Ben Rigby

c1876 - 1914

American jockey Benjamin John Rigby rode in Europe for three seasons (1900 to 1902). He rode a total of 68 winners in 1900, his only full season in England. This placed him ninth in the jockey’s table for that year.

Ben had his first ride in Britain at Lincoln on March 27, 1900, finishing unplaced on Petersfield in the Brocklesby Trial Plate. Just nine days later he recorded his first win when Egbert took the Billesdon Selling Plate at Croxton Park on April 5. A treble on both days of Birmingham’s Easter meeting later in the month helped his progress.

He achieved his most important success in Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes on June 15 aboard Boniface. Two days earlier he had finished third on The Reeve in the Royal Hunt Cup. 

Other notable wins that year included the Lavant Stakes at Goodwood on Ursula, and the Rous Plate on Tin Soldier at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting.

Although Petersfield had failed to provide Ben with a win on his first ride in England, he did win six races on him during the year. 

He kept up a steady stream of winners throughout 1900, recording his final success on Morgante in the Cliff Plate at Folkestone on November 20.

Ben was based in France in 1901 and was highly successful there, his major victories that year including the Grand Prix de Paris on Cheri, the Grand Criterium on Le Mandinet, and the Quarante-Quatrieme Prix Biennial on Grand Pont.

He again rode primarily in France in 1902, when his winners included both the Prix de Chevily and the Prix Rainbow on Amer Picon and the Prix des Sablons on Codoman.  

He did return occasionally to England during those two years, including when riding Intruder in the 1902 Derby, but there were to be no further successes. His final ride was on Amer Picon, which finished third in the Alexandra Plate at Ascot on June 20, 1902.

Having long since returned to America, Ben Rigby died on December 17, 1914 in St Louis.

Additional information supplied by Alan Trout.