Lawrence Whitfield
1899 - 1931
1899 - 1931
Born at Haltwhistle, Northumberland in 1899, Lawrence ‘Ginger’ Whitfield was a leading amateur rider during the inter-war period and could hold his own with all but the top professionals. He was champion amateur for the 1929/30 season and rode two winners over the Grand National fences. He was also pretty handy with his fists and had won the light-weight boxing championship when in the Royal Air Force.
Born at Haltwhistle, Northumberland in 1899, Lawrence ‘Ginger’ Whitfield was a leading amateur rider during the inter-war period and could hold his own with all but the top professionals. He was champion amateur for the 1929/30 season and rode two winners over the Grand National fences. He was also pretty handy with his fists and had won the light-weight boxing championship when in the Royal Air Force.
Ginger rode for the first time under National Hunt rules when trailing home last of four finishers on Chubb in a two-mile chase at the annual Brocklesby fixture on April 30, 1925. It was almost two years before he rode his first winner, 8-1 chance Baalbek, in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Bournemouth on April 9, 1927. From thereon he became a regular visitor to the winner’s enclosure.
Ginger rode for the first time under National Hunt rules when trailing home last of four finishers on Chubb in a two-mile chase at the annual Brocklesby fixture on April 30, 1925. It was almost two years before he rode his first winner, 8-1 chance Baalbek, in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Bournemouth on April 9, 1927. From thereon he became a regular visitor to the winner’s enclosure.
At Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting in 1928 he finished second on Big Wonder in the National Hunt Chase and third on Blennerhasset in the Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup. He rode 66-1 shot Rathmore in that year’s Grand National but, along with the vast majority of the field, was a casualty on the first circuit.
At Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting in 1928 he finished second on Big Wonder in the National Hunt Chase and third on Blennerhasset in the Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup. He rode 66-1 shot Rathmore in that year’s Grand National but, along with the vast majority of the field, was a casualty on the first circuit.
Ginger rode 20 winners during the 1929/30 season, resulting in him being crowned champion amateur rider.
Ginger rode 20 winners during the 1929/30 season, resulting in him being crowned champion amateur rider.
He rode his two biggest winners in 1930, both of them over the fearsome Aintree fences. He guided 10-1 chance Milltown II to a four-length triumph in the Liverpool Foxh8unters’ Chase, which in those days was run over the full Grand National distance of 4 miles 856 yards. In November he won the Valentine Amateur Riders’ Chase on 5-2 favourite Georginatown.
He rode his two biggest winners in 1930, both of them over the fearsome Aintree fences. He guided 10-1 chance Milltown II to a four-length triumph in the Liverpool Foxh8unters’ Chase, which in those days was run over the full Grand National distance of 4 miles 856 yards. In November he won the Valentine Amateur Riders’ Chase on 5-2 favourite Georginatown.
He had ridden ten winners since the National Hunt season had started in August and was to have ridden Sir Lindsay in the 1931 Grand National. However, that was not to be.
He had ridden ten winners since the National Hunt season had started in August and was to have ridden Sir Lindsay in the 1931 Grand National. However, that was not to be.
Riding a horse named John Hasty in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Hurst Park on January 16, 1931, he was leading the field when his mount took off too soon at the second fence after the water jump and fell, bringing down two other runners, one of whom kicked out and fractured Ginger’s spine.
Riding a horse named John Hasty in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Hurst Park on January 16, 1931, he was leading the field when his mount took off too soon at the second fence after the water jump and fell, bringing down two other runners, one of whom kicked out and fractured Ginger’s spine.
He died on Thursday, September 17, 1931 at the Star & Garter Hotel in Richmond, Surrey, where he had been lying in a crippled condition since his fall in January. He left £76.
He died on Thursday, September 17, 1931 at the Star & Garter Hotel in Richmond, Surrey, where he had been lying in a crippled condition since his fall in January. He left £76.
