Rae Johnstone
| Rae Johnstone | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Jockey |
| Born | 13 April 1905 New South Wales |
| Died | 29 April 1964 (aged 59) |
| Major racing wins | |
|
British Classic Race wins: 2,000 Guineas (1) 1,000 Guineas (3) Epsom Oaks (3) Epsom Derby (3) St. Leger Stakes (2) |
|
| Significant horses | |
| Colombo, Mesa, Imprudence, Camaree, My Love, Galcador, Lavandin, Asmena, Sun Cap, Scratch, Talma, Sayani, Nikellora, Sica Boy | |
William Raphael "Rae" Johnstone (13 April 1905 – 29 April 1964), was an Australian flat-race jockey. After enjoying considerable success in his native country he relocated to Europe in 1932 and spent most of the rest of his life in France. He won thirteen British Classic Races and two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes. On his retirement in 1957 he was described as "one of the greatest international jockeys of modern times". He died of a heart attack in 1964.
Rae Johnstone was born to Robert James Johnstone (a coalminer) and Elizabeth Johnstone (nee Harvey) in 1905 in New Lambton, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. In later life he was somewhat evasive when talking about his origins, claiming that his original surname was Davies and on others that he was of Portuguese descent. There is some evidence, however, that he may have attempted to conceal the fact that he was of Australian Aborigine heritage. Early in his riding career he was nicknamed "Togo" after Admiral Togo on account of his dark complexion and "oriental" appearance: Johnstone reportedly found the name offensive.
Johnstone began his riding career in Australia, winning his first race in 1920 at the age of 15. He had several brushes with the racing authorities and received a two-year ban in 1927 after he "conspired to lose a race". In 1931 he was the Champion Jockey in Sydney and began to attract attention from abroad. By that time he had won more than 600 races in Australia and also ridden successfully in India. In the following year he travelled to France to take up a position as the retained jockey for Pierre Wertheimer and moved to England two years later to ride for Lord Glanely. He made an immediate impact by winning the 2000 Guineas aboard Colombo but was criticised for his tactics when finishing third on the same colt in the Epsom Derby and returned to France shortly afterwards. In the following year he partnered the French-trained filly Mesa to win the 1000 Guineas. In his early career Johnstone had been known to bet of his mounts, but gave up gambling on his second marriage in 1940.
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