Henry Smith
Henry Smith
Henry Smith
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After riding five winners on the Flat as an apprentice in the late 1940s, Henry George Smith went on to add another nine under National Hunt rules in the first half of the 1950s.
After riding five winners on the Flat as an apprentice in the late 1940s, Henry George Smith went on to add another nine under National Hunt rules in the first half of the 1950s.
Apprenticed to Newmarket trainer William Pratt at the start of his career, and then to Willie Stephenson at Royston, Henry had his first win at Thirsk on October 4, 1946, when the six-year-old Start On, trained by William Pratt, won the Sutton Handicap, beating Ken Gethin’s mount Shahzo by four lengths.
Apprenticed to Newmarket trainer William Pratt at the start of his career, and then to Willie Stephenson at Royston, Henry had his first win at Thirsk on October 4, 1946, when the six-year-old Start On, trained by William Pratt, won the Sutton Handicap, beating Ken Gethin’s mount Shahzo by four lengths.
He rode just one winner in 1947, but it was rather special, as it came in a three-runner race at Birmingham on November 3, when Marjorque, trained by Willie Stephenson, landed the Castle Bromwich Selling Plate, beating two of the leading post-war jockeys in Jackie Sirett on Speedy Return and Doug Smith on Le Faon.
He rode just one winner in 1947, but it was rather special, as it came in a three-runner race at Birmingham on November 3, when Marjorque, trained by Willie Stephenson, landed the Castle Bromwich Selling Plate, beating two of the leading post-war jockeys in Jackie Sirett on Speedy Return and Doug Smith on Le Faon.
Henry had three more wins in 1948, one a walkover. All of his victories were on horses owned by Herbert Smith. He held a licence to ride on the level until 1951, but increasingly turned his attention to the jumps.
Henry had three more wins in 1948, one a walkover. All of his victories were on horses owned by Herbert Smith. He held a licence to ride on the level until 1951, but increasingly turned his attention to the jumps.
His first ride in that sphere was on Maestro Of Music, unplaced the Yuletide Maiden Hurdle (Division 1) at Birmingham on December 11, 1950. That same horse provided him with initial success over jumps when taking the Ramsey Hurdle at Huntingdon on Whit Monday, May 14, 1951. Trained by Herbert Smith, the seven-year-old beat hurdles specialist Harry Sprague on Lovely Buoy by two lengths.
His first ride in that sphere was on Maestro Of Music, unplaced the Yuletide Maiden Hurdle (Division 1) at Birmingham on December 11, 1950. That same horse provided him with initial success over jumps when taking the Ramsey Hurdle at Huntingdon on Whit Monday, May 14, 1951. Trained by Herbert Smith, the seven-year-old beat hurdles specialist Harry Sprague on Lovely Buoy by two lengths.
Progress thereafter was slow, but he did have one good horse to ride. That was Garter Blue, owned and trained by Herbert Smith. Having twice on him on the Flat in 1948, they won six times over hurdles. The nine-year-old gave Henry his last victory when sweeping past Dannis Dillon’s mount Approval on the run-in to land the Limpsfield Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on December 4, 1953.
Progress thereafter was slow, but he did have one good horse to ride. That was Garter Blue, owned and trained by Herbert Smith. Having twice on him on the Flat in 1948, they won six times over hurdles. The nine-year-old gave Henry his last victory when sweeping past Dannis Dillon’s mount Approval on the run-in to land the Limpsfield Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on December 4, 1953.
Henry’s final ride was on Cameron’s Kid, a faller in the Fred Withington Challenge Cup Chase at Towcester on April 28, 1956.
Henry’s final ride was on Cameron’s Kid, a faller in the Fred Withington Challenge Cup Chase at Towcester on April 28, 1956.
Henry Smith’s winners were, in chronological order.
Henry Smith’s winners were, in chronological order.
1. Start On, Thirsk, October 4, 1946
1. Start On, Thirsk, October 4, 1946
2. Marjorque, Birmingham, November 3, 1947
2. Marjorque, Birmingham, November 3, 1947
3. Kai, Kempton Park, May 7, 1948 (walkover)
3. Kai, Kempton Park, May 7, 1948 (walkover)
4. Garter Blue, Nottingham, July 6, 1948
4. Garter Blue, Nottingham, July 6, 1948
5. Garter Blue, Newcastle, August 6, 1948
5. Garter Blue, Newcastle, August 6, 1948
6. Maestro Of Music, Huntingdon, May 14, 1951
6. Maestro Of Music, Huntingdon, May 14, 1951
7. Lively Lord, Towcester, September 21, 1951
7. Lively Lord, Towcester, September 21, 1951
8. Garter Blue, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1952
8. Garter Blue, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1952
9. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, September 15, 1952
9. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, September 15, 1952
10. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, November 5, 1952
10. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, November 5, 1952
11. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, February 17, 1953
11. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, February 17, 1953
12. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, September 28, 1953
12. Garter Blue, Fontwell Park, September 28, 1953
13. Burnt Grass, Huntingdon, October 17, 1953
13. Burnt Grass, Huntingdon, October 17, 1953
14. Garter Blue, Lingfield Park, December 4, 1953
14. Garter Blue, Lingfield Park, December 4, 1953
Henry Smith's first win came at Thirsk on Start On
Henry Smith last winner, Garter Blue, came at Lingfield