Marsh, Alec – Top amateur rider

 Alec Marsh (1908-1996)

THE son of a wealthy Staunton-in-the-Vale farmer, Alec Marsh became champion amateur rider under National Hunt Rules in 1934, a position he held for three years.

He rode in three Grand Nationals., the first being in 1937 when his mount Don Bradman fell at the first fence, although he remounted to complete the course.

Beset by injuries his riding career ended in 1940 after serious injuries to his back in a fall.

He joined the RAF during the war, serving in Burma, Singapore and Chine.

After the war he became a race-starter, firstly in Calcutta and was theUK’s senior starter for 20 years until retiring in 1972, the year he married his second wife Majorie whom he had known since they were teenagers.

At one Royal Ascot meeting he was summoned by the Queen who congratuated him on his skills.

In his retirement at Bottesford, he kept racehorses and was a crackshot at pigeon shooting.