Charles Smirke
| Charles Smirke | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 23 September 1906 Lambeth, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 30 December 1993 (aged 87) |
| Major racing wins | |
|
British Classic Race wins: 2,000 Guineas (2) 1,000 Guineas (1) Epsom Oaks (0) Epsom Derby (4) St. Leger Stakes (4) |
|
| Racing awards | |
| British flat racing Champion Apprentice (1925, 1926) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Windsor Lad, Bahram, Mahmoud, The Bug, My Babu, Tulyar, Never Say Die, Hard Ridden | |
Charles James William “Charlie” Smirke (1906–1993), was a British flat-race jockey. In a career that lasted from 1920 until 1959, he rode the winners of eleven British Classic Races. As a rider, he was known for his skill, strength and tactical intelligence, together with his self-confident and outspoken personality. Although he never won the Championship, he was regarded as one of the best jockeys of his era.
Charlie Smirke was born in Lambeth, a working-class district of London in 1906. His family had no racing connections, his father being a fruit and fish dealer. After leaving school at the age of thirteen, Smirke left home to become an apprentice jockey. He has living children and grandchildren.
Smirke was apprenticed to the trainer Stanley Wootton at his Treadwell House stable at Epsom. He had his first ride in 1920 riding at a weight of 89 pounds. He recorded his first win at the age of fifteen in April 1922. While still an apprentice, Smirke rode regularly for leading owners, accepting retainers from Solomon Joel, the Maharaja of Rajpipla and the Aga Khan and winning races such as the Chester Cup and the Queen's Vase. During his time as an apprentice jockey, Smirke became an accomplished amateur boxer, an achievement which would prove useful in later years. Smirke rode 314 winners during his apprenticeship and was Champion Apprentice in 1925 and 1926.
In 1928, the year after leaving his apprenticeship, Smirke became stable jockey for the Newmarket trainer Victor Gilpin. In August, his mount, Welcome Gift refused to start in a race at Gatwick. The racecourse stewards took the view that Smirke had made no attempt to start the race and reported him to the Jockey Club. In September, Smirke’s riding licence was revoked and he was banned from any involvement in racing (“warned off”). Smirke’s ban lasted for five years, during which time he supported himself with a variety of menial jobs, including acting as a sparring partner for professional boxers.
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