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James Terretta
James Terretta
1880-1916
1880-1916
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
After riding two winners on the Flat, James Terretta had more success over jumps with 13 victories between 1906 and 1910.
After riding two winners on the Flat, James Terretta had more success over jumps with 13 victories between 1906 and 1910.
He was apprenticed to John Powney and had his first success at Sandown Park on April 29, 1897, when his mount Wild Ray won the Guildford Handicap. Having been prominent throughout, the three-year-old “ran all over the course from the distance,” as the Sportsman newspaper reported it, but was still able to hold the challenge of Reprobate, ridden by top jockey Sam Loates, and win by a head.
He was apprenticed to John Powney and had his first success at Sandown Park on April 29, 1897, when his mount Wild Ray won the Guildford Handicap. Having been prominent throughout, the three-year-old “ran all over the course from the distance,” as the Sportsman newspaper reported it, but was still able to hold the challenge of Reprobate, ridden by top jockey Sam Loates, and win by a head.
Five years elapsed before his second and final win on the Flat. This came at Birmingham on June 28, 1902, when Dumbarton Castle, owned by Captain Orr-Ewing, came through in the final furlong to overhaul Ellerobin, again partnered by Sam Loates, and win the Wellesbourne Juvenile Plate by a length and a half. The winner was having his first run, and “the child jockey,” as James was described by the Sportsman, was subsequently replaced by Bill Halsey who quickly ran up a hat-trick of wins on him.
Five years elapsed before his second and final win on the Flat. This came at Birmingham on June 28, 1902, when Dumbarton Castle, owned by Captain Orr-Ewing, came through in the final furlong to overhaul Ellerobin, again partnered by Sam Loates, and win the Wellesbourne Juvenile Plate by a length and a half. The winner was having his first run, and “the child jockey,” as James was described by the Sportsman, was subsequently replaced by Bill Halsey who quickly ran up a hat-trick of wins on him.
James did not ride on the Flat after 1902 and it was not until 1906 that he had his first rides over jumps. He began with a winning one when the three-year-old filly Gladsome, also making her debut over jumps, as were all her six rivals, recorded an easy 10-length success in the Solihull Tradesmen’s Hurdle over a mile and a half for three-year-olds at Shirley Park on September 6. (Mile and a half hurdle races for juvenile hurdlers were common practice at that time.)
James did not ride on the Flat after 1902 and it was not until 1906 that he had his first rides over jumps. He began with a winning one when the three-year-old filly Gladsome, also making her debut over jumps, as were all her six rivals, recorded an easy 10-length success in the Solihull Tradesmen’s Hurdle over a mile and a half for three-year-olds at Shirley Park on September 6. (Mile and a half hurdle races for juvenile hurdlers were common practice at that time.)
James looked to stand a very good chance of a double later on that Shirley Park card, for he rode the 3-1 on favourite Triplands in a match for the Knowle Chase. However, the eight-year-old missed a flag a mile and a half from the finish and “was not persevered with,” leaving George Lyall on Indian Tim to come home alone. The stewards called James in after the race and “considered that he was most careless,” cautioning him as to his future riding and ”to be more careful in his conduct”.
James looked to stand a very good chance of a double later on that Shirley Park card, for he rode the 3-1 on favourite Triplands in a match for the Knowle Chase. However, the eight-year-old missed a flag a mile and a half from the finish and “was not persevered with,” leaving George Lyall on Indian Tim to come home alone. The stewards called James in after the race and “considered that he was most careless,” cautioning him as to his future riding and ”to be more careful in his conduct”.
Despite that setback, James won another race on Gladsome before the end of the year, although he never rode Triplands again.
Despite that setback, James won another race on Gladsome before the end of the year, although he never rode Triplands again.
Over the next four years he notched up another 11 wins, seven of them in 1909. He also had a ride in that year’s Becher Chase over the Liverpool fences but his mount, Norman The Fiddler, fell, as did all the other seven runners, although eventually Tom Bssill remounted Moorside II to win the race.
