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Tiger Wright
Tiger Wright
1921-1995
1921-1995
Harold William ‘Tiger’ Wright was one of South Africa’s greatest jockeys. He rode for nearly thirty years, winning 2,454 races and was champion jockey eleven times. He acquired his nickname during his time as an apprentice to Robby Whiteford when he would react belligerently to the older apprentices bullying him.
Harold William ‘Tiger’ Wright was one of South Africa’s greatest jockeys. He rode for nearly thirty years, winning 2,454 races and was champion jockey eleven times. He acquired his nickname during his time as an apprentice to Robby Whiteford when he would react belligerently to the older apprentices bullying him.
He won South Africa’s most famous race, the Durban July Handicap, four times, on Silver Phantom (1942), Brookhill (1947), Milesia Pride (1949) and Preto’s Crown (1955). Of that quarter, Silver Phantom, trained by Ted Shaw, was the best. Tiger was so confident that he would win the big race that he borrowed £1,000 from the horse’s owners towards buying a house in Durban.
He won South Africa’s most famous race, the Durban July Handicap, four times, on Silver Phantom (1942), Brookhill (1947), Milesia Pride (1949) and Preto’s Crown (1955). Of that quarter, Silver Phantom, trained by Ted Shaw, was the best. Tiger was so confident that he would win the big race that he borrowed £1,000 from the horse’s owners towards buying a house in Durban.
He had two brief spells riding in Britain, the first of which was in 1947, when he arrived with the promise of rides from trainers Charlie Pratt and Florence Nagle. He nearly made a dream start on his first ride in England, finishing second on Dialect at Worcester on 19 May, beaten a length by Gordon Richards on the 5-4 favourite Overcast.
He had two brief spells riding in Britain, the first of which was in 1947, when he arrived with the promise of rides from trainers Charlie Pratt and Florence Nagle. He nearly made a dream start on his first ride in England, finishing second on Dialect at Worcester on 19 May, beaten a length by Gordon Richards on the 5-4 favourite Overcast.
It did not take Tiger long to get off the mark, for just four days later, 23 May, he rode his first British winner on 6-1 chance Knee Joint, trained by Charlie Pratt, in the five-furlong Bishopsgarth Three-Year-Old Handicap at Stockton.
It did not take Tiger long to get off the mark, for just four days later, 23 May, he rode his first British winner on 6-1 chance Knee Joint, trained by Charlie Pratt, in the five-furlong Bishopsgarth Three-Year-Old Handicap at Stockton.
His second winner came on Knaves Castle in the Tedworth Selling Plate at Epsom on Coronation Cup day, 6 June. His third followed three days later on 11-2 chance Willich in the Three-Year-Old Handicap at Lewes. He ended his stay with three winners from 35 rides.
His second winner came on Knaves Castle in the Tedworth Selling Plate at Epsom on Coronation Cup day, 6 June. His third followed three days later on 11-2 chance Willich in the Three-Year-Old Handicap at Lewes. He ended his stay with three winners from 35 rides.
Back in South Africa he won a host of big races. His major victories, in addition to his four July Handicap triumphs, included back-to-back runnings of the Metropolitan Handicap on Bovidale (1946) and Thorium (1947); the South African Derby on Cape Heath (1944) and Restore (1949); the Benoni Guineas on Ruddygore (1944); the Champion Stakes on Milesia Pride (1949); the Natal Derby on the outstanding filly King’s Pact (1953); and three renewals of the Johannesburg Summer Handicap on Cape Heath (dead-heat, 1946), Java (1956) and White Foam (1960).
Back in South Africa he won a host of big races. His major victories, in addition to his four July Handicap triumphs, included back-to-back runnings of the Metropolitan Handicap on Bovidale (1946) and Thorium (1947); the South African Derby on Cape Heath (1944) and Restore (1949); the Benoni Guineas on Ruddygore (1944); the Champion Stakes on Milesia Pride (1949); the Natal Derby on the outstanding filly King’s Pact (1953); and three renewals of the Johannesburg Summer Handicap on Cape Heath (dead-heat, 1946), Java (1956) and White Foam (1960).
He returned to England for another brief stay in 1961 and this time had just one winner from 18 rides. His sole success came aboard 9-1 chance Firewalker, trained at Newmarket by Bill O’Gorman, in the Pall Mall Three-Year-Old Handicap at Hurst Park on 28 April, beating Joe mercer’s mount, Allegation, by four lengths.
He returned to England for another brief stay in 1961 and this time had just one winner from 18 rides. His sole success came aboard 9-1 chance Firewalker, trained at Newmarket by Bill O’Gorman, in the Pall Mall Three-Year-Old Handicap at Hurst Park on 28 April, beating Joe mercer’s mount, Allegation, by four lengths.
He retired from race-riding in 1964 following a fall at his home and turned his attention to training, based in Durban. He died in 1995.
He retired from race-riding in 1964 following a fall at his home and turned his attention to training, based in Durban. He died in 1995.
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