Alfred Newey
1882 - 1940
1882 - 1940
Alf Newey was born on 26 February 1882, at Cradley Heath, Halesowen, Worcestershire (the area known as the Black Country).
Alf Newey was born on 26 February 1882, at Cradley Heath, Halesowen, Worcestershire (the area known as the Black Country).
It was not until he was in his late teens that he became interested in horses. Aged 18, he began work at the Cannock & Rugeley Colliery, Rawnsley, Hednesford, and started riding the pit ponies.
It was not until he was in his late teens that he became interested in horses. Aged 18, he began work at the Cannock & Rugeley Colliery, Rawnsley, Hednesford, and started riding the pit ponies.
In 1902, he found himself a job at a stable in Brereton, Lichfield, and applied for a jockey's licence.
In 1902, he found himself a job at a stable in Brereton, Lichfield, and applied for a jockey's licence.
A year later he became apprenticed to Lawrence Rooney.
A year later he became apprenticed to Lawrence Rooney.
He tackled the Grand National fences nine times, winning once. He also won the 1906 Scottish Grand National on Creoline and the Welsh Champion Hurdle on Assaroe.
He tackled the Grand National fences nine times, winning once. He also won the 1906 Scottish Grand National on Creoline and the Welsh Champion Hurdle on Assaroe.
Alf was runner-up in the 1905 Jockeys' Table.
Alf was runner-up in the 1905 Jockeys' Table.
After hanging up his saddle, he turned to training, sending out horses from his Prospect House yard in Hednesford where he then lived with his wife, Gertrude (nee Corbett) and 9 employees.
After hanging up his saddle, he turned to training, sending out horses from his Prospect House yard in Hednesford where he then lived with his wife, Gertrude (nee Corbett) and 9 employees.
His best win as trainer was Gracious Gift in the Liverpool Foxhunters'.
His best win as trainer was Gracious Gift in the Liverpool Foxhunters'.
Alf's Grand National record.
Alf's Grand National record.
1905: Buckaway ll (3rd)
1905: Buckaway ll (3rd)
1906: Buckaway ll (fell)
1906: Buckaway ll (fell)
1907: Eremon (WON)
1907: Eremon (WON)
1908: Roman Law (fell)
1908: Roman Law (fell)
1911: Caubeen (fell)
1911: Caubeen (fell)
1912: Caubeen (pulled up)
1912: Caubeen (pulled up)
1913: Wavelet (fell)
1913: Wavelet (fell)
1915: Jacobus (2nd)
1915: Jacobus (2nd)
1922: Grey Dawn (fell)
1922: Grey Dawn (fell)
Best wins
Best wins
1905: Liverpool Hurdle - Sir Hubert
1905: Liverpool Hurdle - Sir Hubert
1905: Jubilee Hurdle - Sir Hubert
1905: Jubilee Hurdle - Sir Hubert
1906: Lancashire Chase - Theodocian
1906: Lancashire Chase - Theodocian
1906: Scottish Grand National - Creolin
1906: Scottish Grand National - Creolin
1907: Lancashire Chase - Eremon
1907: Lancashire Chase - Eremon
1907: Liverpool Hurdle - One Away
1907: Liverpool Hurdle - One Away
1910: Stanley Chase - Rathnally
1910: Stanley Chase - Rathnally
1913: Jubilee Hurdle - Ben A Beg
1913: Jubilee Hurdle - Ben A Beg
1923: Welsh Champion Hurdle - Assaroe
1923: Welsh Champion Hurdle - Assaroe
Alf did well to win in 1907. His mount was continually harried by a loose horse, At the Canal Turn, Alf took his whip to the offending animal; it was to no avail. Time and again the horse, Rathvale, veered across Alf's path.
Alf did well to win in 1907. His mount was continually harried by a loose horse, At the Canal Turn, Alf took his whip to the offending animal; it was to no avail. Time and again the horse, Rathvale, veered across Alf's path.
Given that Alf's stirrup leather had broken at the eighteenth fence, forcing the jockey to ride, and fight off Rathvale, with just one iron, is quite remarkable.
Given that Alf's stirrup leather had broken at the eighteenth fence, forcing the jockey to ride, and fight off Rathvale, with just one iron, is quite remarkable.
Unhappily, Alf's successful partner in the 1907 National (Eremon) got loose on the gallops just a few weeks later. The horse fatally injured himself.
Unhappily, Alf's successful partner in the 1907 National (Eremon) got loose on the gallops just a few weeks later. The horse fatally injured himself.
When winning the National, Alfred landed a remarkable win-double bet. The chairman of the Great Southern & Western Railway of Ireland, Sir William Goulding, won a wager of £10,000 to £25 on Ob, which won the Lincolnshire Handicap and Eremon.
When winning the National, Alfred landed a remarkable win-double bet. The chairman of the Great Southern & Western Railway of Ireland, Sir William Goulding, won a wager of £10,000 to £25 on Ob, which won the Lincolnshire Handicap and Eremon.
Alf died on 2 June 1940, aged 58.
Alf died on 2 June 1940, aged 58.