Short Story: Charlie Smirke

Those of you with an iPod in your pocket and a Beanie on your head have probably never heard of him. Arguably you older readers may recall his existence but not his significance. It’s a shame really. His life is one of those common occurrences of time - a forgotten gem. You see, the story of Charlie Smirke is quite remarkable.
By Derby day 1958, Smirke had experienced a turbulent life. Born in London in 1906, he soon developed a passion for horses as he admired the giant Suffolk Punches and dock tailed hackneys which passed his house everyday, in a world before cars, and it was not long until the boy was atop of a horse himself, delivering fresh fruit and fish for his father.
People could see the lad had a natural talent with horses but he was also becoming a renowned fighter in the boxing ring and thus the decision was made which would shape the rest of little Charlie’s life.
Luckily for racing, on a Sunday in the early summer of 1920, Smirke senior signed the Articles of Apprenticeship which would practically sell his son to the renowned racehorse trainer Stanley Wooton.
Not long after, the pint-sized Londoner became a sensation, winning one of France’s most prestigious races as an apprentice. By 20 years old, Smirke says himself, ‘I was one of the top and most sought after jockeys in England’.
The wheels were in motion.
Two years later, the wheels abruptly fell off.
Riding a temperamental odds on favourite at Gatwick racecourse, the pair were slow to start and finished unplaced with the added insult of being greeted into the unsaddling enclosure with blasphemies from disgruntled punters. The stewards were not impressed either. Despite the jockey’s plea of innocence, he was found guilty of deliberately losing and was banned from racing indefinitely.
The weeks turned into months and months into years. Still no reprise from The Jockey Club.
As money ran low, Smirke was forced to take up a job working in Brighton - cleaning beach huts. At night he would lay in his bed under the town’s pier wrapped in a tarpaulin and ask himself ‘Why?’
As winter drew in and prospects of work dwindled, Smirke was forced to pawn his coat just to buy a meal. He was broke.
However, after five long years, the authorities had a change of heart and allowed the once promising jockey to ride again, providing he stayed out of trouble.
There was no warm welcome on his return, no offers to ride talented racehorses. He had to start from the bottom rung of the ladder again.
As Smirke rode any horse, anywhere, people began to notice him and let him ride their horses. The winners were soon flooding in like they had done years before.
A wet, cold December day in 1934 dawned silver and beautiful for Charles James William Smirke. The great rolling wheel of his life had spun an upward curve again as he was given the leg up on a tall, bay colt: Windsor Lad.
This was the start of a lucrative partnership which climaxed with an easy success in the Derby, finishing a generous length clear of his nearest pursuer. And so the good fortune continued…
Three marriages, two Derby victories and one World War later, Smirke was a different man.
He had served for his country as a driver of staff-cars (where one reminiscing soldier remembered him as ‘a really excellent driver’), had his house destroyed by Hitler and had put on a stone in weight.
On his return to race riding at 39 years old, many considered him an ‘old timer’ who would probably never get his weight down let alone win a valuable race again. How little did they know.
The collaboration of Hard Ridden and Smirke was a comic one. The horse, a giant 17 hands high bay and the dwarf like figure who rode him were quite a contrast. But when united, they were a powerful force. No one could stop them as they powered to an impressive victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas and headed to the 1958 Derby unbeaten as a partnership.
Cantering to the start of the big race, many fans wished good luck to Smirke who had endeared himself to the public with his outspoken opinions most memorably portrayed after winning the 1952 Derby on long shot Tulyar when he said ‘What did I Tul yar?’ Indeed, he was so famous that he was immortalised in cockney slang with the word ‘charlie’ which meant a ‘Berk’.
Walking around at the start of the race, Smirke focussed his piercing black eyes on the rivals: the American horse, Bald Eagle, looked too weak; Guersillus would probably not stay the distance and Amerigo appeared to lack the courage needed to win a Derby. The remainder of the field were useless. In his own mind, Smirke had won the race before it had even started.
As the tapes flew up and the contest began, two forlorn hopes dashed off in front soon to tire and finish out the back. Smirke took his time, after all, he had ridden in over 20 Derbys and knew what it took to win one.
With half a mile to go as the field swung round Tattenham Corner, Hard Ridden’s jockey was in disbelief. As all his rivals were pushing and whipping their mounts, there he was still with the reins hard held in both fists! With so much in hand, he crouched lower in the saddle and asked the horse for all his effort and the race was over within a matter of strides. Hard Ridden passed the winning post five lengths clear.
Although happy, Smirke did not feel the same about this Derby victory as the ones before. During the walk back to the jockey’s room, he was not filled with the elation which was usually felt after such a big win. He knew what this meant - it was time to retire.
And so, soon after the 1958 Derby, Charlie Smirke, the self assured and supremely confident rider, announced his retirement. Even nowadays, he is generally considered one of the most successful jockeys never to become champion.
The jockey, beach man, pauper and soldier had had enough of the hours spent in the sauna to lose weight, the physical exertion on his aging body and with it racing said goodbye to a legend.