National Hunt jockey Joseph Rudd was born in Bristol in 1845, the younger brother of fellow jockey Henry Muir Rudd. He rode his first winner at Kidderminster on March 29, 1867.
He achieved his biggest success on Longford in the 1873 Molyneux Chase at Liverpool. However, it was among the easiest victories ever achieved over the Grand National course, for Longford was the only horse declared for the race and was thus the lucky recipient of a walkover, meaning he only had to canter past the final fence and the winning post to collect the prize.
Joseph did, though, ride in four Grand Nationals. His first two mounts, in 1870 and 1871, were on the mare Casse Tete, owned by a Mr Brayley, who has made his money in the theatrical world, having started out as a Punch and Judy operator. On neither occasion did they manage to complete the course. Casse Tete was only five and six years old when she took part in those two Grand Nationals. Her third attempt, as a seven-year-old in 1872, saw her come home a comfortable six-length winner. Alas, Johnny Page was in the saddle that day, while Joseph Rudd’s mount, Acton, was among the fallers.
His fourth and last Grand National mount was on Paladin in 1874 but, again, he was one of the fallers.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1880 with 15 wins, putting him in joint-ninth position in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ championship.
Joseph rode a total of 97 winners over jumps, the last of them on Albatrusse in the Grand Stand Selling Hunters’ Hurdle at Hereford on Easter Monday, April 14, 1884. He rode for the final time at Swansea on April 14, 1887.
Unlike his brother Henry, who lived to be 88, Joseph Rudd did not make old bones. He died on November 24, 1889, aged 44.