Alfred Sharples Jr.

On Saturday, 5 November 1938, 21-year-old jockey Alfie Sharples was killed whilst riding in the Rays Selling Plate at Windsor.

Alfie, a rider of much promise, was taken immediately to the King Edward Vll Hospital at Windsor but died within ten minutes of admission.

From the stands, it was not possible to see what actually caused the accident. As the large field of 35 swept down the straight to the winning post, Prelude, ridden by A. Taylor, was crossed and fell.

Taylor was temporarily knocked out.

La Blottierre, racing immediately behind, could not avoid the fallen horse and turned a complete somersault. Alfie was thrown heavily.

He had been with Wootton at Epsom for about 10 years and had completed his apprenticeship just five months before his fall.

Alfie had been much in demand for the past three seasons and unquestionably would have been successful for many years to come.

His father was Alfred Sharples (c1885 -1935), who had won the 1904 Cesarewitch on Wargrave and the 1909 Irish Derby on Bachelor's Double.