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Alfred Smirke mops his brow at Hurst Park during the 1933 heatwave.
1914 - 1994
1914 - 1994
Alfred David Smirke was born on December 30, 1914. He was the younger brother of Derby-winning jockey Charlie Smirke but was nothing like as successful. He rode both on the Flat and over jumps. His last year with a Flat licence was 1946 but he continued to ride over hurdles until 1950.
Alfred David Smirke was born on December 30, 1914. He was the younger brother of Derby-winning jockey Charlie Smirke but was nothing like as successful. He rode both on the Flat and over jumps. His last year with a Flat licence was 1946 but he continued to ride over hurdles until 1950.
His most important Flat winners were the October Nursery at Newbury in 1930 on Golden Dew, and the 1933 Knowsley Nursery Handicap at Liverpool on an unnamed chestnut colt by Beresford out of Credenda. He finished second in two Royal Ascot races, the 1931 Ascot Stakes on Blue Vision and the 1933 Britanna Handicap on Manoeuvre.
His most important Flat winners were the October Nursery at Newbury in 1930 on Golden Dew, and the 1933 Knowsley Nursery Handicap at Liverpool on an unnamed chestnut colt by Beresford out of Credenda. He finished second in two Royal Ascot races, the 1931 Ascot Stakes on Blue Vision and the 1933 Britanna Handicap on Manoeuvre.
He rode at least one winner over hurdles in Ireland but it was something of a hollow victory. It came at Baldoyle on March 18, 1940, when Because won the Dublin Handicap Hurdle by two lengths. Among the beaten jockeys that day were Tim Molony, Dan Moore, Willie O’Grady and Aubrey Brabazon. After the race the stewards called in J. E. Davis, the owner and trainer of Because, to explain the difference between the running of the filly in this race and her previous start at Naas on March 2. Alfred, the jockey on both occasions, was also interviewed. The matter was referred to the stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee who withdrew Davis’s licence to train and Alfred’s licence to ride (later reinstated).
He rode at least one winner over hurdles in Ireland but it was something of a hollow victory. It came at Baldoyle on March 18, 1940, when Because won the Dublin Handicap Hurdle by two lengths. Among the beaten jockeys that day were Tim Molony, Dan Moore, Willie O’Grady and Aubrey Brabazon. After the race the stewards called in J. E. Davis, the owner and trainer of Because, to explain the difference between the running of the filly in this race and her previous start at Naas on March 2. Alfred, the jockey on both occasions, was also interviewed. The matter was referred to the stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee who withdrew Davis’s licence to train and Alfred’s licence to ride (later reinstated).
After the war he rode for Bill Paton, who trained at Yetholm, in the Borders, winning two hurdle races in April 1947, on Rashiegrain at Carlisle’s Easter fixture and Tower Knowe at Bogside’s Scottish Grand National meeting. He won twice more on Tower Knowe the following season.
After the war he rode for Bill Paton, who trained at Yetholm, in the Borders, winning two hurdle races in April 1947, on Rashiegrain at Carlisle’s Easter fixture and Tower Knowe at Bogside’s Scottish Grand National meeting. He won twice more on Tower Knowe the following season.
He then moved south but rode only one winner in each of his last two seasons. The first of those was Cadency at Fontwell on September 20, 1948; the second, and final one of his career, was Taal Hina in a Buckfastleigh novices’ hurdle on August 6, 1949. It was one of only 15 rides he had that season and he hung up his boots at the end of it.
He then moved south but rode only one winner in each of his last two seasons. The first of those was Cadency at Fontwell on September 20, 1948; the second, and final one of his career, was Taal Hina in a Buckfastleigh novices’ hurdle on August 6, 1949. It was one of only 15 rides he had that season and he hung up his boots at the end of it.
Alfred Smirke died in Liverpool on June 19, 1994, aged 79.
Alfred Smirke died in Liverpool on June 19, 1994, aged 79.
Alfred's most important Flat race winner, Golden Dew, came at Newbury in October 1930
Another big win came on Credenda at Liverpool in 1933
Alfred Smirke, on Mr Stanley Wootton's grey Eastern Slave filly, leads in the 1933 Mole Plate at Gatwick
Alfred Smirke and his fiancée, Miss Margery Friday, were married on January 27, 1934
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