Charlie Smirke

Charles James William Smirke (1906–1993) was a British flat-race jockey. In a career that lasted from 1920 until 1959, he rode the winners of eleven British Classic Races. 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, he was regarded as one of the best jockeys of his era. The Racing Post ranked him as the fifth greatest jockey of the 20th Century and the greatest never to have been champion.

Background Charlie Smirke was born in Lambeth, a working-class district of London in 1906. His family had no racing connections, his father being a fruit and fish dealer. at his Treadwell House stable at Epsom. He had his first ride in 1920 riding at a weight of 89 pounds. He recorded his first win at the age of fifteen in April 1922. While still an apprentice, Smirke rode regularly for leading owners, accepting retainers from Solomon Joel, the Maharaja of Rajpipla and the Aga Khan Smirke rode 314 winners during his apprenticeship and was Champion Apprentice in 1925 and 1926.

In 1928, the year after leaving his apprenticeship, Smirke became stable jockey for the Newmarket trainer Victor Gilpin. In August, his mount, Welcome Gift refused to start in a race at Gatwick. The racecourse stewards took the view that Smirke had made no attempt to start the race and reported him to the Jockey Club. In September, Smirke's riding licence was revoked and he was banned from any involvement in racing (“warned off”). and a driver. In 1999, the Racing Post ranked him fifth in their list of the Top 50 jockeys of the 20th century and the greatest never to have been Champion Jockey.