Clare Mary Heald (née Harding; 28 August 1895 – 11 March 1973), or as she was to become later when she remarried, Clare Miller, was a well-known horsewoman in her day, and horrified the hierarchy of racing in 1930 by applying for a licence to ride under both

Jockey Club The Jockey Club is the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. It owns 15 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree Racecourse, Aintree, Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom ...

(flat) and

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

(steeplechase) rules. She was strongly supported by 'Brab' ( Lord Brabazon), the famous airman and racing motorist, and others, and it was her intention one day to win, if she could, both the

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

and the

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

. She had to content herself with winning some 30 point-to-point races in England and later in Kenya. One of her stallions was Syndrian, brother to Sicyon, both bred by Solly Joel (

Solomon Joel Solomon Barnato Joel (23 May 1865 – 22 May 1931) was a British-South African business magnate. He moved to Cape Colony in the 1880s where he made his fortune in connection with diamonds, later becoming a financier with interests in mining, b ...

). Born Clare Mary Harding, she came from a large family at Old Springs Hall, near Market Drayton in Shropshire. A niece of the

Earl of Denbigh Earl of Denbigh (pronounced 'Denby') is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1622 for William Feilding, 1st Earl of Denbigh, William Feilding, Viscount Feilding, a courtier, admiral, and brother-in-law of the powerful George Vill ...

, and of

Baron Clifford of Chudleigh Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, of Chudleigh in the County of Devon, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, Thomas Clifford. The title was created as "Clifford of Chudleigh ...

, her first husband was William Henry Arthur Heald, himself an early airman, and brother of Sir

Lionel Heald Sir Lionel Frederick Heald, (7 August 1897 – 8 November 1981) was a British barrister and Conservative Party politician. Early life Heald was born in Parrs Wood, Didsbury, Lancashire. He was educated at Charterhouse, then served in Fran ...

, the

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

, well known to Rhodesians as a member of the ill-fated Monckton Commission. Her second husband was Lt Cdr John Bryan Peter Duppa-Miller, G.C., one of the twelve naval officers who volunteered to dismantle the magnetic mines which were dropped off by the Germans over London in the autumn of 1940. With him, she settled in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in 1965. Her daughter Ann was married to

Keith Stainton Keith Monin Stainton (8 November 1921 – 3 November 2001) was a British Conservative politician World War II decorated veteran. Keith Stainton was born in Kendal, Westmorland, the son of a Kendal butcher father and a Belgian refugee mother who ...

, the M.P. for Sudbury & Woodbridge. She had six grandchildren. She was a very gentle character, known for her gardening skills and her love of Siamese cats, which she bred for half a century. In the middle of her fight with the

, she was interviewed by a reporter for the

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and also published digitally that focuses on business and economic Current affairs (news format), current affairs. Based in London, the paper is owned by a Jap ...

. Asked what she thought would happen to the punters if women were allowed to ride, she replied 'They lose too much now, backing what they think is the best horse. God only knows what will happen if they start backing what they think is the prettiest face!' Clare Miller died in Salisbury, Rhodesia on 11 March 1973.

References

*''Excerpt from private papers by John Duppa Miller G.C.'', March 1973 *"Obituary", ''Rhodesia Herald'', 14 March 1973 *''The National Horseracing Museum'

Newmarket, Suffolk 1895 births 1973 deaths English jockeys {{England-horseracing-bio-stub