Sam Wragg
1909 -1983
1909 -1983
Sam Wragg was born at 27, Portland Lane, Sheffield on March 26, 1909. Like his older brother, Harry, Sam Wragg was apprenticed to Bob Colling at Newmarket and, whilst his career was somewhat overshadowed by Harry's, rode with much success in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sam Wragg was born at 27, Portland Lane, Sheffield on March 26, 1909. Like his older brother, Harry, Sam Wragg was apprenticed to Bob Colling at Newmarket and, whilst his career was somewhat overshadowed by Harry's, rode with much success in the 1930s and 1940s.
He rode his first winner on Rock Cake in the five-furlong Melton Selling Handicap at Leicester on March 31, 1926. He was champion apprentice in 1927 with 38 wins.
He rode his first winner on Rock Cake in the five-furlong Melton Selling Handicap at Leicester on March 31, 1926. He was champion apprentice in 1927 with 38 wins.
His first important success came on Hot Bun in the Liverpool Autumn in 1930. His next victory of note was with Poor Lad, who won the 1931 Stewards Cup.
His first important success came on Hot Bun in the Liverpool Autumn in 1930. His next victory of note was with Poor Lad, who won the 1931 Stewards Cup.
He achieved the first of his four classic successes on Chatelaine in the 1933 Oaks. He also won the 1938 One Thousand Guineas on Rockfel, the 1940 Derby at Newmarket on Pont l'Eveque, and the 1943 Two Thousand Guineas on Kingsway.
He achieved the first of his four classic successes on Chatelaine in the 1933 Oaks. He also won the 1938 One Thousand Guineas on Rockfel, the 1940 Derby at Newmarket on Pont l'Eveque, and the 1943 Two Thousand Guineas on Kingsway.
After the war he was on board Star King, one of the outstanding two-year-olds of 1948 on whom he won the Richmond Stakes and the Gimcrack Stakes. Sam rated Star King as the best he rode during his career. The horse was subsequently exported to Australia where he founded a breeding dynasty.
After the war he was on board Star King, one of the outstanding two-year-olds of 1948 on whom he won the Richmond Stakes and the Gimcrack Stakes. Sam rated Star King as the best he rode during his career. The horse was subsequently exported to Australia where he founded a breeding dynasty.
Sam retired in 1953, having ridden his last winner on Darius, trained by his brother Harry, in the Fitzwilliam Maiden Plate at Doncaster on May 23 of that year.
Sam retired in 1953, having ridden his last winner on Darius, trained by his brother Harry, in the Fitzwilliam Maiden Plate at Doncaster on May 23 of that year.
He then moved to Newbury, where he remained for the rest of his life. He died there following a long illness on November 21, 1983, aged 74. His daughter, Penny, married Grand National-winning jockey Johnny Bullock in 1961.
He then moved to Newbury, where he remained for the rest of his life. He died there following a long illness on November 21, 1983, aged 74. His daughter, Penny, married Grand National-winning jockey Johnny Bullock in 1961.
His four Classic wins were:
His four Classic wins were:
Oaks on Chatelaine (1933)
Oaks on Chatelaine (1933)
One Thousand Guineas on Rockfel (1938)
One Thousand Guineas on Rockfel (1938)
Derby on Pont l’Eveque (1940)
Derby on Pont l’Eveque (1940)
Two Thousand Guineas on Kingsway (1943)
Two Thousand Guineas on Kingsway (1943)
His other big race wins were:
His other big race wins were:
1930: Liverpool Autumn Cup – Hot Bun
1930: Liverpool Autumn Cup – Hot Bun
1931: Stewards Cup – Poor Lad
1931: Stewards Cup – Poor Lad
1932: Queen’s Prize – Scardroy
1932: Queen’s Prize – Scardroy
1934: Queen’s Prize – Negro
1934: Queen’s Prize – Negro
1935: Stewards Cup – Greenore
1935: Stewards Cup – Greenore
1935: Ayr Gold Cup – Greenore
1935: Ayr Gold Cup – Greenore
1935: Manchester November Handicap – Free Fare
1935: Manchester November Handicap – Free Fare
1937: Nunthorpe Stakes – Ipsden
1937: Nunthorpe Stakes – Ipsden
1937: Cesarewitch – Punch
1937: Cesarewitch – Punch
1938: Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Rockfel
1938: Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Rockfel
1941: Cesarewitch – Filator
1941: Cesarewitch – Filator
1947: July Cup – Falls of Clyde
1947: July Cup – Falls of Clyde
1948: Richmond Stakes – Star King
1948: Richmond Stakes – Star King
1948: Gimcrack Stakes – Star King
1948: Gimcrack Stakes – Star King