Joseph Lawson (1881–1964) was a British trainer of racehorses. Lawson rose from a position on the staff at

Alec Taylor Jr. Alec Taylor Jr. (1862–1943), known as the Wizard of Manton, was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who followed in the footsteps of his highly successful father, Alec Taylor Sr. Family His father, Alec Taylor Sr., was a successful ho ...

's stable to become one of the most successful British trainers of the mid 20th century. He trained the winners of twelve

British Classic Races The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their ow ...

and was

British flat racing Champion Trainer The Champion Trainer of flat racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prize money during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each year since 1896. The Championship was originally run from November ...

on two occasions.

Background

Joseph Lawson was born in 1881 at Boldon Gint, near Marsden,

County Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

. He worked as a farm labourer before beginning a career in horse racing.

Early career

Lawson began his career as an

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jockey to his local trainer Thomas Barrasford at Marsden Hall. He began riding in races in 1897, but his career as a jockey was brief one, as his rising weight made him uncompetitive. He moved to

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where he joined the staff at the stables of

at Manton. Lawson eventually took on the role travelling head lad, meaning that he was responsible for the condition and welfare of horses at race meetings when Taylor himself could not be present. He was later designated assistant trainer and when Taylor retired in 1927, Lawson took over as the trainer at Manton.

Training career

Lawson inherited the patronage of several leading owners from Taylor and attracted several others. In his second full season of training he sent out Lord Astor's filly

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to win the Epsom Oaks. Two years later, Lawson's stable won £93,899 in prize money, setting a record which stood for 26 years and giving him his first trainers' championship. His biggest winners that season were the

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4 ...

winner Trimdon and the champion two-year-old

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. Lawson's success continued through the 1930s, with his other major winners including Pay Up (2000 Guineas), Rhodes Scholar (

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown ...

), Exhibitionnist and

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. The successes of Pay Up and Rhodes Scholar in 1936 gave Lawson his second trainers' title. During the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Lawson's team was strengthened by the arrival of the horses owned by Lord Glanely, who closed down his private stable at the outbreak of hostilities. Lawson's wartime winners included the 2000 Guineas winners Kingsway and

Court Martial A court-martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the mili ...

and Glanely's filly Dancing Time, which won the 1000 Guineas in 1941. In 1945, Lawson left Manton after being advised by doctors that he needed to "restrict his activities". Instead of retiring however, he relocated to Newmarket at the age of 66, where he took over the running of the Carlburg stable in 1947. Seven years later, Lawson recorded the most important victory of his training career when Never Say Die won the 1954 Epsom Derby.

Retirement

Lawson retired from training in 1957 and lived at Newmarket until his death in 1964.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Joseph 1881 births 1964 deaths British racehorse trainers