Reg Smith

Reg Smith

Article by Alan Trout

National Hunt jockey Reginald Smith enjoyed one good year when riding eight winners in 1920, returning in 1924 to add two more. All of his winners were trained by leading amateur rider Frank Atherton Brown, who had recently embarked on what would prove a successful second career. Nearly all of Reg’s winners were also owned by the trainer or his wife. 

Reg’s first ride in public was at Uttoxeter on October 14, 1919, when he partnered the four-year-old Robert Heath in an eventful Shrewsbury Chase. Robert Heath was one of six fallers in the seven-runner field, leaving Alf Newey to come home in splendid isolation on Irish Rebellion, also owned and trained by Frank Atherton Brown.  

Reg first tasted success when Parapluie won the Lighthorse Selling Hurdle at Warwick on February 4, 1920. It was the five-year-old’s first time on a racecourse yet he started favourite and won by a length and a half. 

The partnership won again at Leicester 12 days later and Reg added four more by the end of April. Another two followed by the end of the year but progress thereafter was slow. He continued to ride for the next three years without adding to his score.

His final two wins both came in April 1924, the second of them at the Rugby Hunt fixture where Lavender Kid was a decisive winner of the Selling Chase, scoring by 10 lengths. The winner was bought in by his trainer for 155 guineas after the race. However, Reg did not get to ride him again and his career ended soon after.  

Reg Smith’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Parapluie, Warwick, February 4, 1920

2. Parapluie, Leicester, February 16, 1920

3. Nubian, Colwall Park, March 22, 1920

4. Nubian, Southwell, April 3, 1920

5. Rockcorry, Hereford, April 5, 1920

6. Rockcorry, Cheltenham, April 14, 1920

7. Lavender Kid, Uttoxeter, October 18, 1920

8. Ramrock, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1920

9. Ditchley, Hereford, April 21, 1924

10. Lavender Kid, Rugby Hunt, April 25, 1924