Hobbs, Bruce Robertson

▪ 2006

      British jockey and trainer (b. Dec. 27, 1920, Long Island, N.Y.—d. Nov. 21, 2005, Newmarket, Suffolk, Eng.), rode 40–1 long shot Battleship to victory in the 1930 Grand National steeplechase and thereby became, at age 17, the youngest jockey ever to win the race. In 1939 his career as a rider came to a premature end when he was thrown from a horse and broke his back. Later he enjoyed a successful career as a trainer. He trained Tyrnavos, the surprise winner of the 1980 Irish Derby, and the top two-year-olds Jacinth (1973) and Tromos (1978). Hobbs retired in 1985 and that same year was elected to the Jockey Club.

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