Charles Spencer
Colonel Charles Richard Spencer, O.B.E. was born in 1911. He commanded the 12th Lancers until his retirement from the army. On June 5, 1937, he married Millicent Howard, who bore him two children, a daughter Elizabeth (born 1938) and a son Edward (born 1946). They lived at Elfordtown, near Yelverton, on Dartmoor, in Devon.
Colonel Charles Richard Spencer, O.B.E. was born in 1911. He commanded the 12th Lancers until his retirement from the army. On June 5, 1937, he married Millicent Howard, who bore him two children, a daughter Elizabeth (born 1938) and a son Edward (born 1946). They lived at Elfordtown, near Yelverton, on Dartmoor, in Devon.
He rode mainly in point-to-points and hunter chases, however, his first winner came in a novices’ chase at the 2nd Cavalry Brigade Military Bona Fide fixture at Windmillhill, Tidworth on Valiant Philip in March 1938. His second came in a handicap chase at Wincanton on 14-year-old Golden Knight in October 1947. In 1958 he won the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase on Airgun at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting.
He rode mainly in point-to-points and hunter chases, however, his first winner came in a novices’ chase at the 2nd Cavalry Brigade Military Bona Fide fixture at Windmillhill, Tidworth on Valiant Philip in March 1938. His second came in a handicap chase at Wincanton on 14-year-old Golden Knight in October 1947. In 1958 he won the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase on Airgun at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting.
His two best hunter chasers were Fearless Knight and Victory Spirit. In 1965, aged 54, he owned, trained and rode Fearless Knight to win the May Hunters’ Chase at Taunton. By then, Colonel Spencer had just started a term of office as High Sheriff of Devon.
His two best hunter chasers were Fearless Knight and Victory Spirit. In 1965, aged 54, he owned, trained and rode Fearless Knight to win the May Hunters’ Chase at Taunton. By then, Colonel Spencer had just started a term of office as High Sheriff of Devon.
Victory Spirit had won on his racing debut in the South Pool Harrier’s maiden race in 1964. He then won at the Lamerton,
Victory Spirit had won on his racing debut in the South Pool Harrier’s maiden race in 1964. He then won at the Lamerton,
Modbury Harriers, South Tetcott and dead-heated at the Mid-Devon. In 1965, Victory Spirit dead-heated at the Lamerton and won outright at the Dart Vale & Haldon, Spooner’s & West Dartmoor and the South Devon. He also finished a close second to the top-class hunter chaser Straight Lady in the Pat Ruthven & Guy Nixon Memorial Vase at Wincanton on Easter Monday.
Modbury Harriers, South Tetcott and dead-heated at the Mid-Devon. In 1965, Victory Spirit dead-heated at the Lamerton and won outright at the Dart Vale & Haldon, Spooner’s & West Dartmoor and the South Devon. He also finished a close second to the top-class hunter chaser Straight Lady in the Pat Ruthven & Guy Nixon Memorial Vase at Wincanton on Easter Monday.
In February 1966, Colonel Spencer rode Victory Spirit to victory in the Bogskar Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton in heavy going. He then rode him in that year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, finishing ninth behind John Thorne’s mount Polaris Missile. Before that National Hunt Chase run, Victory Spirit had won nine point-to-points and his ninth-placed finish at Cheltenham was the first time in 15 races that he had finished out of the frame. However, he then bounced right back by winning the Mid-Devon Open race.
In February 1966, Colonel Spencer rode Victory Spirit to victory in the Bogskar Hunters’ Chase at Wincanton in heavy going. He then rode him in that year’s National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, finishing ninth behind John Thorne’s mount Polaris Missile. Before that National Hunt Chase run, Victory Spirit had won nine point-to-points and his ninth-placed finish at Cheltenham was the first time in 15 races that he had finished out of the frame. However, he then bounced right back by winning the Mid-Devon Open race.
In February 1967, Colonel Spencer rode Victory Spirit to win the Taunton Vale Hunters’ Chase. They also won open races at the Dart Vale and the Spooners & West Dartmoor. They continued their success in 1968, winning opens at the Lamerton, Dartmoor and South Devon and, in 1969, opens at the South Devon and Mid-Devon. Victory Spirit also provided his owner-trainer with his final ride under National Hunt rules when finishing sixth in the Mr Jorrocks Hunters’ Chase at Devon & Exeter on May 14, 1969.
In February 1967, Colonel Spencer rode Victory Spirit to win the Taunton Vale Hunters’ Chase. They also won open races at the Dart Vale and the Spooners & West Dartmoor. They continued their success in 1968, winning opens at the Lamerton, Dartmoor and South Devon and, in 1969, opens at the South Devon and Mid-Devon. Victory Spirit also provided his owner-trainer with his final ride under National Hunt rules when finishing sixth in the Mr Jorrocks Hunters’ Chase at Devon & Exeter on May 14, 1969.
They had a tremendous year in 1970, winning six of their seven races together, Opens at Bolventor, East Cornwall, Lamerton, Spooner’s & West Dartmoor, Dartmoor and South Devon. Their win at the Spooner's on April 11 was 59-year-old Colonel Spencer’s 100th. In 1971, Victory Spirit won opens at the Dartmoor, Spooner’s and at the South Devon (the sixth time he had won the Open there). He won the 1972 Bolventor Open, before being retired at the end of that season, having amassed two hunter chases and a remarkable 26 point-to-point wins, all of them with Colonel Spencer in the saddle.
They had a tremendous year in 1970, winning six of their seven races together, Opens at Bolventor, East Cornwall, Lamerton, Spooner’s & West Dartmoor, Dartmoor and South Devon. Their win at the Spooner's on April 11 was 59-year-old Colonel Spencer’s 100th. In 1971, Victory Spirit won opens at the Dartmoor, Spooner’s and at the South Devon (the sixth time he had won the Open there). He won the 1972 Bolventor Open, before being retired at the end of that season, having amassed two hunter chases and a remarkable 26 point-to-point wins, all of them with Colonel Spencer in the saddle.
During his long career in the saddle, Colonel Spencer rode 107 point-to-point winners – almost a quarter of those coming on Victory Spirit – to add to his successes under National Hunt rules.
During his long career in the saddle, Colonel Spencer rode 107 point-to-point winners – almost a quarter of those coming on Victory Spirit – to add to his successes under National Hunt rules.
For some years, Colonel Spencer acted as a steward at Newton Abbot. He was also Secretary of Spooner’s & West Dartmoor Hunt and regularly rode Victory Spirit with its pack.
For some years, Colonel Spencer acted as a steward at Newton Abbot. He was also Secretary of Spooner’s & West Dartmoor Hunt and regularly rode Victory Spirit with its pack.
Colonel Charles Spencer’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
Colonel Charles Spencer’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
1. Valiant Philip, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, March 11, 1938
1. Valiant Philip, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, March 11, 1938
2. Golden Knight, Wincanton, October 4, 1947
2. Golden Knight, Wincanton, October 4, 1947
3. Airgun, Sandown Park, March 22, 1958
3. Airgun, Sandown Park, March 22, 1958
4. Fearless Knight, Taunton, May 7, 1965
4. Fearless Knight, Taunton, May 7, 1965
5. Victory Spirit, Wincanton, February 24, 1966
5. Victory Spirit, Wincanton, February 24, 1966
6. Victory Spirit, Taunton, February 11, 1967
6. Victory Spirit, Taunton, February 11, 1967
