Arthur Reader
1885 -1946
1885 -1946
National Hunt jockey Arthur Turton Reader rode 44 winners over jumps and notched a double on the final day’s racing at Shincliffe.
National Hunt jockey Arthur Turton Reader rode 44 winners over jumps and notched a double on the final day’s racing at Shincliffe.
Arthur had his first ride in public on Yellow Bird, finishing last of four in the Newark Selling Chase at Nottingham on January 31, 1905. He rode his first winner at Wetherby on Easter Monday, April 24, 1905 aboard John Dory in the Igmanthorpe Chase.
Arthur had his first ride in public on Yellow Bird, finishing last of four in the Newark Selling Chase at Nottingham on January 31, 1905. He rode his first winner at Wetherby on Easter Monday, April 24, 1905 aboard John Dory in the Igmanthorpe Chase.
His most successful years were in 1909 and 1915 with six winners in each. His half-dozen in 1909 included three in a row on hurdler Scotch Lord, at Picton in April and twice (including a dead-heat) at Hexham in May.
His most successful years were in 1909 and 1915 with six winners in each. His half-dozen in 1909 included three in a row on hurdler Scotch Lord, at Picton in April and twice (including a dead-heat) at Hexham in May.
On Wednesday, May 6, 1914, Arthur rode a double on the final day’s racing at Shincliffe, in County Durham. He won the Selling Handicap Hurdle on Beetroot and then took the last race on the card, the Grange Handicap Hurdle, on Pyrrhic. It was, in many ways, a pyrrhic victory.
On Wednesday, May 6, 1914, Arthur rode a double on the final day’s racing at Shincliffe, in County Durham. He won the Selling Handicap Hurdle on Beetroot and then took the last race on the card, the Grange Handicap Hurdle, on Pyrrhic. It was, in many ways, a pyrrhic victory.
Shincliffe had opened its gates in 1895. By the turn of the century, it was staging three one-day fixtures in March, May and October. The Great Northern and Midlands Railways, in conjunction with the North Eastern, ran trains to nearby Durham station.
Shincliffe had opened its gates in 1895. By the turn of the century, it was staging three one-day fixtures in March, May and October. The Great Northern and Midlands Railways, in conjunction with the North Eastern, ran trains to nearby Durham station.
It was traditionally a meeting where the hunting men and the miners met. Located close to Tyneside’s coal mining area, it derived a significant part of its income from the race-going pitmen. Sadly, the course was hard hit by miners’ strikes, resulting in a severe drop in revenue which hastened its demise.
It was traditionally a meeting where the hunting men and the miners met. Located close to Tyneside’s coal mining area, it derived a significant part of its income from the race-going pitmen. Sadly, the course was hard hit by miners’ strikes, resulting in a severe drop in revenue which hastened its demise.
Arthur rode Pyrrhic to victory twice within 24 hours at Sedgefield’s two-day meeting on March 23 & 24, 1915. The following month he won an Easter Monday selling hurdle at Wetherby on Lapithus, then won a handicap hurdle at Quorn Hunt on Rigoletto. He rode a double at Southwell on April 26 aboard Elmendorf in the Sefton Maiden Hurdle and Rigoletto in the Westminster Handicap Hurdle. But for the intervention of World War One, which shut down National Hunt racing in Britain from the middle of May until the start of 1916, he would surely have beaten his career best score of six, rather than merely equalling it.
Arthur rode Pyrrhic to victory twice within 24 hours at Sedgefield’s two-day meeting on March 23 & 24, 1915. The following month he won an Easter Monday selling hurdle at Wetherby on Lapithus, then won a handicap hurdle at Quorn Hunt on Rigoletto. He rode a double at Southwell on April 26 aboard Elmendorf in the Sefton Maiden Hurdle and Rigoletto in the Westminster Handicap Hurdle. But for the intervention of World War One, which shut down National Hunt racing in Britain from the middle of May until the start of 1916, he would surely have beaten his career best score of six, rather than merely equalling it.
It would be six years before Arthur enjoyed another winner, notching two in 1921 and one in 1922. He rode just one more, Jugalis in the Sands Selling Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on October 17, 1923. He had his final ride at Hexham on October 7, 1926, coming home last of three finishers on Doubler in the Greycourt Selling Hurdle.
It would be six years before Arthur enjoyed another winner, notching two in 1921 and one in 1922. He rode just one more, Jugalis in the Sands Selling Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on October 17, 1923. He had his final ride at Hexham on October 7, 1926, coming home last of three finishers on Doubler in the Greycourt Selling Hurdle.
Arthur Reader died on August 1, 1946.
Arthur Reader died on August 1, 1946.
