Family with a rich history of training champion racehorses
THIS is a photograph of Mark Wilkinson aboard a local racehorse, Acton Major, held by Italian stablehand Frankie at Stockwell Stud, previously known as Kirkby Farm, near Tadcaster.
This racehorse was one trained by Walter Easterby, who obtained his license in 1924 and who continued to train at Stockwell until the 1970s. The Easterby family is famous for its success in producing winning racehorses.
This picture has been kindly loaned to the Wetherby News by Mr Ivel of Tadcaster. Mr Ivel told us that Christopher Wilson, who resided at Oxton Hall near Tadcaster, established a record as the first racehorse owner to win the Derby and the St Leger with the same horse in the year 1800. The horse was aptly named Champion.
In 1809 a chestnut colt named Wizard and ridden by Billy Clift, was successful in the first running of the 2,000 Guineas and established another record for the popular Yorkshire owner Mr Wilson. In 1814 Mr Wilson brought off a memorable treble when his horse Charlotte, again piloted by Billy Clift, came home first in the first running of the 1000 Guineas.
Mr Wilson died at the age of 78 on the morning of the 1842 Derby and had hardly missed a meeting at Newmarket.
A more recent local owner of a classic winner was the late Geoffrey Smith, who also resided at Oxton Hall and whose trainer the late Noel Murless saddled the racehorse Ridgewood to win the 1949 St Ledger. He was so delighted he visited all his Samuel Smith public houses on Ledger night and paid for drinks for his licensees and customers.
The late Walter Easterby, who having ridden in his younger days, saddled Acton Major in the Grand National with high hopes of a local winner of this presitigious race. He finished third.
The late Capt Fielden, of Grimston Park was a successful owner winning the Ayr Gold Cup with Scherzo and later his horse Como was very successful both as a racehorse and as an excellent breeder.
William Riley Smith also put out horses and Stutton Grove and Ela Tengam (Magnet Ale backwards!) gave his John Smith brewery workers some interest in racing.
Tommy Shedden's string of horses used to often road train in Boston Spa, something no longer possible with today's traffic. Unfortunately, racing in the Tadcaster area seems to have declined. Lyn Siddall in the late Tom Watson's training establishment flies the training flag along with Tom Tate, whose horses train on the Hazlewood estate.
Anyone who has any more information on this photograph or any pictures they would like to share with Wetherby News readers can contact the Wetherby News office at 9, Westgate, Wetherby, LS22 6LL or telephone 01937 582663. We regret we are unable to reproduce Down Memory Lane photographs.
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Weather for Harrogate
Thursday 24 May 2012
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