Jack Steade

Jack Steade 

Article by Alan Trout

Jack Steade rode eight winners under National Hunt rules in the early 1950s. 

His first ride was at Southwell on April 16, 1951, when not only was his mount Gulvagh unplaced in the Hardwick Selling Handicap Hurdle, but Jack one of five jockeys ‘severely cautioned’ for being late into the parade ring.

He had his first success on October 6 that year, when Chadodean, trained by David Machin, landed the Hallfield Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby, taking the lead at the fifth flight and going on to score by three lengths. 

Jack had three wins on Penny Pool, also trained by Machin, before the season ended, and partnered that horse in Liverpool Hurdle on April 4, but they could only finish 12th in a field of 18.

There were three more wins in 1952/53, then Jack had a final victory at Cartmel on June 5, 1954, when, in a close finish to the Bigland Handicap Hurdle, his mount Grandad beat Nimrod Wilkinson on Country Planning by a neck, with Stan Mellor half a length away in third on Straight Border. It was Jack’s fourth win on Grandad, who was trained by former jump jockey Avril Vasey. It was also Jack’s last ride, so at least he bowed out on a winner.

Jack Steade’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Chadodean, Wetherby, October 6, 1951

2. Penny Pool, Leicester, November 27, 1951

3. Penny Pool, Leicester, January 8, 1952

4. Penny Pool, Doncaster, March 18, 1952

5. Grandad, Doncaster, February 6, 1953

6. Grandad, Market Rasen, March 7, 1953

7. Grandad, Doncaster, March 17, 1953

8. Grandad, Cartmel, June 5, 1954