Whilst completing my research on Moorefield Racecourse Kogarah (1888-1951) in 2016, I came across a fascinating aspect of our racing history. It has probably never been recorded in any detail in Australian, or Indian, or Sri Lankan racing history.
A number of Moorefield jockeys of the time rode in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India. They were international jockeys well before the time when jockeys hopped on a plane to reach a race meeting, at an overseas destination. These jockeys travelled by sea, and it may have taken them 6 weeks to reach their destination.
With the help of a late jockey’s widow, Colleen Rincheval , I have been able to develop a list of some names. Her late husband , John rode in Ceylon in the early 1950’s , and returned home with some race books .
Jockeys who rode in India
Edgar Britt is now 103. He rode for the Mararajah of Kolhapur, and the Mararajah of Baroda, and stayed in India for 10 years.
Billy Cook –in 1932, rode for the Mararajah of Kolhapur.
Les Davis, Ted Fordyce (who also rode in Ceylon )
Jack Waterhouse tells the story that Les Davis was riding for a Mararajah, who said to Davis “if you win this race you can have what you want. “ Davis won the race ,and jokingly asked for a Buick car. He got the car and brought it back to Australia. The car featured a plaque–“presented to Les Davis.”
Jockeys who rode in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Reggie Cook ( Billy Cook’s brother), Teddy Doon , Jimmy Foley, Ted Fordyce, Jimmy Hickey, Jackie Parsons, John Rincheval , Alfie Smith , Frankie Smith Teddy Swinton, H. Young. Surnames only were listed. Benjamin and a Piers Burgess were also listed in John Rincheval’s race book.
Jockeys who rode in Malaysia
I met with Frank Hudson, (Johnny) on August 30, 2016 to discuss his riding career. Graham Caves from Heritage at ATC also attended this meeting. Frank contacted me after my article appeared in Racing NSW , August edition, on my Moorefield work.
Frank was apprenticed to Mascot trainer, Fred Hood. He rode Flash of Gold as an 18 year old apprentice in the 1st Allawah Mixed, a race of 6 furlongs on January 6,1951 at Moorefield Racecourse.
In Frank’s day, apprentices were replaced by other jockeys so that the trainers could get better odds. He rode in barrier trials at Moorefield Racecourse ( post July 1951) and rode his push bike from Mascot to Moorefield Racecourse. Frank would ride for any trainer at Moorefield ; you had to make your own bookings in barrier trials.
In 1951-1957, Frank rode in Malaysia/Singapore. It was the period of the attempted Communist takeover, so made for interesting times. Malaysia had a small racing industry. Frank went to Malaysia because the money was good. George Mulley got him the job with an English trainer, Major Heddle. Later he worked for horse trainer, Wally Bagby.
Frank flew to Darwin, then flew to Java and then on to Singapore to begin his new adventure.
He said that Ceylon at this time had a huge racing industry .Jockeys, who went to India, rode for the Mararajahs, and were well rewarded.
Can ANYONE HELP ME WITH MORE NAMES ?
Anne Field
P.O Box 391
Kogarah, Sydney, Australia .
ko77582@bigpond.net .au
August 31, 2016
PS: Another uncle John Hickey AKA Jummah was also there.
My father Frederick Austral Hickey AKA Billy and uncle Arthur Stead were in Ceylon. Never heard any other country mentioned. Billy died in 1970 when I was 17. Back home won 1938 Doncaster on Hamurah. Once read that in 1920s and 30s that Hickey name was equivalent of Gai Waterhouse, Waller et other tops. Grandfather also Frederick Austral but AKA Mick was top hoop, at least 5 group ones in Melbourne and 3rd in Melboure Cup on Mountain King.
My father Jack Jones rode with Johnny Hudson. I tried to email you but the address is not receiving, but I do have other names for Australian jockeys who rode in Malaysia if you would like to email me.