Reggie West
Amateur rider William Reginald James Alston Roberts-West, popularly known as Reggie West, was born on September 5, 1900. He had his first ride at the Household Brigade meeting at Hawthorn Hill on April 8, 1922, finishing unplaced on a horse named Lightning in a field of 27 for that year’s Household Brigade Hunters’ Challenge Cup Chase.
Amateur rider William Reginald James Alston Roberts-West, popularly known as Reggie West, was born on September 5, 1900. He had his first ride at the Household Brigade meeting at Hawthorn Hill on April 8, 1922, finishing unplaced on a horse named Lightning in a field of 27 for that year’s Household Brigade Hunters’ Challenge Cup Chase.
It was at the corresponding fixture 12 months later, in the race after HRH Prince of Wales had won the Welsh Guards’ Challenge Cup on Little Favourite, that Reggie rode his first winner, aboard Marcoglass in a match for the prestigious Household Brigade Cup, being left to finish alone when their sole rival fell. Reappearing on the second day of the meeting and shouldering a 14lb penalty for their bloodless victory 24 hours earlier, they finished third in the Household Brigade Handicap Chase.
It was at the corresponding fixture 12 months later, in the race after HRH Prince of Wales had won the Welsh Guards’ Challenge Cup on Little Favourite, that Reggie rode his first winner, aboard Marcoglass in a match for the prestigious Household Brigade Cup, being left to finish alone when their sole rival fell. Reappearing on the second day of the meeting and shouldering a 14lb penalty for their bloodless victory 24 hours earlier, they finished third in the Household Brigade Handicap Chase.
Reggie came closest to winning a race of note at the Cheltenham Hunt meeting when finishing second on Red Bee, beaten four lengths, in the 1925 Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup.
Reggie came closest to winning a race of note at the Cheltenham Hunt meeting when finishing second on Red Bee, beaten four lengths, in the 1925 Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1927/28 when he rode 17 winners and finished the campaign as the champion amateur rider. His wins included the Victory Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on Hugh O’Neill; the Waddesdon Chase at Vale of Aylesbury on Doctor IX; the Beaufort Hunt Cup on Rollicker II; three successes on Roman Hackle (not the 1940 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner but a less distinguished horse of the same name) including the Household Brigade Handicap Chase and the West of England Chase at Torquay; and a double at Buckfastleigh’s Whitsun meeting.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1927/28 when he rode 17 winners and finished the campaign as the champion amateur rider. His wins included the Victory Handicap Chase at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting on Hugh O’Neill; the Waddesdon Chase at Vale of Aylesbury on Doctor IX; the Beaufort Hunt Cup on Rollicker II; three successes on Roman Hackle (not the 1940 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner but a less distinguished horse of the same name) including the Household Brigade Handicap Chase and the West of England Chase at Torquay; and a double at Buckfastleigh’s Whitsun meeting.
He had one ride in the Grand National, on 66-1 shot Red Lynch in 1928, but was one of many to be put out of the race when Easter Hero landed on top of the Canal Turn fence, which in those days was an open ditch.
He had one ride in the Grand National, on 66-1 shot Red Lynch in 1928, but was one of many to be put out of the race when Easter Hero landed on top of the Canal Turn fence, which in those days was an open ditch.
Reggie rode a total of 61 winners over jumps, the last of them at Kempton in November 1930. He had attained the rank of captain by the time of his final ride under National Hunt rules, pulling up on 20-1 outsider Willowsweet in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Newbury on March 1, 1933.
Reggie rode a total of 61 winners over jumps, the last of them at Kempton in November 1930. He had attained the rank of captain by the time of his final ride under National Hunt rules, pulling up on 20-1 outsider Willowsweet in the Amateurs’ Handicap Chase at Newbury on March 1, 1933.
Serving with the Grenadier Guards in World War Two, Reggie West was killed in action in Belgium on May 21, 1940, aged 39.
Serving with the Grenadier Guards in World War Two, Reggie West was killed in action in Belgium on May 21, 1940, aged 39.