The Life Jackie James
In the early part of the 20th century at the end of the war many girls took up work in racing stables as there was a shortage of young men. In the post war period the liberation of women was just beginning to twinkle like a far off star. Although jobs were limited to one’s purse or education and the choices of work were few, women were further hampered by not being able to get bank loans for homes. So if they wanted a home they would have to marry. Marriage does not suit everyone and divorce was still difficult if you found yourself married to the wrong man.
Jackie James
Jacky James was born in 1952 on the outskirts of Bristol. She was always horse mad. At 10 yrs old she worked weekends mucking out and leading paying riders on local rides at the local riding stables at the Winford Arms on the A38 2 miles from home. For Christmas when she was 12 yrs old she received a present of a rather shabby foal with Dartmoor and New Forest heritage. It cost £10. The foal lived in the the back garden for about a year and was then moved to a field, after being duly broken in by Jacky! The bug had bitten and Tinkerbelle duly became a one rider pony. She tended to throw off other potential riders.
When Jacky was 15 and had finished school without any honours. She applied for a job as groom with Bill Shand Kydd at his stables in Horton near Leighton Buzzard. She soon attained flying colours such was her knowledge and her ability to deal with the most awkward horses; watched over by the stable manager Mr. Thompson. Bill Shand Kydd was a successful amateur Jockey and we were regaled with tales of “Matchboard” and “Brown Windsor” 2 of his successful horses. He was well known on the Point-to-Point circuits. Whilst with Shand Kydd she was asked if she would like to accompany Goya boss, Chris Collins on a trip to Sweden with some racehorses. A chance of a lifetime for a poorly paid groom! Such was the success of the trip she was then asked by Collins to come and work for him at Noel Peggs stables in Melton Mowbray which she duly accepted.
She rode Point–to–Point several times winning one race. Chris Collins was friendly with English trainer Jonathan Shepperd in South Carolina and graciously paid for a 7 week trip to work the in the summer break which led to another major move to the States a year later to work with Shepperd. All this whilst becoming engaged twice and once the verge of marriage before changing her mind and horses coming first as the love of her life.
She lived in South Carolina for around 20 years and made many friends in the racing world hobnobbing with the top jockeys and trainers plus attending many prestigious races such as the Breeders Cup. Such was her knowledge and handling of horses she was sought by many.
There is only so much luck in the world of racing; she sadly had a very bad fall when a racehorse rolled on her. This changed so much for her as the damage was quite extensive. She had broken her shoulder blade, wrist and ankle. Not being inclined to give up she continued working until a failed relationship took its toll and in 2007 she returned to the UK to live with her mother.
Jacky died in Brockenhurst in 2013 after a life lived to the full, but broken, but her dreams were not broken. We should all live out our dreams, Monty Roberts did and he became horse trainer extraordinaire to the Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll.
by Michael James her brother.