ADDITIONAL INFORMATION June 20 2019 (1,203 VIEWS) AND UPDATED ON FEBRUARY 1 2021.
Gopi Selvaratham, a horse trainer in Dubai, read my article on Australian Jockeys Riding in Ceylon, which is on my web site. He contacted me in early April 2019, to tell me that his father and grandfather, who were trainers in Ceylon, had used Australian jockeys since the 1930’s.
Some of these jockeys did ride at Moorefield Racecourse, Kogarah, Sydney. It was my research on my Moorefield book, which initiated my initial interest in Australian jockeys riding overseas. I decided to build up a list of names.
Australian jockeys rode for the family in India, Ceylonand in Pakistan. I have not heard mention of Australian jockeys riding in Pakistan, until June 2019 when Dhruba mentioned it in his book. I was aware of Australian jockeys riding in Malaysia.
Dhruba, Gopi’s brother published in 2019, a book on his family’s horse racing legacy. This covers three generations of the family. On June 7 2019, I received a copy of this book. It has lots of wonderful photos in it along with the fascinating content. The book’s content also picks up the historical events within Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, which had an impact on horse racing.
Colleen Rincheval’s late husband, John rode Red Down to victory in the Kings Cup in 1952 in Ceylon. The horse was trained by Gopi and Dhruba’s uncle. John, in early 1952, also rode Ninyas in the Sabaragamuwa Plate, 1 mile at Colombo Racecourse for A. Selvaratnam, trainer, and owner Mr Wijeoinghe.
May 1 2018 a Spam message was sent to my website from Des Lambert. My great uncle, George Lambert rode in India in the 1920’s. No email address was provided.
EMAIL – ALBERT AND NORMAN WOOD
A May 2019 email to me from Carol Roberts of the Colo Shire Family History Group, talks of historical research she has completed recently on a Albert and Norman Wood ; both jockeys. Norman, the younger brother, rode in Ceylon and South Africa, where he achieved considerable success.
Norman most likely would have ridden in Ceylon during the 1920’s. A newspaper article talks of a hat trick in Ceylon in 1924. Norman was then involved with the Victorian Hunt Club, Victorian and Moonee Valley Polo Clubs, as well as being an official starter for Metropolitan Racing Clubs.
MY LIST: CEYLON
Reg Cook (Billy Cook’s brother) Teddy Doon, Jimmy Foley, Ted Fordyce, Jimmy Hickey, Jack Parsons, John Rincheval, Alfie Smith, Frank Smith, Teddy Swinton, H. Young.
John Rincheval’s race books from Ceylon had a Benjamin and a Piers Burgess listed- no more details.
According to Dhruba, Henry Young and Benjamin were both Ceylonese jockeys.
An email, August 30 2020 From Dave Deakin – my grandfather, Reg Cook passed away in 1990
MY LIST: INDIA
Edgar Britt rode for ten years for the Mararajah of Kolhapur and Mararajah of Baroda.
Billy Cook, Les Davis, Ted Fordyce.
From Graham Caves, racing historian, Wally Sibbritt rode in India (1920’s to 1940’s)
Les Watson rode in India, and Frank Flannery, a Melbourne jockey, rode in India and Malaysia.
A Message from Cliff Clare, Former Sydney Jockey
Frank Egli rode in India
EMAILS – Harold Jones
An email from Tony Jones dated May 15 2018.
“Tony’s grandfather, Harold Jones rode in India for the Maharajah of Gwalior and others from 1934 to 1947. His daughter, Janine was with her parents in India at this time, and knew Edgar Britt. She mentioned Jack Tate, George West and “Togo” Johnstone.“
Charlie Cook and Albert Cook
An email from Gaye Dwyer, dated September 10 2018
“My Aunt told of her uncles who were jockeys riding in India, Charlie Cook , Albert Cook, and not certain if William rode there . Their nephew, Harold Jones did. “
GOPI SELVARATNAM (horse trainer ) in 2019
1)Reg Cook 2) Ted Doon 3) Ted Fordyce 4) Peter Knuckey Snr (Western Australia) 5) Athol George Mulley 6) Charlie Perkins 7) Frank Smith 8) Bill Stevens (New Zealand)
DHRUBA SELVARATNAM (retired horse trainer) in 2019
1) Peter Burkhardt 2) Les Coles 3) Lionel Davison 4) Gil Dillon 5) Ted Doon 6) Ted Fordyce 7) Wayne Gibbens (rode in Ceylon) and his brother 8) Kerry Gibbens (rode in Pakistan) 9) John Harbutt (Queensland) 10) Rod Kemp 11) Mervyn Moore 12) Athol George Mulley 13) Peter O’ Loughlin 14) Jack Raffaele 15) Bernard Rook 16) Len Sawyer 17) Frank Smith 18) Bill Wade (from Newcastle)
Email from Michael Raffaele September 11 2019 to say that his grandfather, Jack rode for the Selvaratnams.
Bill Wade passed away in Newcastle August 27 2020 aged 91. Bill rode for Gopi and Dhruba’s grandfather in Ceylon in 1954.
Email from Juanita Gibbens,Kerry Giben’s daughter on July 9 2020 . Her uncle, Wayne Gibbens rode in Ceylon.
