Harry Ripley
1868 -1922
1868 -1922
Amateur rider Harry Mylius Ripley, familiarly known as Snip, was born in Surbiton in 1868. He had his first mount in public on Sweetheart at the United Hunts Meeting at Edenbridge in 1890, finishing second to his elder brother Albert. He rode his first winner in a £20 match race at the Isle of Wight in 1891.
Amateur rider Harry Mylius Ripley, familiarly known as Snip, was born in Surbiton in 1868. He had his first mount in public on Sweetheart at the United Hunts Meeting at Edenbridge in 1890, finishing second to his elder brother Albert. He rode his first winner in a £20 match race at the Isle of Wight in 1891.
In 1893 he finished third on the list of winning gentlemen riders with 32 winners. The following year he finished in fourth place with a score of 23 wins.
In 1893 he finished third on the list of winning gentlemen riders with 32 winners. The following year he finished in fourth place with a score of 23 wins.
In 1896, he won the prestigious National Hunt Steeplechase, held that year at Hurst Park, aboard Mr C.P. Shrubb’s five-year-old Ludgershall. The race offered a first prize of £790, making it the third most valuable steeplechase of the year, eclipsed only by the Grand National and the Lancashire Chase.
In 1896, he won the prestigious National Hunt Steeplechase, held that year at Hurst Park, aboard Mr C.P. Shrubb’s five-year-old Ludgershall. The race offered a first prize of £790, making it the third most valuable steeplechase of the year, eclipsed only by the Grand National and the Lancashire Chase.
Mr Shrubb was master of the Tedworth Hounds and named his horse Ludgershall after a village in Wiltshire. His reputation evidently preceded him as, although making his racecourse debut, he was sent off favourite at 6-1. Harry brought Ludgershall home by three-quarters of a length from Reggie West’s mount Benedictine, with whom he’d had a great tussle from the last fence.
Mr Shrubb was master of the Tedworth Hounds and named his horse Ludgershall after a village in Wiltshire. His reputation evidently preceded him as, although making his racecourse debut, he was sent off favourite at 6-1. Harry brought Ludgershall home by three-quarters of a length from Reggie West’s mount Benedictine, with whom he’d had a great tussle from the last fence.
Harry rode a four-timer at the Southdown Hunt’s fixture at Plumpton on April 22, 1901, landing the Littledene Maiden Foxhunters’ Chase on Little Sister II, the Southdown Hunt Cup on Peccavi, the Sussex Steeplechase on Miss Heather, and the Patcham Farmers’ Chase on Three Star.
Harry rode a four-timer at the Southdown Hunt’s fixture at Plumpton on April 22, 1901, landing the Littledene Maiden Foxhunters’ Chase on Little Sister II, the Southdown Hunt Cup on Peccavi, the Sussex Steeplechase on Miss Heather, and the Patcham Farmers’ Chase on Three Star.
He rode in four Grand Nationals, finishing fifth on Barsac at his at his first attempt in 1899. In 1901 he again completed the course on Barsac, trailing in last of nine finishers. He finished tenth on Miss Clifden in 1902 and pulled up on Old Town in 1904.
He rode in four Grand Nationals, finishing fifth on Barsac at his at his first attempt in 1899. In 1901 he again completed the course on Barsac, trailing in last of nine finishers. He finished tenth on Miss Clifden in 1902 and pulled up on Old Town in 1904.
He won the National Hunt Chase for a second time in 1905, staged this time at Cheltenham, aboard Miss Clifden, on whom he had finished third two years earlier and completed in the 1902 Grand National.
He won the National Hunt Chase for a second time in 1905, staged this time at Cheltenham, aboard Miss Clifden, on whom he had finished third two years earlier and completed in the 1902 Grand National.
An enthusiastic billiards player, he was also a former coxswain of the Kingston Rowing Senior Eight. He once steered the Kingston boat into second place in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.
An enthusiastic billiards player, he was also a former coxswain of the Kingston Rowing Senior Eight. He once steered the Kingston boat into second place in the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley.
He rode a total of 168 winners, the last of them on May King in the Ryde Chase at the Isle of Wight on May 4, 1906.
He rode a total of 168 winners, the last of them on May King in the Ryde Chase at the Isle of Wight on May 4, 1906.
He suffered his share of falls during his years in the saddle including a particularly bad one in the 1890s on Banquet II at Sandown Park at the hurdle opposite the stands. Ironically, his career was ended in the very race that had provided him with his two greatest successes, the National Hunt Chase, in a fall from St Patrick II at Warwick on March 12, 1908.
He suffered his share of falls during his years in the saddle including a particularly bad one in the 1890s on Banquet II at Sandown Park at the hurdle opposite the stands. Ironically, his career was ended in the very race that had provided him with his two greatest successes, the National Hunt Chase, in a fall from St Patrick II at Warwick on March 12, 1908.
Aged 53, he died at Chatsworth Hotel in Eastbourne on January 18, 1922 and was buried three days later at Kingston-on-Thames. He left £2,537.
Aged 53, he died at Chatsworth Hotel in Eastbourne on January 18, 1922 and was buried three days later at Kingston-on-Thames. He left £2,537.