Dick Smalley
(1919 - 2008)
(1919 - 2008)
Captain Richard Beaumont Smalley, popularly known as Dick Smalley, was born on January 23, 1919. He owned and rode Halloween during the early part of that fine chaser’s career.
Captain Richard Beaumont Smalley, popularly known as Dick Smalley, was born on January 23, 1919. He owned and rode Halloween during the early part of that fine chaser’s career.
Captain Smalley, who served in the Royal Marines, bought Halloween as an unbroken three-year-old for £90. He trained and rode him to win two point-to-points in 1950. The next year he was sent to Bill Wightman to be trained for hunter chases. In 1951 Captain Smalley rode Halloween in five hunter chases and won them all, culminating in the Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup (right) at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting. (It was run on April 25 that year following the abandonment of the second and third days of the March meeting due to a flooded course.)
Captain Smalley, who served in the Royal Marines, bought Halloween as an unbroken three-year-old for £90. He trained and rode him to win two point-to-points in 1950. The next year he was sent to Bill Wightman to be trained for hunter chases. In 1951 Captain Smalley rode Halloween in five hunter chases and won them all, culminating in the Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup (right) at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting. (It was run on April 25 that year following the abandonment of the second and third days of the March meeting due to a flooded course.)
After that race, Captain Smalley accepted an £8,000 offer for the horse from the Contessa di St Elia. Halloween was duly switched to handicap chases the following season. However, he fell early on in the Grand Sefton Trial Chase at Hurst Park when ridden by Dick Francis, then departed at the first fence at Newbury. Captain Smalley was recalled to the saddle and rode his old partner to victory in two Newbury amateur riders’ chases. Fred Winter then took over and Halloween went on to become one of most popular chasers of the 1950s. He won 15 chases including the King George VI Chase twice (on 1952 and 1954) with Winter on board and was placed in three consecutive runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
After that race, Captain Smalley accepted an £8,000 offer for the horse from the Contessa di St Elia. Halloween was duly switched to handicap chases the following season. However, he fell early on in the Grand Sefton Trial Chase at Hurst Park when ridden by Dick Francis, then departed at the first fence at Newbury. Captain Smalley was recalled to the saddle and rode his old partner to victory in two Newbury amateur riders’ chases. Fred Winter then took over and Halloween went on to become one of most popular chasers of the 1950s. He won 15 chases including the King George VI Chase twice (on 1952 and 1954) with Winter on board and was placed in three consecutive runnings of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Meanwhile, Captain Smalley continued to ride in hunter chases and amateur riders’ races. He rode just one more winner, that being on The Rag in a Stratford hunters’ chase on April 14, 1955. He carried on riding until the early 1960s and finished third on Big George in the 1963 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
Meanwhile, Captain Smalley continued to ride in hunter chases and amateur riders’ races. He rode just one more winner, that being on The Rag in a Stratford hunters’ chase on April 14, 1955. He carried on riding until the early 1960s and finished third on Big George in the 1963 National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.
Captain Richard Smalley died on June 22, 2008, aged 89.
Captain Richard Smalley died on June 22, 2008, aged 89.
Captain Smalley’s winners under National Hunt rules were as follows:
Captain Smalley’s winners under National Hunt rules were as follows:
Halloween, Windsor Foxhunters’ Trial Chase, Windsor, February 3, 1951
Halloween, Windsor Foxhunters’ Trial Chase, Windsor, February 3, 1951
Halloween, Wilfred Johnstone Hunter Chase, Sandown Park, February 16, 1951
Halloween, Wilfred Johnstone Hunter Chase, Sandown Park, February 16, 1951
Halloween, Worcester Hunters’ Chase, Worcester, March 5, 1951
Halloween, Worcester Hunters’ Chase, Worcester, March 5, 1951
Halloween, Past and Present Hunters’ Chase, Sandown Park, March 16, 1951
Halloween, Past and Present Hunters’ Chase, Sandown Park, March 16, 1951
Halloween, Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup, Cheltenham, April 25, 1951
Halloween, Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup, Cheltenham, April 25, 1951
Halloween, Weyhill Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, Newbury, December 29, 1951
Halloween, Weyhill Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, Newbury, December 29, 1951
Halloween, Harwell Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, Newbury, February 22, 1952
Halloween, Harwell Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, Newbury, February 22, 1952
The Rag, Sportsman’s Hunters’ Chase, Stratford-on-Avon, April 14, 1955
The Rag, Sportsman’s Hunters’ Chase, Stratford-on-Avon, April 14, 1955