James Scallan
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey James Joseph Scallan was born on 10 January, 1942. He did well in point-to-points in his native Ireland before coming to Newmarket where he initially joined Noel Murless and then David Thom in the spring of 1965.
National Hunt jockey James Joseph Scallan was born on 10 January, 1942. He did well in point-to-points in his native Ireland before coming to Newmarket where he initially joined Noel Murless and then David Thom in the spring of 1965.
He operated from Newmarket for most of his riding career and married Catherine O'Toole on April 9, 1965. She gave him one son, Sean Patrick – who would later ride for him as an amateur – and one daughter, Anne-Marie.
He operated from Newmarket for most of his riding career and married Catherine O'Toole on April 9, 1965. She gave him one son, Sean Patrick – who would later ride for him as an amateur – and one daughter, Anne-Marie.
He, gained his first success under National Hunt rules for David Thom on Royal Charter in the Dunkirk Handicap Chase at Southwell on March 7, 1966. That was his sole success that season but he rode two the next, both on Thom’s hurdler John Cameron on successive Saturdays in February 1967, beginning with the valuable Lonsdale Handicap Hurdle at Kempton and following up at Wetherby seven days later.
He, gained his first success under National Hunt rules for David Thom on Royal Charter in the Dunkirk Handicap Chase at Southwell on March 7, 1966. That was his sole success that season but he rode two the next, both on Thom’s hurdler John Cameron on successive Saturdays in February 1967, beginning with the valuable Lonsdale Handicap Hurdle at Kempton and following up at Wetherby seven days later.
It was almost three years before he rode his next winner, David Thom’s Mossdale in a maiden chase Leicester in January 1970. By that time there was a similarly-named jockey, James John Scallan, who was based with Charles Bennion at Bircham Newton, near Kings Lynn. He’d opened his account when winning a Wetherby novices’ chase on Bennion’s 33-1 outsider Mangaroo (left) on October 5, 1968.
It was almost three years before he rode his next winner, David Thom’s Mossdale in a maiden chase Leicester in January 1970. By that time there was a similarly-named jockey, James John Scallan, who was based with Charles Bennion at Bircham Newton, near Kings Lynn. He’d opened his account when winning a Wetherby novices’ chase on Bennion’s 33-1 outsider Mangaroo (left) on October 5, 1968.
To avoid confusion, from thereon the Newmarket-based rider rode as Joseph Scallan, while Bennion’s jockey rode as John Scallan. Having said that, Joseph was sometimes listed as ‘Jos’, ‘James’ or ‘Jas’ in the newspapers. The two jockeys rode in the same race on more than one occasion – for example, at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1969 – but John rode only three winners during his brief career whereas James was far more successful.
To avoid confusion, from thereon the Newmarket-based rider rode as Joseph Scallan, while Bennion’s jockey rode as John Scallan. Having said that, Joseph was sometimes listed as ‘Jos’, ‘James’ or ‘Jas’ in the newspapers. The two jockeys rode in the same race on more than one occasion – for example, at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1969 – but John rode only three winners during his brief career whereas James was far more successful.
James, or Joseph – let’s call him Joseph for consistency – rode three winners during the 1970/71 campaign, the first of them on Absolute, way up at Perth for Newmarket owner-trainer Peter Poston, who trained a dual-purpose string of horses and delighted in travelling as far as possible to take full advantage of the generous travelling allowances then in place. Poston was a regular at the Scottish courses and rarely saddled one south of Ripon. He won another race for Poston later that season, this time at a local fixture, when hurdler Sharp Rumour obliged at Fakenham on Easter Monday.
James, or Joseph – let’s call him Joseph for consistency – rode three winners during the 1970/71 campaign, the first of them on Absolute, way up at Perth for Newmarket owner-trainer Peter Poston, who trained a dual-purpose string of horses and delighted in travelling as far as possible to take full advantage of the generous travelling allowances then in place. Poston was a regular at the Scottish courses and rarely saddled one south of Ripon. He won another race for Poston later that season, this time at a local fixture, when hurdler Sharp Rumour obliged at Fakenham on Easter Monday.
Two more Newmarket trainers supplied Joseph with winners in the 1971/72 season: Fiddler Goodwill’s Sailor Drake (left) at Leicester in February, and Bill Holden’s Manaval at Huntingdon on Whit Monday. Eleven months then passed before Jack Hardy’s selling hurdler Demitassgo won at Fakenham on Easter Monday to give Joseph the tenth success of his career and have his claim cut from 7lb to 5lb. Back at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1973, Joseph notched his first double, aboard the Jack Hardy duo Demitassgo and Golden Crescent.
