Herbert Jones

Herbert Ebsworth Jones, often known as Bertie, (30 November 1880 – 18 July 1951) was an English Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.

He often rode for King Edward VII, and in 1909 he rode the first Derby winner owned by a British monarch. He remains one of only fifteen jockeys to win the British Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown Son of the jumping trainer Jack Jones, young Herbert was apprenticed to Richard Marsh at the age of ten and rode his first winner in 1896.

In 1909, he won the British Triple Crown when he rode Diamond Jubilee to victory in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. He was the work rider for the temperamental Diamond Jubilee and it was observed that this wayward colt went better for him than for any more established jockey. Diamond Jubilee had rolled on his race rider Mornington Cannon after a gallop just before the 2,000 Guineas. Hence Jones gained his chance and won the Triple Crown on the Prince of Wales's horse.

Later career

Among his other Classic victories, he won the 1905 Epsom Oaks, a second Derby in 1909, and the 2,000 Guineas on three more occasions.

In the 1909 Derby on 26 May, Jones rode Minoru to victory at odds of 7/2 in a field of fifteen. This was the first time a horse owned by a British reigning monarch had won the race. The victory for the "royal" colt provoked "the wildest scenes of enthusiasm ever known in England", including a mass rendition of the National Anthem as the King led his horse to the winner's enclosure.

In 1913, Jones rode another of the King's horses, Anmer, in the Derby. He was involved in a collision with Emily Davison, the suffragette, who was fatally injured. The horse knocked Davison over, turned a somersault and landed on Jones. He suffered significant injuries, including a mild concussion and was unconscious for a short time.

Jones retired from riding in 1923. His last major win had been the Nunthorpe Stakes in 1922 on Two Step.

Death Late in his life, Jones became deaf and suffered two strokes.