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Percy Whitaker
Percy Whitaker
1870-1944
1870-1944
Captain Percival Ayton Onley Whitaker was born in Suffolk on May 31, 1870, and was educated at Wellington before a short Army career serving with the Essex Regiment. Afterwards he joined Essex Militia in 1889 and was a Lieutenant in the Sussex Hussars from 1892.
Captain Percival Ayton Onley Whitaker was born in Suffolk on May 31, 1870, and was educated at Wellington before a short Army career serving with the Essex Regiment. Afterwards he joined Essex Militia in 1889 and was a Lieutenant in the Sussex Hussars from 1892.
He was the youngest Master of Foxhounds (MFH) in the country, serving with the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds from 1895 to 1897, and was afterwards Master of the Oakley until 1904.
He was the youngest Master of Foxhounds (MFH) in the country, serving with the Essex and Suffolk Foxhounds from 1895 to 1897, and was afterwards Master of the Oakley until 1904.
Percy was a fine amateur jockey. On March 27, 1901, he recorded a double at the last day’s racing at Bedfordshire Hunt Steeplechases, landing the Oakley Hunt Cup on Somerton and the Initial Steeplechase on Mustard.
Percy was a fine amateur jockey. On March 27, 1901, he recorded a double at the last day’s racing at Bedfordshire Hunt Steeplechases, landing the Oakley Hunt Cup on Somerton and the Initial Steeplechase on Mustard.
He began training, based at Royston, in 1906 while continuing to ride in races. He was crowned champion amateur rider in 1907 with 30 wins, including the first four races on the card at the final Oakley Hunt meeting on 15 March.
He began training, based at Royston, in 1906 while continuing to ride in races. He was crowned champion amateur rider in 1907 with 30 wins, including the first four races on the card at the final Oakley Hunt meeting on 15 March.
Percy retained his champion amateur crown in 1908 with 26 wins from 79 rides. He won that year’s National Hunt Chase on Rory O’Moore and the Liverpool Hurdle on San Martino. He also finished third in the Grand National on The Lawyer III, his first ride in the race.
Percy retained his champion amateur crown in 1908 with 26 wins from 79 rides. He won that year’s National Hunt Chase on Rory O’Moore and the Liverpool Hurdle on San Martino. He also finished third in the Grand National on The Lawyer III, his first ride in the race.
Percy rode Rory O’Moore in two Grand Nationals. Having been knocked over in 1911, they finished fourth behind Sunloch three years later.
Percy rode Rory O’Moore in two Grand Nationals. Having been knocked over in 1911, they finished fourth behind Sunloch three years later.
He trained three winners at Hooton Park’s Boxing Day meeting in 1914, all of them ridden by Grand National-winning jockey Georges Parfrement.
He trained three winners at Hooton Park’s Boxing Day meeting in 1914, all of them ridden by Grand National-winning jockey Georges Parfrement.
By 1916 he was training 36 horses. Though continuing to run his stable during the war years he also served at the same time with the Remount Service as Captain. Soon after the war ended he moved his string to St Giles at Salisbury while continuing to ride successfully as an amateur.
By 1916 he was training 36 horses. Though continuing to run his stable during the war years he also served at the same time with the Remount Service as Captain. Soon after the war ended he moved his string to St Giles at Salisbury while continuing to ride successfully as an amateur.
He trained and rode Silvo to win the 1923 Champion Chase at Liverpool and had the last of eight rides in the Grand National when falling on Arravale in 1924.
He trained and rode Silvo to win the 1923 Champion Chase at Liverpool and had the last of eight rides in the Grand National when falling on Arravale in 1924.
Other major training successes under National Hunt rules included the Champion Chase (1911), the Lancashire Chase (1910 and 1911), the Valentine Chase (1911), and the Paris Grand Steeplechase (1925).
Other major training successes under National Hunt rules included the Champion Chase (1911), the Lancashire Chase (1910 and 1911), the Valentine Chase (1911), and the Paris Grand Steeplechase (1925).
On April 1, 1926, Percy won the Pembroke Handicap Hurdle at Bournemouth with a horse named Hamlet, ridden by James Hogan. The significance of that result is that it was the first ever winner in Britain for the owner Mr H. J. (Jim) Joel, thus starting an involvement with the British Turf that was to last for seven decades.
On April 1, 1926, Percy won the Pembroke Handicap Hurdle at Bournemouth with a horse named Hamlet, ridden by James Hogan. The significance of that result is that it was the first ever winner in Britain for the owner Mr H. J. (Jim) Joel, thus starting an involvement with the British Turf that was to last for seven decades.
In 1928 he trained at Exning, moving to Newmarket in early 1932, training first at Hackness Villa and then at Paddock Cottage. He concentrated on the Flat, achieving his most important victories in the 1931 Lincolnshire Handicap, the 1932 St James’s Palace Stakes, and the 1935 Royal Hunt Cup.
In 1928 he trained at Exning, moving to Newmarket in early 1932, training first at Hackness Villa and then at Paddock Cottage. He concentrated on the Flat, achieving his most important victories in the 1931 Lincolnshire Handicap, the 1932 St James’s Palace Stakes, and the 1935 Royal Hunt Cup.
He died at Rous Memorial Hospital in Newmarket on October 2, 1944, aged 74, following a long illness during which his stable was run by Joe Thwaites. Captain Whitaker left £4,542.
He died at Rous Memorial Hospital in Newmarket on October 2, 1944, aged 74, following a long illness during which his stable was run by Joe Thwaites. Captain Whitaker left £4,542.
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