Racing Connections
Emma Jesson and her family have been involved in racing for many years. Her father, Robert - Bob - Hargreaves, a stockbroker of Irish descent, was quoted in the press as being “an amateur National Hunt jockey of repute”. He was presented with the Liverpool Hurdle Trophy in 1961 when his horse “Law and Order” won the race on Grand National Day at Aintree. Read on to find out more about how it was re-introduced to the meeting this year. Emma's grandfather, Major Thomas Jesson was a racehorse owner.
Liverpool Hurdle Trophy
In recent years, the Liverpool Hurdle has been re-introduced to the Aintree Grand National meeting. The race was originally run over 2m 1f and when “Law and Order” won the race, her father was offered £1000 cash or the trophy. “Law and Order” was Bob’s favourite horse and out of sentimentality he chose the cup.
After a brave battle with cancer, Bob sadly passed away on 7th April, 2009, but all his favourite jockeys continued to text him and encourage him throughout his treatment including Carl Llewellyn, Richard Dunwoody and Grand National 2010 winner AP McCoy.
It was not an easy decision but Bob’s wife Shirley Hargreaves, and their daughter Emma Jesson decided to donate his trophy to Aintree Racecourse in 2010 to be presented as a perpetual every year at the John Smith's Grand National Meeting in honour of his memory.
The glorious 1961 hand-engraved Liverpool Hurdle trophy is solid silver and sits on a three tier, square rosewood plinth.
In April this year, after the first race on the first day of the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National meeting, Emma made the inaugural presentation to Andy Stewart and his family – exactly a year to the day since her father passed away. An emotional day, she was especially touched to be told by Andy that he remembered “Law and Order”. How appropriate that their family’s horse “Big Bucks” won the race, since “Law and Order” originally won at a price of 33-1!
Robert’s - Bob’s - family are very proud of him. He loved his horses so much, especially National Hunt racing… and by re-presenting his trophy each year they feel that he will live on as part of the fabric of the horse racing community which he loved and respected.
The Early Days & the Galloping Major
At 6ft 2in, Bob rode at 10 stone (1950-1963). His father, Emma’s grandfather, was Major Thomas Edward Jesson who lived in St Annes-On-Sea, Lancashire - a well known racehorse owner, retired lawyer, magistrate for over two decades and MP for Rochdale (1931-1935).
Affectionately known as “The Galloping Major”, Thomas Jesson had many interests, but horse racing was always his first love. He was one of the first patrons of Sir Noel Murless, lending him his first hundred pounds to buy tack. The Major could always be seen about town riding in his pony and trap. Or even on a bicycle. He never liked cars. Mechanical speed did not impress him.
His son, Bob, weighed only two pounds when he was born - with more ailments than you could shake a riding crop at. Bob was so weak as a child that doctors thought riding would be good for him. And so it proved.
He rode every day with his father and became an accomplished showjumper. Bob also rode regularly while serving with the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, taking part in events like the Royal Tournament on his own horse, Red Rover. And it was at St John’s Wood that he met some of the more recognised names in racing, and later competed alongside them.
Bob rode many of his father’s horses. His first ride in public under rules was for David Dick of Epsom – father of Grand National winning jockey the late D.V. Dick – on ‘Golden Wedding’ at Windsor. Other racing colleagues who became friends were Stan Mellor, Fred Winter, Brian Marshall, George Milburn, the Maloney brothers and Tim Brookshaw.
He treasures memories of his win on Terrible Turk at Wolverhampton – especially precious he recalls, as it was one of the few times his father was present; the Major, cheering him on from the crowd. Bob wasn’t always on board, but still loved watching his own horse, Law And Order, win the Liverpool Hurdle Race at Aintree in 1961, and Filon D’Or winning the Kim Muir for the Major in 1957.
Bob was also associated with Creggmore Boy who still holds the record for being the oldest horse to race under rules in the 20th century. One winner Bob rode under rules was Bright Mable at Uttoxeter in October 1953. He won by two heads in a photo finish, beating two of the leading professional jockeys of the time, Peter Major and George Vergette.
Injury was as much of a risk then as it is now - if not more so. And Bob did not escape unscathed. On "Hill of Saul", during a steeplechase at Rothbury near Newcastle in April 1954, he was ridden onto the rail - they were a lot more solid then - and broke a leg. He nearly lost the leg and treatment involved several major operations. Plaster cast and traction put paid to his racing career for a further 18 months.
The Aston family; Rosemary, Richard and Sally Aston of Goldford Stud, have been friends for many years - Bob’s daughter, Emma, sharing Richard’s 21st birthday party when she was just a tot. And as a slightly older tot, perching precariously on the back of one of his sixteen-handers.
Bob reveled in the camaraderie of the weighing room and his enthusiasm for racing remained undiminished throughout his life as he followed the fortunes of Carl Llewellyn, Mick Fitzgerald and Tony McCoy. To say he had an absolute ball when he accompanied his daughter to The Lesters is an understatement, meeting Lester Piggott himself and hooking up with former comrades like Jonjo O’Neill and Lord Oaksey.
