Harry Wragg
| Harry Wragg | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey Trainer |
| Born | 10 June 1902 Sheffield |
| Died | 18 October 1985 |
| Career wins | 1,762 as a jockey |
| Major racing wins | |
|
British Classic Race wins as jockey: 2000 Guineas (1) 1000 Guineas (2) Epsom Derby (1) St. Leger Stakes (1) |
|
| Racing awards | |
| British flat racing Champion Jockey (1941) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Felstead, Blenheim, Rockfel, Watling Street, Herringbone, Sun Stream, Garden Path, Darius, Psidium, Abermaid, Intermezzo, Teenoso. | |
British Classic Race wins as jockey:
2000 Guineas (1)
1000 Guineas (3)
Epsom Derby (3)
Epsom Oaks (4)
St. Leger Stakes (2)
Harry Wragg (1902–1985) was a British jockey and racehorse trainer, who gained the nickname "The Head Waiter" due to his "come from behind" riding style. In a 27-year riding career, Wragg rode over 1700 winners in Britain and Ireland, including three victories in the Epsom Derby and ten in other British Classic Races. He then embarked on a successful 36-year training career, in which he trained many important winners including five more classics. He retired in 1982 and died three years later.
Harry Wragg was born on 10 June 1902 at Sheffield in Yorkshire. Although his family had no direct links with horse racing, Wragg's father, Arthur, had had some success as an amateur boxer and athlete. Two of Wragg's younger brothers became successful jockeys: Sam Wragg (b. 1909) won three classics including the Derby on Pont l'Eveque, while Arthur Wragg (1912–1954) finished sixth in the jockey's championship in 1944.
Wragg took up riding in his early teens and moved to Newmarket where he was apprenticed to the trainer George Colling. He rode his first winner in 1919. Wragg attracted the attention of important figures including the trainer Richard Marsh and the owner Solomon Joel, and in 1925 he had his first major success when he won the Eclipse Stakes on Polyphontes.
Wragg developed a riding style which relied strongly on timing, intelligence and tactical skill. At the time the fashion was for races to be run end-to-end, with the best horses racing close to the lead from the start. Wragg, however, preferred to restrain or "hold up" horses, preserving their speed for a late challenge. His proficiency in this earned him the nickname "the Head Waiter". In 1928, Wragg's skill was shown to its best advantage when he was booked to ride the 33/1 outsider Felstead in the Derby. The race was run at an exceptionally fast pace, which saw many of the leading contenders virtually exhausted in the closing stages. Wragg held up the outsider before producing him with a challenge inside the final furlong to win easily in record time.
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