Joe Spencer
Joe Spencer was one of the leading amateur riders of the immediate post-war years. He won three races at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting and finished fifth in the 1949 Grand National.
Joe Spencer was one of the leading amateur riders of the immediate post-war years. He won three races at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting and finished fifth in the 1949 Grand National.
He’d ridden winners during the late 1930s, his first being on Ringer II in the Tally-ho Hunters’ Chase at Quorn Hunt on April 12, 1939. He rode his second winner 12 days later on Stolen Prince in the Eastnor Hunters’ Chase at Colwall Park, then, two days after that, landed the United Hunts’ Cup Chase at Tarporley Hunt on Curiosity. On May 1, he rode Damory to win the Evesham Hurdle at Pershore. None of those four venues were to survive the war.
He’d ridden winners during the late 1930s, his first being on Ringer II in the Tally-ho Hunters’ Chase at Quorn Hunt on April 12, 1939. He rode his second winner 12 days later on Stolen Prince in the Eastnor Hunters’ Chase at Colwall Park, then, two days after that, landed the United Hunts’ Cup Chase at Tarporley Hunt on Curiosity. On May 1, he rode Damory to win the Evesham Hurdle at Pershore. None of those four venues were to survive the war.
He ended the 1938/39 campaign by winning the Northamptonshire Chase on Easter Rush at Towcester’s Whit Monday fixture, giving him a score of five for the season.
He ended the 1938/39 campaign by winning the Northamptonshire Chase on Easter Rush at Towcester’s Whit Monday fixture, giving him a score of five for the season.
However, it was after the war that he came to the fore, winning the 1946 United Hunts’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting on Rearmament.
However, it was after the war that he came to the fore, winning the 1946 United Hunts’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting on Rearmament.
Numerically, he enjoyed his most successful season in 1947/48 when riding 17 winners, placing him second in the amateur riders’ championship. The main contributor was a handicap chaser named Young Hero. In December, Joe and Young Hero won the Packwood Chase at Birmingham, then won on consecutive days at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting, and won again at Leicester in February. He finished third in the 1948 Welsh Grand National, held for the only time at Newport, on Salutation, beaten by two good horses, Bora’s Cottage and Royal Mount.
Numerically, he enjoyed his most successful season in 1947/48 when riding 17 winners, placing him second in the amateur riders’ championship. The main contributor was a handicap chaser named Young Hero. In December, Joe and Young Hero won the Packwood Chase at Birmingham, then won on consecutive days at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting, and won again at Leicester in February. He finished third in the 1948 Welsh Grand National, held for the only time at Newport, on Salutation, beaten by two good horses, Bora’s Cottage and Royal Mount.
Joe finished joint second in the amateur riders’ table in the 1948/49 season with 11 wins. In terms of big race victories, that campaign was his best, scoring twice at Cheltenham’s 1949 National Hunt Meeting: the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup on Compton Abdale and the Broadway Novices’ Chase (now the RSA Chase) on Glen Fire.
Joe finished joint second in the amateur riders’ table in the 1948/49 season with 11 wins. In terms of big race victories, that campaign was his best, scoring twice at Cheltenham’s 1949 National Hunt Meeting: the United Hunts’ Challenge Cup on Compton Abdale and the Broadway Novices’ Chase (now the RSA Chase) on Glen Fire.
The following week, Joe rode the Tom Yates-trained Flaming Steel to victory in the Ingestre Handicap Chase at Wolverhampton. He then rode him in the Grand National. Flaming Steel ran a fine race to finish fifth behind Russian Hero, Roimond, Royal Mount and Cromwell, despite having staked himself on one of the fences. Sadly, the injury proved fatal and Flaming Steel later had to be put down.
The following week, Joe rode the Tom Yates-trained Flaming Steel to victory in the Ingestre Handicap Chase at Wolverhampton. He then rode him in the Grand National. Flaming Steel ran a fine race to finish fifth behind Russian Hero, Roimond, Royal Mount and Cromwell, despite having staked himself on one of the fences. Sadly, the injury proved fatal and Flaming Steel later had to be put down.
He rode what would be the last two of his 40 winners over jumps when landing a double at Stratford on April 4, 1949, aboard 11-10 favourite Rearmament in the three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase and 5-1 chance Bright Daw in a division of the novices’ chase.
He rode what would be the last two of his 40 winners over jumps when landing a double at Stratford on April 4, 1949, aboard 11-10 favourite Rearmament in the three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase and 5-1 chance Bright Daw in a division of the novices’ chase.
He had his final ride under National Hunt rules when finishing seventh of eight on Wansford in the Morton National Hunt Flat race at Southwell on April 6, 1950.
He had his final ride under National Hunt rules when finishing seventh of eight on Wansford in the Morton National Hunt Flat race at Southwell on April 6, 1950.
Thereafter, Joe restricted himself to competing in amateur riders’ races on the Flat. He rode two winners in that sphere in 1952, one in 1953, and achieved his final victory on Snowshill Sailor for trainer Hector Smith at Leicester on November 12, 1956.
Thereafter, Joe restricted himself to competing in amateur riders’ races on the Flat. He rode two winners in that sphere in 1952, one in 1953, and achieved his final victory on Snowshill Sailor for trainer Hector Smith at Leicester on November 12, 1956.