Jack Waugh

Jack Waugh

1901 - 1983

Article by Alan Trout

Although John Cundell Waugh, known as Jack, rode on the Flat during World War I, he had no success until switching to the National Hunt scene where he had nine winners in the mid-1920s.

Born on June 4, 1901, he was apprenticed to Len Cundell and had his first ride on Cimolotem, one of 32 runners to contest the Selling Welter Handicap at Newmarket on July 29, 1915. He was unplaced that day but continued to ride on the Flat until 1917.

He did not venture over jumps until November 4, 1924, when partnering Festoon, unplaced in the Walsall Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton. Following two more starts which yielded one fourth place, the combination were finally successful at Windsor on December 18 when landing the Oakside Handicap Hurdle. Jack doubled his score just eight days later when Croissant won the Boxing Day Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton. 

He rode seven winners over the next 18 months including three on the long-distance hurdler Glen Andred. Whereas Richard Hiatt trained Killucan when scoring at Uttoxeter in April 1925, all Jack’s other winners were for Len Cundell, including Festoon, which, as well as being Jack’s first winner, was also his last when taking the City Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on April 29, 1926. 

Lovely Maiden was Jack’s final ride when finishing unplaced in the Wistow Selling Handicap Hurdle At Leicester on February 27, 1928.

He took out a trainer’s licence in 1933, based at Chilton, near Didcot, in Berkshire, achieving his first important success with Crawley Ward in the 1935 Great Metropolitan Handicap at Epsom. His career reached its height in the late 1940s and early 1950s when major wins included: 

1948: Richmond Stakes – Star King

1948: Gimcrack Stakes – Star King

1949: Greenham Stakes – Star King

1949: Jersey Stakes – Star King

1950: Ascot Gold Cup – Supertello

1952: Liverpool Spring Cup – Grani    

Stan Clayton and Duncan Keith were among the fine jockeys that Jack used, although five-time champion Doug Smith was on board when Supertello gave him his greatest victory in the Ascot Gold Cup.

Jack Waugh retired in 1964. He died in 1983.

His winners as a jockey were, in chronological order:

1. Festoon, Windsor, December 18, 1924

2. Croissant, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1924

3. Glen Andred, Wolverhampton, March 16, 1925

4. Kate Hardcastle, Bournemouth, April 17, 1935

5. Festoon, Bournemouth, April 18, 1925

6. Killucan, Uttoxeter, April 28, 1925

7. Glen Andred, Pershore, May 4, 1925

8. Glen Andred, Bournemouth, March 31, 1926

9. Festoon, Worcester, April 29, 1926