Luke Snowden

1840 - 1862

Luke was the proverbial shooting star whose riding career lasted an all-too-short eight seasons. Inattentive and bored at school, he lived for horses. Born at Flixton, near Scarborough, he rode in the green and gold jacket of Mr Saxon (with whom he served out his apprenticeship) and the red and yellow colours of Lord Ailesbury.

Luke, the elder brother of jockey James, first rode in public in 1854, winning on five occasions that season. His last season was 1861 when he won sixty-four times. What, meanwhile, had stood him out from the rest was his exploits in the St Leger.

In just four rides he won twice (1858, Sunbeam and 1860, St Alban’s) and finished second on the other two occasions. Then, for good measure, he won the Oaks on Brown Duchess. During his last five seasons, his average was 58 winning mounts per year. He was well-liked and known for his honesty and skill.

He was asked to ride a horse named Claire, set to carry just 7 stone 6lbs. Luke spent the night walking, wearing four thick sweaters and a heavy horse rug. He refused himself water in case he’d be tempted to swallow some.

Next day he won the race, but fainted and fell out of the saddle as the horse passed the winning post. Luke had to be carried to his bed where he died, three days later, on January 14, from typhus fever. He was just 21.

Luke, who could barely read or write, rode a total of 334 winners.

Luke is buried at St Michaels’s Church, Lambourn. He was buried in the grave of his close friend who had died some years earlier.

The inscription on the tombstone reads 'Beneath this tomb in the grave of his departed friend are deposited the mortal remains of Luke Snowden who died on Jan 14th 1862 in the 21st year of his age'.

Luke Snowden’s classic wins:

The Oaks: Brown Duchess (1861)

St Leger: Sunbeam (1858) and St Albans (1860)