Charlie Cunningham (jockey)

Charles John Cunningham
OccupationJockey
Born21 December 1849
Morebattle Tofts, Kelso, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Died20 October 1906 (aged 56)
Muirhouselaw, Maxton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Major racing wins
Scottish Grand National, National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

Charles Cunningham (1849–1906) was a 19th-century Scottish National Hunt jockey, who has been described as "Scotland's greatest jockey".[1]

Although he was an amateur throughout his career,[2] he won the Scottish Grand National a record four times (1881, 1885, 1887 and 1889) and also the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup in 1886. He is also one of only two jump jockeys to ride six winners in one day, a feat he achieved at Rugby Hunt on 29 March 1881.[2] In one three-year period, he won 144 out of 276 races.[3]

He was unnaturally big for a jockey, standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing over 12 stone[4]

He had a serious fall in 1890, which contributed to his early death.[3]

In addition to race-riding, he was also a keen cricketer,[4] representing Northumberland in their pre-County cricket days, Dalkeith, Aberdeenshire and Roxburghshire [5]

  1. ^ "Scottish Grand National Facts". Ayr Racecourse. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  2. ^ a b Randall, John (7 May 2001). "For The Record: Scotland has never been a breeding ground for top National Hunt riders". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b Vamplew, Wray; Kay, Joyce. "Captains Courageous: Gentlemen Riders in British Horseracing 1866–1914" (PDF). University of Stirling. Retrieved 11 April 2013. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ a b Richardson, John Maunsell (1909). Gentleman Riders Past and Present. London: Vinton. p. 30. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Charles Cunningham". CricketArchive. Retrieved 11 April 2013.