Edgar Clive Britt: One of Australia's Greatest Jockeys Of All Times With Most Of His Riding Overseas

Edgar Britt won for the first time in 1930 at Canterbury racecourse in Sydney.

Riding thoroughbreds in close proximity to other thoroughbreds for year after year would seem like a recipe for a brief life span, but Edgar Clive Britt, born 1913, defied the odds and lives to this day to reach the milestone of a century on the planet.

Edgar Clive Britt was one of the greatest Australian jockeys of all time, even though he did most of his riding abroad.

American Stint

He rode in America in 1933, winning the Baltimore Cup for trainer Mick Polson.

Britt returned to Australia in 1934 and won the Sydney Cup. Edgar Clive Britt then spent a decade riding in India where he won virtually every major race, some of them on more than one occasion, and heading the jockeys' premiership no fewer than eight times.

At the conclusion of WWII, Edgar Clive Britt accepted an invitation from the Maharaja of Baroda to ride in England .

Britt remained there until his retirement from racing in 1959, during which time he rode the winners of 1200 races, averaging around 85 victories per year.

His peak years were between 1947 and 1956, where he was never lower than sixth on the Jockey Premiership list. In 1948, he rode 145 winners.

Some of his significant wins include the Cesarewitch Handicap, Manchester November Hnadicap, two English St. Legers, two English 1,000 Guineas, an Epson Oaks, and the 2,000 Guineas whilst riding for Charles Elsey's stable. He also won an Irish Derby and two English Oaks.

Most Famous rides

Edgar Clive Britt's most famous mounts were Winooka, My Babu and Sayajitao, who carried Britt to his Irish Derby win. Britt was riding Broad Arrow for his 1934 Sydney Cup victory.

Britt remained active in racing after his retirement from riding in 1959, serving as a commentator and journalist.

He was recognised with the Order of Australia medal at the age of 90 in 2004, the same year that he was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

The final chapter in the remarkable life of Edgar Clive Britt remains to be written. Whenever that day comes, he will be remembered for his longevity as a jockey, his incredible record of winning all over the world, and his major contributions to the sport of thoroughbred racing.