Two more Newmarket trainers supplied Joseph with winners in the 1971/72 season: Fiddler Goodwill’s Sailor Drake (left) at Leicester in February, and Bill Holden’s Manaval at Huntingdon on Whit Monday. Eleven months then passed before Jack Hardy’s selling hurdler Demitassgo won at Fakenham on Easter Monday to give Joseph the tenth success of his career and have his claim cut from 7lb to 5lb. Back at Huntingdon on Whit Monday 1973, Joseph notched his first double, aboard the Jack Hardy duo Demitassgo and Golden Crescent.
His score leapt to a career-best five in 1973/74, with top Newmarket jumps trainer Tom Jones helping him on his way with a pair of winning novice hurdlers, Tempered Steel at Huntingdon in October and Tartar Prince at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. The other three wins were all on a novice hurdler named Captain Ezra, owned and trained by Bob Finch near Colchester. Captain Ezra, instantly recognisable equipped with white hood and sheepskin noseband, would become the mainstay of Joseph’s riding and training career for many years to come.
His score leapt to a career-best five in 1973/74, with top Newmarket jumps trainer Tom Jones helping him on his way with a pair of winning novice hurdlers, Tempered Steel at Huntingdon in October and Tartar Prince at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. The other three wins were all on a novice hurdler named Captain Ezra, owned and trained by Bob Finch near Colchester. Captain Ezra, instantly recognisable equipped with white hood and sheepskin noseband, would become the mainstay of Joseph’s riding and training career for many years to come.
Both of Joseph’s wins in 1974/75 came courtesy of Captain Ezra, firstly in Towcester’s Northamptonshire Chronicle and Echo Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle in November, then in the William Hill Beginners’ Trophy Hurdle at Warwick at the end of December. Similarly, two of his four winners in 75/76 were on Captain Ezra, including when initiating the second double of Joseph’s career at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1976, this being completed by another Bob Finch-trained hurdler, Natalaris. Two of his three winners in 76/77 were also gained on Captain Ezra.
Both of Joseph’s wins in 1974/75 came courtesy of Captain Ezra, firstly in Towcester’s Northamptonshire Chronicle and Echo Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle in November, then in the William Hill Beginners’ Trophy Hurdle at Warwick at the end of December. Similarly, two of his four winners in 75/76 were on Captain Ezra, including when initiating the second double of Joseph’s career at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1976, this being completed by another Bob Finch-trained hurdler, Natalaris. Two of his three winners in 76/77 were also gained on Captain Ezra.
Sent chasing at the start of the 1977/78 season, Captain Ezra won at Fakenham in September and, fittingly, gave Joseph what would turn out to be his 28th and final winner, at Southwell on December 5, 1977.
Sent chasing at the start of the 1977/78 season, Captain Ezra won at Fakenham in September and, fittingly, gave Joseph what would turn out to be his 28th and final winner, at Southwell on December 5, 1977.
Joseph took over the training of Captain Ezra, plus a dozen other horses, the following season, based at Wissington Grange Stud, Nayland, near Colchester. However, Captain Ezra proved difficult to keep right and was restricted to a handful of outings per season. He had just two runs in 78/79, both over hurdles and both of them unplaced. He finished third twice from six starts in 79/80; second over fences at Fakenham from three starts in 80/81; and third once from four starts in 1982, which included a last flight fall at Fakenham on Easter Monday, April 12, 1982, that being Joseph’s final mount in public.
Joseph took over the training of Captain Ezra, plus a dozen other horses, the following season, based at Wissington Grange Stud, Nayland, near Colchester. However, Captain Ezra proved difficult to keep right and was restricted to a handful of outings per season. He had just two runs in 78/79, both over hurdles and both of them unplaced. He finished third twice from six starts in 79/80; second over fences at Fakenham from three starts in 80/81; and third once from four starts in 1982, which included a last flight fall at Fakenham on Easter Monday, April 12, 1982, that being Joseph’s final mount in public.
He continued to train Captain Ezra, who was by then a teenager but it wasn’t yet time for him to be retired. On January 19, 1983, the 14-year-old won a Folkestone selling chase; and at the end of the following season, on his final start, he finished second, aged 15, in a similar race at Huntingdon on Whit Monday, May 28, 1984.
He continued to train Captain Ezra, who was by then a teenager but it wasn’t yet time for him to be retired. On January 19, 1983, the 14-year-old won a Folkestone selling chase; and at the end of the following season, on his final start, he finished second, aged 15, in a similar race at Huntingdon on Whit Monday, May 28, 1984.
