Noel Newton
Captain Noel Newton
Captain Noel Newton
1884 -1969
1884 -1969
Born on February 29, 1884, Charles Noel Newton, familiarly known by his second christian name, was a leading amateur rider during the first decade of the 20th century and up to World War One. He rode 72 winners under National Hunt rules between 1905 and 1914.
Born on February 29, 1884, Charles Noel Newton, familiarly known by his second christian name, was a leading amateur rider during the first decade of the 20th century and up to World War One. He rode 72 winners under National Hunt rules between 1905 and 1914.
He appeared for the first time under National Hunt rules when finishing fifth on President in the Grove Selling Handicap Chase at Hawthorn Hill on March 21, 1904. His first winner came courtesy of Brantingham in the Open Plate Chase at Huntingdon on November 28, 1905.
He appeared for the first time under National Hunt rules when finishing fifth on President in the Grove Selling Handicap Chase at Hawthorn Hill on March 21, 1904. His first winner came courtesy of Brantingham in the Open Plate Chase at Huntingdon on November 28, 1905.
He finished third in the 1910 amateur riders’ table with 15 wins. By the end of that year he was riding under the name of ‘Captain C. Newton’.
He finished third in the 1910 amateur riders’ table with 15 wins. By the end of that year he was riding under the name of ‘Captain C. Newton’.
He enjoyed his most successful year in 1911 with a score of 18, all bar two of them coming from just two horses, Sexton and Flaxfield. Having been gifted a walkover on Sexton at Torquay’s Easter meeting, Captain Newton rode him to win nine races in a row in just over two months. They started off with victories on successive days at Newton Abbot on 7th/8th August, repeated that feat with two more wins on successive days at Devon & Exeter on 30th/31st August, then won at Totnes and Newton Abbot in September, following up at Crewkerne, Monmouth and Cheltenham in October.
He enjoyed his most successful year in 1911 with a score of 18, all bar two of them coming from just two horses, Sexton and Flaxfield. Having been gifted a walkover on Sexton at Torquay’s Easter meeting, Captain Newton rode him to win nine races in a row in just over two months. They started off with victories on successive days at Newton Abbot on 7th/8th August, repeated that feat with two more wins on successive days at Devon & Exeter on 30th/31st August, then won at Totnes and Newton Abbot in September, following up at Crewkerne, Monmouth and Cheltenham in October.
Flaxfield provided his owner-rider with six of that year’s 18-winner haul. Having won at Wye in January, he emulated Sexton by winning on successive days at Newton Abbot and at Devon & Exeter in August, and won again at Newton Abbot in September.
Flaxfield provided his owner-rider with six of that year’s 18-winner haul. Having won at Wye in January, he emulated Sexton by winning on successive days at Newton Abbot and at Devon & Exeter in August, and won again at Newton Abbot in September.
Captain Newton dominated that two-day Newton Abbot fixture on 7th/8th August 1911. On the first day he won the Highweek Selling Chase on Sexton and the Ugbrooke Chase on Flaxfield. On the second day, he won the National Hunt Flat Race on Portmeadow, the Selling Handicap Chase on Sexton, and walked over for the South Devon Chase with Flaxfield.
Captain Newton dominated that two-day Newton Abbot fixture on 7th/8th August 1911. On the first day he won the Highweek Selling Chase on Sexton and the Ugbrooke Chase on Flaxfield. On the second day, he won the National Hunt Flat Race on Portmeadow, the Selling Handicap Chase on Sexton, and walked over for the South Devon Chase with Flaxfield.
Altogether, Captain Newton won a remarkable 29 races on Flaxfield between 1909 and 1914, three of them being walkovers. Seventeen of those wins were gained at the south-west tracks of Newton Abbot, Devon & Exeter, Plymouth and Totnes, but they also won races at more upmarket venues such as Cheltenham, Sandown and Hawthorn Hill.
Altogether, Captain Newton won a remarkable 29 races on Flaxfield between 1909 and 1914, three of them being walkovers. Seventeen of those wins were gained at the south-west tracks of Newton Abbot, Devon & Exeter, Plymouth and Totnes, but they also won races at more upmarket venues such as Cheltenham, Sandown and Hawthorn Hill.
It was therefore appropriate that Flaxfield should provide his owner-rider with what proved to be his final victory in the United Services Chase at Brocklesby Hunt on March 18, 1914. He rode for the last time when finishing unplaced on Isatis in the National Hunt Selling Flat Race at Harpenden on May 7, 1914. By then, with World War One in its infancy, he had far more urgent and important matters to concern him than riding in races.
It was therefore appropriate that Flaxfield should provide his owner-rider with what proved to be his final victory in the United Services Chase at Brocklesby Hunt on March 18, 1914. He rode for the last time when finishing unplaced on Isatis in the National Hunt Selling Flat Race at Harpenden on May 7, 1914. By then, with World War One in its infancy, he had far more urgent and important matters to concern him than riding in races.
Happily, Captain Noel Newton survived the Great War – and World War Two for that matter – and lived to enjoy old age, dying on December 24, 1969, aged 85.
Happily, Captain Noel Newton survived the Great War – and World War Two for that matter – and lived to enjoy old age, dying on December 24, 1969, aged 85.
