Albert Royal (Whitaker) Whittaker I (1890 - 1912)

Born 1890 in Panmure, Auckland, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 16 Mar 1912 at about age 22 in Paeroa Town, Waikato, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Marc Whitaker [send private message]

Biography

"Jockey Whittaker" was a "well-known, deservedly popular" world-record holding racehorse jockey, of Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand. He held the world record for riding seven winning horses at Huntly in 1910, but was accidentally killed aged only 21, when his racehorse, Manurewa, fell shortly after starting in the St Patrick's Day race meeting at Paeroa racecourse in 1912.

"He was one of the best horsemen in New Zealand, had a very clean record as a rider, with much success, and [in 1911 was] a close second on the list of winning horsemen in the Dominion."

Epitaph

"New Zealand was sorrowed when Albert went out, and raced through the Valley of Tears; in the yellow-black sash, no more will be flash - past the post to our loud-ringing cheers.

"No more he'll greet his mother, to whom he had ne'er said good-bye, but she'll meet him above in that Heaven of Love, in the sweet bye and bye."

J Cullen.

Background

Albert Royal Whitaker was the second son of Mary Ann Weston and William James Whitaker. He was born in 1890 in Auckland. He was named after his uncle, Albert Woodland Weston.[1]

Education

He served his apprenticeship with his cousin, well known horse trainer Charles William Coleman Jr, who had stables at Ellerslie Racecouse, Auckland. "It was while riding a horse for that trainer that he met with his death."

World record holder

"He appears to have held the world record for seven winners from 1910 until 1929 when equalled by W Thomas who also rode seven winners at Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

"In 1938 their record was surpassed by Hubert Stanley Jones who rode eight winners in 13 races at Caliente Racetrack, just across the Southern Californian border, in Mexico."

Whitaker family name

It is apparent from newspaper reports, his death certificate, memorial grave headstones and from his nieces and nephew's birth registrations, that his immediate family began using the name Whittaker in lieu of Whitaker prior to his death (c1902-12).

Death and burial

He was accidentally killed on Saturday 16 March 1912, aged 21, whilst competing in the Netherton Welter at the Ohinemuri Jockey Club's St Patrick's Day race meeting at Paeroa Racecourse, when his racehorse, Manurewa, fell shortly after starting. Jockey Whittaker hit his head on a post as he came down. "Verdict of Coroner's Jury. Accidental death; fell while horse racing."

He was buried on Tuesday 19 March 1912 in the Roman Catholic Cemetery of St Patrick's Churchyard, Panmure, Auckland. Death Certificate Folio No 1912/134; copy provided by Lynnette Huia Tatton Paul (2005).

Inquest

On 21 March 1913 his Obituary in the Poverty Bay Herald stated:

"At the Inquest evidence was given by Mr C W Coleman, uncle [sic] of the deceased, and owner of Manuwera, the horse deceased was riding." (21 Mar 1912).[2] However, the Mr C W Coleman mentioned was not his uncle, Charles William Coleman Sr, because he had died five weeks prior. He must therefore have been his cousin, Charles William Coleman Jr, the eldest son of Charles William Coleman Sr, and a well known racehorse trainer, who had stables at Ellerslie Racecourse.

Grave

"Sacred to the Memory of Albert Whittaker, Died 16th March 1912, RIP. Also His Loved Sister, May Elizabeth Cleaver, Dearly Loved Mother of Albert, Died 28th Nov 1969, Aged 85 Years, RIP." Photograph, Lynnette Huia Paul (2005).

Dedication

"Dedicated to the late Albert Whittaker, who was killed at Paeroa, St Patrick's Day, 1912 -

"The barrier has lifted, the tote has closed down, the horses have started away; each steed pulling hard, with its welter-weight up, at Paeroa last St Patrick's Day.

"The colours blended lovely, 'twas a beautiful scene, as each rider was seeking a place, they rattled along at 'er increasing pace, ne'er dreaming one was riding death in that race.

"They thought of victory and hoped 'twould be theirs - that the clerk would be leading them in; the issue's in doubt and punters call out the names of backed horses to win.

"A cry 'What's that that's fallen? Manurewa's brought Whittaker down'; the horse rose all right, but poor Albert that night, died in Paeroa Town.

"Our dead and gone jockey was one of the best, though missing, his memory's kept green; his record was brilliant, he won a high place in the world ere he went off the scene.

"For his mother we sorrow, now she's left alone, and his sweetheart bereft of all joy, she who was promised all that true love can give, now grief-stricken, mourns for her boy.

"New Zealand was sorrowed when Albert went out, and raced through the Valley of Tears; in the yellow-black sash, no more will be flash - past the post to our loud-ringing cheers.

"No more he'll greet his mother, to whom he had ne'er said good-bye, but she'll meet him above in that Heaven of Love, in the sweet bye and bye."

J Cullen.

Legacy

An abiding relationship between the Whitaker and Coleman families began in 1869 with the marriage between Jane Whitaker and Charles William Coleman Sr.

It was the family's love of horses, horse training and horse racing that bound them together intricately for generations.

My great-grandfather William Charles Whitaker and his younger brother Albert Royal Whitaker I, were both trained as racehorse jockeys by their cousin (Jane's son) Charles William Coleman Jr who was lost overboard on the steamer Rawara and drowned at sea, enroute whilst transporting racehorses from New Plymouth to Onehunga, Auckland, in 1926.

In 1908 William Charles Whitaker named his eldest daughter Syvilla Maud after the ship 'Sevilla' that brought the Coleman Family to New Zealand in 1861. Marc Whitaker (14 Feb 2023).

From the Ohinemuri Gazette of 13 January and the Manawatu Standard of 15 January 1913, "Maintenance Case, A Jockey's Estate, Errant Father The Heir.

"A case arising directly from the death of the well-known jockey, Albert Whittaker, at Paeroa, in March last, as the result of a racecourse accident, was heard at the Auckland Magistrate's Court on Friday before Mr Kettle SM. An application was made by Mrs Mary Ann Whittaker (represented by Mr R McVeagh) for maintenance against her husband, William Whittaker, for the support of herself and her daughter, Florence Mabel Whittaker. Leave was granted for the hearing of the case ex parte, the defendant being in Australia."[3] For transcription, see: Mary Ann Weston Whittaker

His nephew, Albert Royal Whittaker II, born on 13 September 1913, was named after him.

Sources

Obit 18 Mar 1912, Fatality At Races, Jockey Whittaker Killed, While Riding At Paeroa, Caused By His Horse Falling, NZH, Papers Past, NLNZ.[4]

Obit 21 Mar 1912, Fatality At Races, How Bert Whittaker Was Killed, Poverty Bay Herald, Papers Past, NLNZ.[5]

Dedication to the Late Albert Whittaker, who was killed at Paeroa, St Patrick's Day, by J Cullen (1912). WFP.

Record Surpassed, Jockey's Eight Winners, San Francisco (21 Jun 1938, USA). WFP.

Maintenance Case, A Jockey's Estate, Ohinemuri Gazette, 13 Jan 1913, Papers Past, NLNZ.[6]

A Jockey's Estate, Errant Father the Heir, Mother's Claim for Maintenance, Manawatu Standard, 15 Jan 1913, Papers Past, NLNZ.[7]

1890 Birth, Family Search.[8]

Birth reg 1890/5263 Albert Royal Whitaker; death 1912/2619 Albert Lyle [sic] Whittaker, age 21, NZBDM.[9]