Alfred Yorke rode one winner under National Hunt rules in 1900, returning four years later to have three more victories, two on the same horse.
He had his first success at Bogside on April 5, 1900, when Bribery was a comfortable winner of the Eglinton Farmers’ Chase, beating four rivals and scoring by eight lengths. It was the five-year-old’s first race over jumps and he survived a technical objection to keep the race.
Alfred did not retain the ride and does not appear to have had any mounts during the next three years.
The arrival of the six-year-old Royal Hussar in 1904, having his first season under National Hunt rules, brought Alfred back to the winner’s enclosure. Their partnership did not start well with a fall at Malton on February 3, but six days later came a victory at Doncaster, beating two rivals to land the Try Again Chase by a length.
There were again two opponents for their next outing, at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, but this time the winning margin in the Selling Chase was three lengths.
At the South Wold NH meeting at Louth on April 14, Alfred gained a hollow victory when Fokien walked over for the Open Chase to give him his third victory of the season.
The next race on that South Wold card saw Royal Hussar once again face two rivals in the Grimsby Selling Chase, but this time he was beaten into second place by Mr J. D. Dunne riding his own horse Miss Bentley. After the race the Stewards asked Mr Dawon, the runner-up’s owner-trainer, and Alfred to explain the running of Royal Hussar. Not satisfied with their explanations they referred the matter to the Stewards of the National Hunt Committee, who exonerated Mr Dawson from all blame but considered that “Yorke’s riding was open to grave suspicion and therefore cautioned him severely as to his future”.
Alfred and Royal Hussar had one more start together but could only finish fourth in the Broughton Selling Chase at Cartmel on Whit Monday, May 23, 1904. Later the same afternoon he had his final ride when Fokien was unplaced in the Northern Counties Chase. In winning those three races that season, Alfred had faced a total of just four opponents.
Alfred Yorke’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Bribery, Bogside, April 5, 1900
2. Royal Hussar, Doncaster, February 9, 1904
3. Royal Hussar, Market Rasen, April 4, 1904
4. Fokien, South Wold Hunt, April 14, 1904
Alfred Yorke's first winner: Bribery, Bogside, April 5, 1900