Percy Tippler

1857 - 1941

Percy Robert Tippler was born at (probably) Dukes, Roxwell, on 17 August, 1857, to Essex farmers William and Maria Tippler.

The 1871 Census shows that he was a scholar there.

Young Percy learned to ride around the farm, and honed his skills with Essex Hounds and Hunt. He had his first ride on 21st April 1881 at the Essex Hunt meeting at Rundells where he finished 2nd riding his own horse, Lizabeth.

They raced again just two races later (they were tough in those days), once again finishing second.

His first winner came a year later at the Essex Hunt meeting at Harlow Bush on 12th April 1882, again riding Lizabeth which was his only winner for 1882.

Percy rode for the next 14 seasons uninterrupted: his best season came in 1888 when he rode 20 winners, putting him 6th in the amateurs championship and 10th in the overall championship.

For the next 9 seasons he regularly rode 10 or more winners.

He was listed in the 1891 Census as a Farmer & Trainer of Race Horses operating from The Grange, Fryerning Green, Ingatestone.

In 1896, he completed a 4-timer at Bungay in May.

He then seems to stop riding for 1897 and 1898.

Whether he joined up and went to the Sudan or just gave up to concentrate on the farm is unknown, but he was back in 1899 and, that season, rode 14 winners.

He took a bad fall from Dodor at Kempton on Friday, March 9, 1900, and was knocked unconscious. Happily, he recovered.

In the following year’s Census (1901) Percy was listed as a farmer - the Trainer of Racehorses had been removed. He rode this year in 36 races, winning 10.

He was a born rider: at Woodbridge, at a two days’ meeting, he rode six winners.

He could go to scale at 10st 7lbs.

Percy continued riding until 1902 (in which he rode 5 winners again).

He didn't ride in 1903 and only had a couple of mounts in 1904 (but no winners).

Percy rode for the final time in 1905: his solitary winner came at Chelmsford on the 13th April when he rode Heart's Delight (who finished alone in a 3 horse Maiden hurdle).

His final mount came the following day at the Ipswich, Essex and Suffolk hunt when he rode Heart's Delight into 2nd.

He then retired to run his farm and continued to ride to hounds with the local meet.

In 1906, he married Ethyl Mary Milbank

In all, Percy rode 202 winners which included 5 four timers and 9 trebles, mainly at his local meetings (he rode 25 winners at Chelmsford, 24 at Bungay and 19 at Ipswich).

He rode in 3 National Hunt chases at Sandown Park 1895, Hurst Park 1896 and at Kempton Park in 1900.

As a trainer, one of his patrons was Mr A. J. Edwards, of Beech Hill Farm, Essex, who was a fearless gambler when he fancied one of his own.

Percy also rode a lot of winners for the Duke of Hamlilton.

Oddly, Percy never rode in the Grand National, though he had great success abroad.

He won the Grosse Hamburg Steeplechase (three and three-quarter miles) in June 1888 and, in the same year, the Grosse Frankfurt Steeplechase. He also won the £500 Grosse Hopefegarten Steeple and the Moncheimer Steeplechase. In the mid-1880s he won the Baden Baden Steeplechase while at Frankfurt-on-Maine he won the big steeplechase three years in succession.

Percy was once riding in the four-mile Velká pardubická then in Austria-Hungary.

There was the usual parade before the race and among those watching the horses was the Princess of Pless. As Percy rode past he heard her say: ‘That’s the one I’m going to back - the one ridden by the Englishman.’

Percy’s horse jumped beautifully, never making a mistake, and was in front clearing the last obstacle.

Then, to his dismay, he heard a horse coming after him ‘like a fire engine.’ to use his own words. He realized immediately that it would pass his own before the post was reached.

A glance around told Percy that the horse was being ridden by a dashing, young cavalry officer, a fine horseman but, Percy hoped, impetuous.

After a second’s thought to decide on a strategy, Percy pulled out from the rails.

As he had hoped, the young officer then dashed his horse into the inside position - a great mistake. He should have kept on the outside where, because of the greater speed of his mount, he could easily have gone round the other.

Percy immediately closed up so closely that the officer could not get clear for a final run. Fifty yards from the post Percy rode his mount for all he was worth, and by his superior jockeyship, won the race.

There were loud shouts of ‘Objection’, and Percy was hauled before the stewards, who were presided over by Count Kinsky, a famous gentleman rider who had won the 1883 Grand National on Zoedone.

The Count asked Percy to explain.

‘Well,’ began Percy, ‘I had the right to the inside position by virtue of leading over the last. The officer came up on my inside and took my position.’

‘Quite right.’ concurred the Count. ‘The inside berth was yours by right. Some of these young officers need a lesson. Objection over-ruled.’

So Percy kept the race, but he often wondered whether the fact that the Princess of Pless had backed his mount had given him a friend at Court.

Percy Tippler died on September 6, 1941 of carcinoma of prostate at Ladle Flowers, White Roding, Essex, and is buried at White Roding churchyard.

Some of the horses Percy rode were Killiecrankie (for owner Mr Ducane, Parasite (Mr A. J. Edwards), Lucy (Mr Wayletts), Hockheimer (Mr Donnets), Morning Glory & Victoria (Mr S. Young), Red Saxon (Mr J.E. Tabor), Casuarina, Prince Paul, Blanchelle, Templar & Drummer Lad (Mr A. Cook & Covertside (Mr Solomon Young).

Horses which Percy probably owned himself included Diogenes, Lord Bounce and Sir Joseph.

Once, in Germany, Percy asked his good friend, jockey Teddy Martin, what he thought of his chances in a race the following day.

‘Oh - you can have a bit on my for a place,’ replied Teddy.

Now Percy knew that the horse had been tried with some good ones and he got the idea that Teddy was pretty sure of winning, but not wishing for the market to be spoilt for himself he had belittled the animal’s chance. So Percy backed the horse for a win, and win he did, like a real good thing.

Teddy, on leaving the weighing in room was all smiles.

‘Did you back me for a place?’ he asked Percy.

‘I did.’ came the reply. ‘The first place.’

I am very much indebted to Alan Trout & Rob Tippler for between them supplying all the information above.

George - Editor