SEAN CRIBBINS, MELBOURNE
Sean on October 6 2019 kindly sent a list of Viceroy Cupwinners in India. Australian jockeys excelled up to the late 1950’s. Quite a number of Western Australian jockeys rode in India -they are not well known however to people on the eastern seaboard.
Many good horses were exported from Australia to India. Frank Ford, father of John of John Ford Bloodstock exported many horses to India.
VICEROY CUP WINNERS
1877 -78 Kingscraft AUS Kelly Maitland 1878-79 Kingscraft AUS Kelly Maitland 1909-10 Retort IRE George Murdison 1910-11 Mayfowl IRE Arthur Kahn 1911-12 Mayfowl IRE Arthur Kahn 1912-13 * Mayfowl IRE Clark Hoyt 1912-13* Brogue GB Arthur Hoyt 1920-21 Roubaix GB W “ Bill” Huxley 1921-22 Roubaix GB W “Bill “ Huxley 1922-23 Not Much GB W “Bill “ Huxley 1923-24 Orange William GB Ernest J Morris 1924-25 Orange William GB J. “Jock” Dobie 1925-26 Orange William GB Ernest j Morris 1929-30 Star of Italy GB Clark Hoyt 1930-31 Star of Italy GB Clark Hoyt 1933-34 Star of Italy GB Clark Hoyt 1934-35 Ethics AUST Ernest J Morris 1935-36 Mas d ‘ Antibes FR Jim Munro 1936-37 Mas d ‘Antibes FR Roy Wilson 1938-39 Finalist GB Harold Jones 1939-40 Finalist GB Harold Jones 1940-41 Baqlava GB Eric Treffone 1941-42 Finalist GB Harold Jones 1942-43 Finalist GB Harold Jones 1950-51 Fair Ray GB Wally Sibbritt 1951-52 Eastern Sea GB Eddie Cracknell 1952-53 Our Owen- GB Ted Fordyce 1954-55 Our Owen GB Peter Knuckey Snr 1964-65 Hovercraft Val Faggotter
SIRAJ ATTARI –Hyderabad, India
Siraj contacted me by email on August 13 2020, and provided me with a list of Australian jockeys, who rode in India at varying times. Siraj has an interest in Indian racing history, and collects racing books on the sub-continent. We remain in contact.
Siraj’s list
John Agnew 2) Edgar Britt 3) Hilton Cope 4) Eddie Cracknell 5) Richard Diecy 6) Bren Duffy 7) Val Faggoter 8) Frank Flannery 9) Jim Foley 10) Ted Fordyce 11) Brian Foy 12)Rae Johnstone 13) Peter Knuckney 14) E (Teddy ) McGaffin 15) Athol Mulley 16) John? O ‘Neil 17) Dorian Osborne 18) Wally Sibbritt 19) Robyn C. Smith
Brian Foy was the leading jockey in Hyderabad and Bangalore in 1970. Dorian Osborne was the leading jockey in Madras and Ooty but lost his arm in a car accident in Madras.
Email Alfred William George Coomber “Billy Coomber “
Judith Merloo Lakewood emailed me on January 18 2021 She was researching Violet Madeleine Gore, a diver who gave exhibitions , and came across her marriage to Alfred William George Coomber- Billy Coomber. She married Billy in Pettah, Ceylon. A report in the Western Champion Parkes NSW newspaper on June 14 1912 ,said he arrived in Ceylon as a jockey from Bombay in 1907 .
Billy became a trainer in Ceylon after he retired from horse riding .He died in Sri Lanka in April 1950.
Email Sid Meekings
On January 25 2021, John Piggott from the Central Coast contacted me re his great uncle, Sid Meekings, who rode in India and Ceylon for over 30 years. Jack Raffaele and Sid Meekings were good friends. John’s grandfather, Harry Meekings was a pony jockey. He rode for possibly 2 seasons in India.
Western Australians, Les Marrable rode in Bombay and Jack Sharp rode in Calcutta. Bob Morley, also a Western Australian rode in Bombay, Calcutta and Pune.
Alec or Alick Owen had some success as a trainer in India. After Indian Independence, he moved back to Australia.
AUSTRALIANS AMONG BEST JOCKEYS IN CEYLON newspaper article From Trove May 21 1949
Fourteen Australian jockeys and four Australian trainers are under contract to Ceylonese owners, who pay them regular retainers and bonuses.
Lionel Davison from Sydney, who has been a champion jockey off and on for 20 years in Ceylon, is the best known. Also high on the list are J .Parsons of Sydney and J. Raffaele of Melbourne. Freddie Marrs and Geoff Burgess of Melbourne have turned out good candidates. The Australian trainers had to have a special type of feeding in the intense heat near the Equator.
Jockeys riding fees in Ceylon were approximately 5 pound (Australian), whichis doubled in the case of a win. Winning jockeys also got 10 % of the stake.
*Any additional names/ photos of jockeys who rode in India , Ceylon , Pakistan or in other overseas countries, are most welcome. The records at Turf Clubs are unfortunately scant on this area of our horse racing history.
Please forward an email to ko77582@bigpond.net.au.
Mail PO Box 391 Kogarah, Sydney 2217
Facebook: Moorefield Racecourse Kogarah
annefield.net.au Moorefield Category on web site
February 1 2021 Kogarah, Sydney
