Brown Jack
Encyclopedia
Brown Jack was a Thoroughbred
racehorse that raced over hurdles and then on the flat. He was a "stayer" – a horse specialising in longer races. He won the second Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle
in 1928, but his main claim to fame was winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes
– the longest race in the flat racing calendar – for six years running, from 1929 to 1934. His repeated victories made him one of the most popular racehorses in the history of British racing.http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetailPrintable.jsp?lot_id=3VZ2D A bronze statue of Brown Jack, by the equestrian painter Sir Alfred Munnings
, is to be seen at Ascot.
Brown Jack was a brown gelding
, foaled in Ireland
by Jackdaw out of Querquidella.http://www.pedigreequery.com/brown+jack He was bought as a 3 year old by Sir Harold Wernher, Bt.
and trained by Aubrey Hastings to race over hurdles. After Hastings' death in 1929, he was trained by former jockey Ivor Anthony (brother of Jack Anthony
and Owen Anthony). In 1928, as a 4-year-old in his first season, he won seven races from ten starts, including the Champion Hurdle
at Cheltenham
in 1928 ridden by Bilbie Rees, but then switched to the more lucrative racing on the flat.
He won the Ascot Stakes in 1928, and the 2.75-mile Queen Alexandra Stakes
for six years running, from 1929 to 1934, each time ridden by veteran Champion Jockey Steve Donoghue
. He won the Goodwood Cup
and Doncaster Cup
in 1930, and the Chester Cup
in 1931, the Ebor Handicap
in 1931 carrying , and the Rosebery Memorial Plate.http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?h=brown+jack&query_type=stakes&search_bar=stakes&field=all
After winning the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup in 1930, he was second in both races in 1931, losing to Salmon Leap and Singapore respectively. He was also second in the Goodwood Cup in 1932, behind Brulette. He won 18 races from 55 starts on the flat. He retired with winnings of over £12,000.
Robert Charles Lyle published a biography of Brown Jack in 1934, detailing his races. The last LNER Class A1/A3
locomotive was named after him, entering into service in December 1935.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse that raced over hurdles and then on the flat. He was a "stayer" – a horse specialising in longer races. He won the second Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
in 1928, but his main claim to fame was winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
– the longest race in the flat racing calendar – for six years running, from 1929 to 1934. His repeated victories made him one of the most popular racehorses in the history of British racing.http://www.sothebys.com/app/live/lot/LotDetailPrintable.jsp?lot_id=3VZ2D A bronze statue of Brown Jack, by the equestrian painter Sir Alfred Munnings
Alfred Munnings
Sir Alfred James Munnings KCVO, PRA was known as one of England's finest painters of horses, and as an outspoken enemy of Modernism...
, is to be seen at Ascot.
Brown Jack was a brown gelding
Gelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
, foaled in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by Jackdaw out of Querquidella.http://www.pedigreequery.com/brown+jack He was bought as a 3 year old by Sir Harold Wernher, Bt.
Harold Augustus Wernher
Sir Harold Augustus Wernher, 3rd Baronet, GCVO, TD -Biography:He was the son of Sir Julius Wernher, 1st Baronet and his wife Alice Sedgwick Mankiewicz...
and trained by Aubrey Hastings to race over hurdles. After Hastings' death in 1929, he was trained by former jockey Ivor Anthony (brother of Jack Anthony
Jack Anthony (jockey)
John Randolph Anthony , better known as Jack Anthony, was a Welsh jockey.Anthony was best known for his three victories in the Grand National steeplechase: on "Glenside" in 1911, on "Ally Sloper" in 1915, and on "Troytown" in 1920...
and Owen Anthony). In 1928, as a 4-year-old in his first season, he won seven races from ten starts, including the Champion Hurdle
Champion Hurdle
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. As part of a sponsorship agreement with the online sportsbook StanJames.com, the race is now known as the Stan James Champion Hurdle...
at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is a racecourse for horse racing events, located at Prestbury Park, in the suburban village of Prestbury on the outskirts of the English town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire...
in 1928 ridden by Bilbie Rees, but then switched to the more lucrative racing on the flat.
He won the Ascot Stakes in 1928, and the 2.75-mile Queen Alexandra Stakes
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
for six years running, from 1929 to 1934, each time ridden by veteran Champion Jockey Steve Donoghue
Steve Donoghue
Steve Donoghue was a leading English flat-race jockey in the 1910s and 1920s. He was Champion Jockey 10 times between 1914 and 1923 and was one of the most celebrated horse racing sportsmen after Fred Archer, arguably only Sir Gordon Richards eclipsing him.-Background:Born in Warrington, Cheshire,...
. He won the Goodwood Cup
Goodwood Cup
The Goodwood Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
and Doncaster Cup
Doncaster Cup
The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
in 1930, and the Chester Cup
Chester Cup
The Chester Cup is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 147 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
in 1931, the Ebor Handicap
Ebor Handicap
The Ebor Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
in 1931 carrying , and the Rosebery Memorial Plate.http://www.pedigreequery.com/index.php?h=brown+jack&query_type=stakes&search_bar=stakes&field=all
After winning the Goodwood Cup and Doncaster Cup in 1930, he was second in both races in 1931, losing to Salmon Leap and Singapore respectively. He was also second in the Goodwood Cup in 1932, behind Brulette. He won 18 races from 55 starts on the flat. He retired with winnings of over £12,000.
Robert Charles Lyle published a biography of Brown Jack in 1934, detailing his races. The last LNER Class A1/A3
LNER Class A1/A3
The London and North Eastern Railway LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3 locomotives represented two distinct stages in the history of the British 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley...
locomotive was named after him, entering into service in December 1935.