered past the post together, with George's horse, Parasang, a head in front.
The race needs little description. George, so well was he going, took up the running after two miles then, three fences from home, was joined by the French mare, Fierte. At the last Fierte went on by a length. On the run-in, in the appalling heat, both horses were almost dead. They staggered past the post together, with George's horse, Parasang, a head in front.
Roddy's insistence on no strawberries & cream had paid off!
Roddy's insistence on no strawberries & cream had paid off!
Yet, as good a jockey as he was, his heart and ambitions lay elsewhere.
Yet, as good a jockey as he was, his heart and ambitions lay elsewhere.
He was a soldier and was very popular with both officers and men.
He was a soldier and was very popular with both officers and men.
Roddy always said that he would give up riding to become a full time soldier after he had won the National.
Roddy always said that he would give up riding to become a full time soldier after he had won the National.
Of course, few believed him until, after steering Father O'Flynn to victory in 1892, he bid his weighing rooms colleagues farewell and went off on a mission to East Africa.
Of course, few believed him until, after steering Father O'Flynn to victory in 1892, he bid his weighing rooms colleagues farewell and went off on a mission to East Africa.
Here he greatly distinguished himself as a soldier and was invited to join the Jamestown Raid and command it. However, Roddy was in India at the time and, owing to the distance and imperfect information, refused to go.
Here he greatly distinguished himself as a soldier and was invited to join the Jamestown Raid and command it. However, Roddy was in India at the time and, owing to the distance and imperfect information, refused to go.
Roddy became engaged in the preliminary operations connected with Kitchener's campaign to take Dongola but he never lived to see the outcome.
Roddy became engaged in the preliminary operations connected with Kitchener's campaign to take Dongola but he never lived to see the outcome.
Roddy Owen, a hero in and out of the saddle, died of cholera in Ambigol Wells, Egypt, on July 11, 1896.
Roddy Owen, a hero in and out of the saddle, died of cholera in Ambigol Wells, Egypt, on July 11, 1896.
Many of his friends remembered him as the winner of the 1892 National but to his regiment he was always remembered as the Roddy Owen who planted the flag at Wadelai.
Many of his friends remembered him as the winner of the 1892 National but to his regiment he was always remembered as the Roddy Owen who planted the flag at Wadelai.
Best wins:
Best wins:
1887: National Hunt Chase - Monkshood
1887: National Hunt Chase - Monkshood
1889: Grand International Chase - Kilworth
1889: Grand International Chase - Kilworth
1889: Grand Military Gold Gup - St Cross
1889: Grand Military Gold Gup - St Cross
1889: Grand International Hurdle - Alcaeus
1889: Grand International Hurdle - Alcaeus
1890: Sandown Grand Prize - Frabciscan
1890: Sandown Grand Prize - Frabciscan
1891: Grand Sandown Hurdle - Maypole
1891: Grand Sandown Hurdle - Maypole
1892: Grand National - Father O'Flynn
1892: Grand National - Father O'Flynn