Friday, 28 March 2008
Edgar Britt Jockey
Edgar Britt
Born 1913 Australia.
Apprenticed to Michael Polson at Randwick.
Rode first winner in January 1930 on Gipsy King at Canterbury Racecourse (outskirts of Sydney).
In 1933 travelled to Baltimore USA where he rode the winner of the Baltimore Handicap on Winooka.
In 1934 Britt rode the winner of the Sydney Cup.
In 1935 went to ride in India. Rode there for several seasons winning the Eclipse Stakes of India in both 1942 and 1943 on the Maharajah of Baroda′s Golden Fawn. Whilst in India Britt was Champion Jockey 8 times.
In 1945 Britt went to England to ride the Maharajah of Baroda′s horses. These horses were trained by Sam Armstrong at Middleham (later Newmarket).
First winner in England was on Maharaj Kumar at Stockton on 19th May 1945. That year he won 20 races from 107 rides which included the Cesarewitch on Kerry Piper and a substitute Manchester November Handicap on Oatflake at Pontefract.
In 1946 Edgar Britt′s tally of winners rose to 92 putting him fourth behind Gordon Richards in the jockeys table.
During 1947 Edgar Britt won the Irish Derby and St Leger on Sayajirao. He also formed a successful partnership with a two year old called Lerins (later renamed My Babu) on whom he won the Norfolk Stakes at Newmarket, Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, dead heated with Delirium for the New Stakes at Royal Ascot, Nell Gwynn Stakes at Epsom and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Britt was replaced as the Maharajah of Baroda′s jockey in 1948 by Charlie Smirke. That season Britt rode as first jockey to Marcus Marsh and when W H Carr broke his leg in the middle of that season he stepped in for the ride on many of Captain Boyd-Rochfort′s runners winning the Yorkshire Oaks on Angelola (owned by King George VI) and the Doncaster St Leger on Black Tarquin. That year Britt also won the Cesarewith on the Captain Charles Elsey trained Woodburn. During this particular season Britt rode 145 winners which was his best total in England.
In 1949 Britt won the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks on Musidora for Captain Elsey.
Britt became first jockey to Captain Elsey in 1952 and won that year′s Oaks on Frieze for the stable.
In 1953 Britt won the Newmarket 2000 Guineas on Nearula trained by Captain Elsey. He also won the St James′s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on the same horse.
Won the 1956 1000 Guineas on Honeylight owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, also trained by Elsey.
Edgar Britt retired in 1959 and returned to Australia.
Post Haste Edgar Britt′s autobiography was published in 1967
(as told to Gerald Pynt)
In 2004 Britt was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Born 1913 Australia.
Apprenticed to Michael Polson at Randwick.
Rode first winner in January 1930 on Gipsy King at Canterbury Racecourse (outskirts of Sydney).
In 1933 travelled to Baltimore USA where he rode the winner of the Baltimore Handicap on Winooka.
In 1934 Britt rode the winner of the Sydney Cup.
In 1935 went to ride in India. Rode there for several seasons winning the Eclipse Stakes of India in both 1942 and 1943 on the Maharajah of Baroda′s Golden Fawn. Whilst in India Britt was Champion Jockey 8 times.
In 1945 Britt went to England to ride the Maharajah of Baroda′s horses. These horses were trained by Sam Armstrong at Middleham (later Newmarket).
First winner in England was on Maharaj Kumar at Stockton on 19th May 1945. That year he won 20 races from 107 rides which included the Cesarewitch on Kerry Piper and a substitute Manchester November Handicap on Oatflake at Pontefract.
In 1946 Edgar Britt′s tally of winners rose to 92 putting him fourth behind Gordon Richards in the jockeys table.
During 1947 Edgar Britt won the Irish Derby and St Leger on Sayajirao. He also formed a successful partnership with a two year old called Lerins (later renamed My Babu) on whom he won the Norfolk Stakes at Newmarket, Woodcote Stakes at Epsom, dead heated with Delirium for the New Stakes at Royal Ascot, Nell Gwynn Stakes at Epsom and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Britt was replaced as the Maharajah of Baroda′s jockey in 1948 by Charlie Smirke. That season Britt rode as first jockey to Marcus Marsh and when W H Carr broke his leg in the middle of that season he stepped in for the ride on many of Captain Boyd-Rochfort′s runners winning the Yorkshire Oaks on Angelola (owned by King George VI) and the Doncaster St Leger on Black Tarquin. That year Britt also won the Cesarewith on the Captain Charles Elsey trained Woodburn. During this particular season Britt rode 145 winners which was his best total in England.
In 1949 Britt won the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and the Epsom Oaks on Musidora for Captain Elsey.
Britt became first jockey to Captain Elsey in 1952 and won that year′s Oaks on Frieze for the stable.
In 1953 Britt won the Newmarket 2000 Guineas on Nearula trained by Captain Elsey. He also won the St James′s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on the same horse.
Won the 1956 1000 Guineas on Honeylight owned by Sir Victor Sassoon, also trained by Elsey.
Edgar Britt retired in 1959 and returned to Australia.
Post Haste Edgar Britt′s autobiography was published in 1967In 2004 Britt was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
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