James Woodburn Spy Vanity Fair June 21 1890
$450
1890
20" x 12 7/8"
James Woodburn
1863-1919
Born at York on September 20, 1863, James began life as a doctor’s errand boy but, wanting to become a jockey, he ran away from home. Covering the 13 miles on foot, he arrived at the Hambleton stables of Mr Sanderson, who took an instant liking to the runaway. Woodburn rode his first winner for the stable on Hagioscope (carrying 6 stone 3 lbs) in 1881, beating Othello in the Thirsk Handicap.
A steady stream of winners ensued, including the Lincoln Handicap (twice, on Fulmen, 1886, & Lord George, 1891) and the Ebor in 1891 on Buccaneer. In 1889, he won the Stewards' Cup on Dog Rose & the Liverpool Autumn Cup on Philomel. His classic wins came in the 1889 Oaks on L’Abesse de Jouarre and, in the same year, on Minthe in the One Thousand Guineas. He rode his final winner on Lady MacGregor at Birmingham in 1900.
James, who stood at 5 ft 1 & a half inches tall, was a keen fox-hunter, and was often seen out with the York and Ainsty. He was the brother-in-law to Fred Barrett, each of the jockeys having married a daughter of James Goater, the trainer.