Charlie Smirke

CHARLIE SMIRKE d1993. British flat-race jockey. In a career that lasted from 1920 until 1959 he rode the winners of eleven British Classic Races including ; 2000 Guineas (2) / 1000 Guineas (1) / Epsom Derby (4) and the St Leger (4). Notable horses he rode include ; Windsor Lad / Bahram / Mahmoud / The Bug / My Babu / Never Say Die and Hard Ridden. As a rider he was known for his skill, strength and tactical intelligence together with his self-confident and outspoken personality. Although he never won the Championship itself, he was regarded as one of the best jockeys of his era. In 1999, the Racing Post ranked him as fifth in their list of the Top 50 jockeys of the 20th century and the greatest never to have been Champion Jockey. He died aged 87 on 30th December 1993.