Joseph’s final entry in the ‘Horses in Training’ annual is 1988, suggesting that he relinquished his licence some time that year.
Joseph’s final entry in the ‘Horses in Training’ annual is 1988, suggesting that he relinquished his licence some time that year.
Eleven of Joseph’s – or James, or Jimmy, if you prefer – 28 winners were gained on Captain Ezra. He was also something of a bank holiday ‘specialist’, with a total of 11 wins occurring on Boxing Day, Easter Monday or Whit Monday. When not riding and training, he enjoyed watching football and also liked country & western music.
Eleven of Joseph’s – or James, or Jimmy, if you prefer – 28 winners were gained on Captain Ezra. He was also something of a bank holiday ‘specialist’, with a total of 11 wins occurring on Boxing Day, Easter Monday or Whit Monday. When not riding and training, he enjoyed watching football and also liked country & western music.
James Joseph Scallan’s (he rode as Joseph) winners were, in chronological order:
James Joseph Scallan’s (he rode as Joseph) winners were, in chronological order:
1. Royal Charter, Southwell, March 7, 1966
1. Royal Charter, Southwell, March 7, 1966
2. John Cameron, Kempton Park, February 4, 1967
2. John Cameron, Kempton Park, February 4, 1967
3. John Cameron, Wetherby, February 11, 1967
3. John Cameron, Wetherby, February 11, 1967
4. Mossdale, Leicester, January 19, 1970
4. Mossdale, Leicester, January 19, 1970
5. Absolute, Perth, September 23, 1970
5. Absolute, Perth, September 23, 1970
6. Jinks Rose, Wolverhampton, February 13, 1971
6. Jinks Rose, Wolverhampton, February 13, 1971
7. Sharp Rumour, Fakenham, April 12, 1971
7. Sharp Rumour, Fakenham, April 12, 1971
8. Sailor Drake, Leicester, February 7, 1972
8. Sailor Drake, Leicester, February 7, 1972
9. Manaval, Huntingdon, May 29, 1972
9. Manaval, Huntingdon, May 29, 1972
10. Demitassgo, Fakenham, April 23, 1973
10. Demitassgo, Fakenham, April 23, 1973
11. Demitassgo, Huntingdon, May 28, 1973
11. Demitassgo, Huntingdon, May 28, 1973
12. Golden Crescent, Huntingdon, May 28, 1973
12. Golden Crescent, Huntingdon, May 28, 1973
13. Tempered Steel, Huntingdon, October 27, 1973
13. Tempered Steel, Huntingdon, October 27, 1973
14. Tartar Prince, Market Rasen, December 26, 1973
14. Tartar Prince, Market Rasen, December 26, 1973
15. Captain Ezra, Leicester, February 3, 1974
15. Captain Ezra, Leicester, February 3, 1974
16. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, April 15, 1974
16. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, April 15, 1974
17. Captain Ezra, Huntingdon, May 27, 1974
17. Captain Ezra, Huntingdon, May 27, 1974
18. Captain Ezra, Towcester, November 28, 1974
18. Captain Ezra, Towcester, November 28, 1974
19. Captain Ezra, Warwick, December 28, 1974
19. Captain Ezra, Warwick, December 28, 1974
20. Speed Cop, Nottingham, November 10, 1975
20. Speed Cop, Nottingham, November 10, 1975
21. Captain Ezra, Lingfield Park, March 19, 1976
21. Captain Ezra, Lingfield Park, March 19, 1976
22. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, April 19, 1976
22. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, April 19, 1976
23. Natalaris, Fakenham, April 19, 1976
23. Natalaris, Fakenham, April 19, 1976
24. Captain Ezra, Huntingdon, Octoberv23, 1976
24. Captain Ezra, Huntingdon, Octoberv23, 1976
25. Captain Ezra, Leicester, November 16, 1976
25. Captain Ezra, Leicester, November 16, 1976
26. Dark Point, Fakenham, April 11, 1977
26. Dark Point, Fakenham, April 11, 1977
27. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, September 19, 1977
27. Captain Ezra, Fakenham, September 19, 1977
28. Captain Ezra, Southwell, December 5, 1977
28. Captain Ezra, Southwell, December 5, 1977
For information, James John Scallan’s (he rode as John) three winners were:
For information, James John Scallan’s (he rode as John) three winners were:
1. Mangaroo, Wetherby, October 5, 1968
1. Mangaroo, Wetherby, October 5, 1968
2. Blond Emigrant, Market Rasen, December 27, 1969
2. Blond Emigrant, Market Rasen, December 27, 1969
3. Stage Struck, Warwick, May 3, 1971
3. Stage Struck, Warwick, May 3, 1971