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Senior Jockey
This race is a hobby horse of mine.
My father was a vet student sitting his final exams that week in Dublin.
As a teenager collecting cigarette cards was the main past time.
Derby winners, Grand National winners, different birds, plants etc were collected and swapped.
Dad used his prodigious memory to recall all Derby winners since Diomed in 1780.
Lord Derby's horses were a particular favourite as the Greatest Race carried his name.
So Swallow Tail, a son of 1938 winner Bois Roussel, owned by Lord Derby was my father's choice, as he was guaranteed to stay the trip.
2000Gns winner Nimbus, bred by William Hill was by Nearco but out of Kong, a Wokingham Stakes winner.
Her sire Baylord was an Irish Derby winner but not a great sire himself ; Hill purchased the mare with Whitsbury Manor Stud in 1942 when owner Sir Cecil Hyde died suddenly.
Hill's betting manager told him of great interest in Nimbus for the Derby ; William instructions were to lay the horse, unlikely to stay.
Nimbus had been sold as a yearling and purchased by a Henry A Glenister for his wife.
Henry described himself as a farmer, but also was an assistant bank manager in a Midland's Bank branch, an unlikely profession to fork out 5000 gns for a yearling in 1947.
Derby Day 04/06/1949 was a wet miserable day according to Pathe News , yet a huge crowd were at Epsom to see a huge field start for the Blue Riband.
Nimbus, a highly strung horse , stood in his stable waiting to be saddled with a lad on his back and head lad holding him.
His trainer was too sick to attend so trainer Jack Jarvis was tasked to saddle him.
Seeing horse and lad both in a state he instructed the lad to dismount and walked the horse to a quiet area to cool him off and saddle him, the lad instructed to stay nearby in case he was needed.
French impressario Leon Volterra, who enjoyed Derby success with the aforementioned Bois Roussel, had Amour Drake carrying his silks.
Volterra was on his death bed with new wife Suzy , years his junior listening to the radio coverage for him.
Ray Johnstone, "Le Crocodile " was on board.
Nimbus took an early lead, accompanied by Swallow Tail, Ray Johnstone taking his time behind.
After Tattenham Corner the front duo quickened away from pursuers , Amour Drake in eighth place.
Ray delayed his challenge until the final furlong, making up rapid ground on the duo ahead.
On meeting the rising ground Nimbus started hanging right onto Swallow Tail carrying him across the track.
Ray feared his ground was being taken so at the last second switched his horse inside Nimbus ,the trio crossing the finish together.
Nimbus, whose Newmarket Classic win was the first classic decided by photo finish now had to endure another photo .
Nimbus held on, just.
In Paris Suzy kept the result from her dying husband , he passed the following day not knowing the result.
She maintained the \Volterra racing interests, being owner/breeder of Phil Drake the 1955 Epsom Derby winner.
William Hill had betting liabilities of £250,000 but was delighted to breed a Derby winner.
Jockey Ray Johnstone, unlucky for the second time at Epsom after Colombo had been runner up in controversial circumstances to Windsor Lad in 1934 came up trumps the following year on Galcador.
Neither Jack Jarvis who saddled the winner, or his lad Johnny Tolton, a Kilmallock native received much thanks from the owners.
Henry Glenister was found dead in his car in 1952.
His inquest declared death by suicide, possibly because he had defaulted Midlands Bank of a substantial sum of money.
Johnny Tolton finally received two goblets from Epsom in 2022.
Nimbus, by Nearco was not a successful stallion despite his dual classic success.
His three parts brother by Nearco's son Nasrullah was however.
Born in 1948, named Grey Sovereign, he was a champion sprinter and a top class sire , his behaviour compromising his careers.
Glenister had wanted to buy him, but the yearling's sales ring antics put him off.
Nearco and Bois Roussel met on the racecourse in the 1938 Grand Prix de Paris , then run over 1m 7f.
Bois Roussel, ridden by Sir Gordon Richards finished a well beaten third behind Nearco, though may have been second if not hemmed in.
Travelling with Steve Donoghue and Quintin Gilbey, he blamed them for having him in a hung over state race day though he retired long before them, the others having wined and dined with an entourage of French ladies.
On the flight home that night customs asked if they had contracted anything.
" Not me " replied Gordon, " But the others won't know until Wednesday at the earliest !"
