Reg Tweedie

1911 - 1999

Robert Reginald Tweedie was born on July 6, 1911, on his father's farm at Coats, East Lothian.

Taught to ride by family friend Stewart Wight - who went on o become a successful trainer - Reg rode his first winner in a selling hurdle at Carlisle in 1932.

The highpoint of Reg's riding career came in the 1934 Foxhunters' Chase at Cheltenham when he booted home his father's Ballybrack.

Reg finished second in the 1937 amateur jockeys' table and, in 1940, had every chance of winning the Grand National on Venturesome Knight until his mount broke a blood vessel.

Reg, having ridden 128 winners, hung up his saddle in 1949 and began training.

His greatest triumph was undoubtedly Freddie, which he bought as an unbroken four-year-old.

Freddie came second in Jay Trump's National but won the Mildmay and the Great Yorkshire. Freddie was also runner-up in the Hennessy Gold Cup to the incomparable Arkle.

In 1937, Reg married Betty Robertson. She gave him two sons.

Reg Tweedie died on July 18, 1999. He was 88.