Arthur Smith - died 1969
1899 -1969
1899 -1969
Arthur James Smith was born at Cheltenham on August 21, 1899 and was apprenticed to Frank Barling. He was the younger brother of Grand National-winning jockey William John Smith (died 1947).
Arthur James Smith was born at Cheltenham on August 21, 1899 and was apprenticed to Frank Barling. He was the younger brother of Grand National-winning jockey William John Smith (died 1947).
Arthur had his first ride on Prepaid, who finished third at Newmarket on October 13, 1914 and rode his first winner the following year. He recorded his first big race success on Wayward in the 1917 Ayr Gold Cup.
Arthur had his first ride on Prepaid, who finished third at Newmarket on October 13, 1914 and rode his first winner the following year. He recorded his first big race success on Wayward in the 1917 Ayr Gold Cup.
He was still an apprentice in 1919 when he won the Coronation Cup on Lord Glanely’s colt He and rode four winners at Royal Ascot including the Prince of Wales’ Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
He was still an apprentice in 1919 when he won the Coronation Cup on Lord Glanely’s colt He and rode four winners at Royal Ascot including the Prince of Wales’ Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Arthur also won the 1920 St Leger on 100-6 chance Caligula, trained by Harvey Leader, coming with one long run to get up close home and win by half a length.
Arthur also won the 1920 St Leger on 100-6 chance Caligula, trained by Harvey Leader, coming with one long run to get up close home and win by half a length.
He began riding over jumps the following year, making a perfect start by winning on his first ride under National Hunt rules on Dugdale in the Tredegar Three-Year-Old Optional Selling Hurdle at Newport on November 9, 1921.
He began riding over jumps the following year, making a perfect start by winning on his first ride under National Hunt rules on Dugdale in the Tredegar Three-Year-Old Optional Selling Hurdle at Newport on November 9, 1921.
His National Hunt career was at its height in 1922, 1923 and 1924, riding 17 winners in each of those three years. In 1924 he finished second in the Liverpool Hurdle on Sancroft, third in the Grand International Hurdle on Agincourt, and fourth in the Imperial Cup on Tomahawk.
His National Hunt career was at its height in 1922, 1923 and 1924, riding 17 winners in each of those three years. In 1924 he finished second in the Liverpool Hurdle on Sancroft, third in the Grand International Hurdle on Agincourt, and fourth in the Imperial Cup on Tomahawk.
He rode a total of 77 winners over jumps, the last of them on Golden Buckles in a match for the Club Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on Whit Monday, May 29, 1928. He continued to ride both on the Flat and over jumps but quit racing in 1936 to become a factory worker.
He rode a total of 77 winners over jumps, the last of them on Golden Buckles in a match for the Club Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on Whit Monday, May 29, 1928. He continued to ride both on the Flat and over jumps but quit racing in 1936 to become a factory worker.
He made a brief return in May 1938 but it lasted barely a month, riding for the final time when finishing third on Princetown in the Dean Prior Handicap Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on June 7, 1938.
He made a brief return in May 1938 but it lasted barely a month, riding for the final time when finishing third on Princetown in the Dean Prior Handicap Hurdle at Buckfastleigh on June 7, 1938.
Arthur Smith died at Cheltenham from a heart attack on December 14, 1969, aged 70.
Arthur Smith died at Cheltenham from a heart attack on December 14, 1969, aged 70.
Classic winner
Classic winner
St Leger: Caligula (1920)
St Leger: Caligula (1920)
Other big wins:
Other big wins:
1917: Ayr Gold Cup – Wayward
1917: Ayr Gold Cup – Wayward
1919: Coronation Cup – He
1919: Coronation Cup – He
1919: Prince of Wales’s Stales – Dominio
1919: Prince of Wales’s Stales – Dominio
1919: St James’s Palace Stakes – Grand Parade
1919: St James’s Palace Stakes – Grand Parade
1919: Windsor Castle Stakes – Bright Folly
1919: Windsor Castle Stakes – Bright Folly