My father was a vet student sitting his final exams that week in Dublin.
As a teenager collecting cigarette cards was the main past time.
Derby winners, Grand National winners, different birds, plants etc were collected and swapped.
Dad used his prodigious memory to recall all Derby winners since Diomed in 1780.
Lord Derby's horses were a particular favourite as the Greatest Race carried his name.
So Swallow Tail, a son of 1938 winner Bois Roussel, owned by Lord Derby was my father's choice, as he was guaranteed to stay the trip.
2000Gns winner Nimbus, bred by William Hill was by Nearco but out of Kong, a Wokingham Stakes winner.
Her sire Baylord was an Irish Derby winner but not a great sire himself ; Hill purchased the mare with Whitsbury Manor Stud in 1942 when owner Sir Cecil Hyde died suddenly.
Hill's betting manager told him of great interest in Nimbus for the Derby ; William instructions were to lay the horse, unlikely to stay.
Nimbus had been sold as a yearling and purchased by a Henry A Glenister for his wife.
Henry described himself as a farmer, but also was an assistant bank manager in a Midland's Bank branch, an unlikely profession to fork out 5000 gns for a yearling in 1947.
Derby Day 04/06/1949 was a wet miserable day according to Pathe News , yet a huge crowd were at Epsom to see a huge field start for the Blue Riband.
Nimbus, a highly strung horse , stood in his stable waiting to be saddled with a lad on his back and head lad holding him.
His trainer was too sick to attend so trainer Jack Jarvis was tasked to saddle him.
Seeing horse and lad both in a state he instructed the lad to dismount and walked the horse to a quiet area to cool him off and saddle him, the lad instructed to stay nearby in case he was needed.
French impressario Leon Volterra, who enjoyed Derby success with the aforementioned Bois Roussel, had Amour Drake carrying his silks.
Volterra was on his death bed with new wife Suzy , years his junior listening to the radio coverage for him.
Ray Johnstone, "Le Crocodile " was on board.
Nimbus took an early lead, accompanied by Swallow Tail, Ray Johnstone taking his time behind.
After Tattenham Corner the front duo quickened away from pursuers , Amour Drake in eighth place.
Ray delayed his challenge until the final furlong, making up rapid ground on the duo ahead.
On meeting the rising ground Nimbus started hanging right onto Swallow Tail carrying him across the track.
Ray feared his ground was being taken so at the last second switched his horse inside Nimbus ,the trio crossing the finish together.
Nimbus, whose Newmarket Classic win was the first classic decided by photo finish now had to endure another photo .
Nimbus held on, just.
In Paris Suzy kept the result from her dying husband , he passed the following day not knowing the result.
She maintained the \Volterra racing interests, being owner/breeder of Phil Drake the 1955 Epsom Derby winner.
William Hill had betting liabilities of £250,000 but was delighted to breed a Derby winner.
Jockey Ray Johnstone, unlucky for the second time at Epsom after Colombo had been runner up in controversial circumstances to Windsor Lad in 1934 came up trumps the following year on Galcador.
Neither Jack Jarvis who saddled the winner, or his lad Johnny Tolton, a Kilmallock native received much thanks from the owners.
Henry Glenister was found dead in his car in 1952.
His inquest declared death by suicide, possibly because he had defaulted Midlands Bank of a substantial sum of money.
Johnny Tolton finally received two goblets from Epsom in 2022.
Nimbus, by Nearco was not a successful stallion despite his dual classic success.
His three parts brother by Nearco's son Nasrullah was however.
Born in 1948, named Grey Sovereign, he was a champion sprinter and a top class sire , his behaviour compromising his careers.
Glenister had wanted to buy him, but the yearling's sales ring antics put him off.
Nearco and Bois Roussel met on the racecourse in the 1938 Grand Prix de Paris , then run over 1m 7f.
Bois Roussel, ridden by Sir Gordon Richards finished a well beaten third behind Nearco, though may have been second if not hemmed in.
Travelling with Steve Donoghue and Quintin Gilbey, he blamed them for having him in a hung over state race day though he retired long before them, the others having wined and dined with an entourage of French ladies.
On the flight home that night customs asked if they had contracted anything.
" Not me " replied Gordon, " But the others won't know until Wednesday at the earliest !"
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