Nat Newman

Nat Newman

Article by Alan Trout 

Nat Newman had at least 50 rides on the Flat for three consecutive seasons, winning ten races. He then switched to the National Hunt scene and added one more.

Apprenticed to former leading jump jockey Ron Smyth, Nat had his first win at Folkestone on August 5, 1968, when Tudor King came with a late run to just get the better of Super Imp, the mount of Gerry Enright, in the Fair Rosamund Handicap, winning by a head. Seventeen days later at Goodwood, they again came late on the scene to snatch the Priory Park Handicap by half a length.

Hopes of a hat-trick were thwarted when Tudor King could only finish seventh on his next start at Newbury on October 25, but the next day at the same course Nat was able to ride his third winner when Mahwa, having led for most of the way, was overhauled but came again to win the Letcombe Handicap by a neck. The four-year-old was trained by Mrs Florence Nagle, who made history when becoming the first woman to be granted a trainer’s licence in July 1966, having taken the Jockey Club to Court over the injustice.  

Nat had three victories in the autumn of 1969, all on the seven-year-old Hardatit, trained by Ron Smyth. Statistically, 1970 was his best seasons with four wins including the Great Surrey Handicap at Epsom in April, when the four-year-old Royal Captive was driven out to beat Welsh Warrior by two lengths. 

He had his final win on the Flat at Lingfield Park on August 8, when the popular grey Grandrew, also trained by Ron Smyth, was all out to beat Brian Jago on River Man by a neck in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap. He relinquished his licence the following month.

Nat had his first ride over jumps on November 11, 1971, when Sebastien II was unplaced, having led early, in the Ambleside Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Carlisle. Almost three years elapsed before his sole success over obstacles, but it came at last at Sedgefield on October 8, 1974, when Racionzer won the Grindon Selling Hurdle by eight lengths. The four-year-old was owned and trained at Troon, in Ayrshire, by permit holder Tony Collins, later to become infamous for his part in the Gay Future betting coup. 

Nat had three more rides on Racionzer, finishing fourth twice, although on one of those occasions he was disqualified for failing to weigh in. He had his final ride at Kelso on December 11, 1974, when Ankerwyke – later to have his own role in the Gay Future coup, along with stable companion Opera Cloak – finished fifth in the Earlston Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle, two places behind Racionzer. 

After retiring from the saddle Nat became a member of the starting stalls team. His son, Lee Newman, was champion apprentice in 2000 with 87 winners when based with Richard Hannon Sr, and rode winners for the Queen, the Aga Khan and Sheikh Mohammed. 

Nat Newman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Tudor King, Folkestone, August 5, 1968

2. Tudor King, Goodwood, August 22, 1968

3. Mahwa, Newbury, October 26, 1968

4. Hardatit, Leicester, September 22, 1969

5. Hardatit, Windsor, October 4, 1969

6. Hardatit, Leicester, October 20, 1969

7. Perian Whistle, Newmarket, April 18, 1969

8. Royal Captive, Epsom, April 22, 1970

9. Persian Whistle, Lingfield Park, May 16, 1970

10. Grandrew, Lingfield Park, August 8, 1970

11. Racionzer, Sedgefield, October 8, 1970