Over the next four years he notched up another 11 wins, seven of them in 1909. He also had a ride in that year’s Becher Chase over the Liverpool fences but his mount, Norman The Fiddler, fell, as did all the other seven runners, although eventually Tom Bssill remounted Moorside II to win the race.
Four of James’s 1909 wins were gained on the eight-year-old Sachem, and when he won on him again on the first day of 1910 it seemed likely that he would have another good year, but he had to wait until November for a second, and final, success. This came at Portsmouth Park when Island Chief beat The Tigress by a length to land the South Coast Handicap Chase. Island Chief had previously provided weighing room colleague Alf Warrington with the last win of his career at the same venue in April 1909.
Four of James’s 1909 wins were gained on the eight-year-old Sachem, and when he won on him again on the first day of 1910 it seemed likely that he would have another good year, but he had to wait until November for a second, and final, success. This came at Portsmouth Park when Island Chief beat The Tigress by a length to land the South Coast Handicap Chase. Island Chief had previously provided weighing room colleague Alf Warrington with the last win of his career at the same venue in April 1909.
James continued in the saddle until having his final ride at Pershore on May 4, 1914, when finishing third on a horse named ’45 in the Pensham Selling Handicap Hurdle.
James continued in the saddle until having his final ride at Pershore on May 4, 1914, when finishing third on a horse named ’45 in the Pensham Selling Handicap Hurdle.
When war broke out later that year, he served as a Private in the 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action at the Somme on November 13, 1916.
When war broke out later that year, he served as a Private in the 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. He was killed in action at the Somme on November 13, 1916.
James, the son of James and Fanny Terretta, was born at Epsom on 2 July 1880. He lived there his entire life. Aged 36, he was buried or cremated at Thieval Memorial in France.
James, the son of James and Fanny Terretta, was born at Epsom on 2 July 1880. He lived there his entire life. Aged 36, he was buried or cremated at Thieval Memorial in France.
James Terretta’s winners were, in chronological order:
James Terretta’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Wild Ray, Sandown Park, April 29, 1897
1. Wild Ray, Sandown Park, April 29, 1897
2. Dumbarton Castle, Birmingham, June 28, 1902
2. Dumbarton Castle, Birmingham, June 28, 1902
3. Gladsome, Shirley Park, September 10, 1906
3. Gladsome, Shirley Park, September 10, 1906
4. Gladsome, Lingfield Park, December 14, 1906
4. Gladsome, Lingfield Park, December 14, 1906
5. Royal Spa, Birmingham, April 22, 1907
5. Royal Spa, Birmingham, April 22, 1907
6. Sachem, Leicester, December 23, 1908
6. Sachem, Leicester, December 23, 1908
7. Sachem, Hurst Park, February 13, 1909
7. Sachem, Hurst Park, February 13, 1909
8. Sachem, Hurst Park, March 9, 1909
8. Sachem, Hurst Park, March 9, 1909
9. Blunderbuss, Haydock Park, March 19, 1909
9. Blunderbuss, Haydock Park, March 19, 1909
10. Sachem, Manchester, April 13, 1909
10. Sachem, Manchester, April 13, 1909
11. Tarquinius Superbus, Uttoxeter, April 15, 1909
11. Tarquinius Superbus, Uttoxeter, April 15, 1909
12. Kneed, Picton, April 19, 1909
12. Kneed, Picton, April 19, 1909
13. Sachem, Shincliffe, May 12, 1909
13. Sachem, Shincliffe, May 12, 1909
14. Sachem, Hurst Park, January 1, 1910
14. Sachem, Hurst Park, January 1, 1910
15. Island Chief, Portsmouth Park, November 25, 1910
15. Island Chief, Portsmouth Park, November 25, 1910
My thanks to Derek Gay for providing information on James Terretta’s military service and death.
My thanks to Derek Gay for providing information on James Terretta’s military service and death.
James's third winner was Gladsome at Shirley Park, September 10, 1906
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