J. Zanker

J. Zanker 

Flat jockey J. Zanker (first name and nationality unknown) rode briefly in England during the 1860s and had four wins. He was seen as early as August 27, 1862, when finishing unplaced  on Spitfire in the Town Plate at Egham. Indeed, it is possible he may have ridden in races before that. 

His first win was on Netherdale in the Scurry Stakes at Harpenden on May 15, 1863, beating six rivals. According to Bell’s Life, Netherdale, who led all the way and won by a head, was owned by Captain Christie. 

Zanker’s other three wins were all gained on Fletton, a horse that appears to have changed owners at least three times in the space of a year. He first rode Fletton in the Town Plate at Egham on August 26, 1863, finishing unplaced. They then won the Ramsgate Plate at the Isle of Thanet (Margate) on September 15, beating four rivals, when the owner was listed as a Mr Reeves.

Next, Fletton and Zanker won a handicap at Tunbridge on September 23, 1863, this time beating three rivals, having disputed the lead for the first part of the race before drawing clear to win by six lengths. Although this was only eight days after their Isle of Thanet success, Fletton was now owned by Mr Mellon. Zanker had ridden Fletton (unplaced) on the previous day at the course, as well as dead-heating for second place in another race on Spitfire Kitty.

Their final victory together came in the East Kent Handicap Plate at Canterbury on September 20, 1864, beating four rivals, one of which bolted. On that occasion, Fletton, who, Bell’s Life reveals, won easily by six lengths, was owned by Captain Woodburn. 

Fletton had run five times as a two-year-old without being placed, then 20 times as a three-year-old, winning five of them. Zanker rode him on his last start, when second in the Margate Handicap Plate at the Isle of Thanet on September 23, 1864, beaten two lengths by Robert I’Anson on Roseneath, who was receiving 21lb from the runner-up. 

Zanker rode the three-year-old filly Molly Carew twice in major races in 1864. They were unplaced in the Ascot Gold Cup, carrying bottom weight of 7st 2lb, on June 9,  the race being won by the Mat Dawson-trained Scottish Chief, ridden by Harvey Covey. They were then unplaced in the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood won by King Of Utopia, the mount of Sam Hibberd. 

It is possible that Zanker’s nationality might have been German but that is pure speculation. What is for certain, however, is that on January 16, 1871, he was riding in Egypt, where he won the two-mile Grand Stand Plate on Krakus, then won the Assembly Prize, also over two miles, on the same horse the next day. It is interesting to note from the race results that some of the beaten horses were listed merely as being ridden by ‘A Native’.