Maurice Thery

Maurice Thery

Article by Alan Trout

French jump jockey Maurice Thery was having his first ride in Britain when partnering Trocadero, owned by the Vicomte Max de Rivaud, in the 1933 Grand National. The nine-year-old French raider had already run once in England that season when a faller at Wolverhampton 11 days earlier with Tim Hamey aboard. Now, with Maurice Thery in the saddle, Trocadero completed the course in seventh place behind Dudley Williams on Kellsboro’ Jack. 

Horse and jockey returned the following year and followed a similar route with a warm up race. This time it was the National Trial Chase at Gatwick and this time they finished ninth, but at Liverpool 20 days later they were knocked over by a loose horse at the 23rd fence, with victory going to Golden Miller. 

Following two brief stints in Britain, Maurice stayed longer in the 1935/36 season and had five wins. The first of those came at Gatwick on December 5 when Row On beat Sean Magee’s mount Waukoo by four lengths to land the Wickham Handicap Chase. 

In his third attempt over the Liverpool fences in the Stanley Chase on March 26, 1936, he finished second on Impossible, beaten 20 lengths by Eric Brown on Second Act.

Maurice had two wins in the following campaign, the last coming at Sandown Park on January 22 when Hors Bord scored by a length and a half in the Prince Albert Handicap Hurdle.

He rode for the last time in England on February 26, 1937, when Lagopede finished second, beaten eight lengths, by Evan Williams on Solar Bear in the Ashford Novices’ Hurdle at Kempton Park.

Maurice Thery’s English winners were, in chronological order: 

1. Row On, Gatwick, December 5, 1935

2. Tresalda, Gatwick, January 4, 1936

3. Greek Pie, Gatwick, February 29, 1936

4. Greek Pie, Hurst Park, March 13, 1936

5. Tom Piper, Sandown Park, March 31, 1936

6. Hors Bord, Gatwick, December 19, 1936

7. Hors Bord, Sandown Park, January 22, 1937