THE Irish public would consider Arkle the most popular horse ever in spite of the achievements of Dawn Run, Danoli, and others. In Britain, it could be narrowed down to Red Rum in the 1970s, and Brown Jack, who ran in the 1920s and ‘30s.

Brown Jack was not the greatest horse ever but I believe he was the most popular in Britain when winning at Royal Ascot in seven consecutive years from 1928 to 1934, when he raised the spirits of a nation during a depression between two world wars.

The interesting thing is that Brown Jack was bred by an Offaly man, George Webb, and trained in Britain by Aubrey ‘Robin Hood’ Hastings, who was also from the Faithful County.

The reaction to Brown Jack was similar to Arkle in that he received parcels of cheap American cheddar cheese (his favourite)), apples and carrots from his fans. A sermon on goodness was preached about him in church; a telephone was set up in his stable so that his jockey Steve Donoghue, on his retirement, could talk to him; his shoes were carried by a local bus service; his name appeared on cigarette packs, songs, and much more.

He was the first horse to take racing off the sports page and into the news. In his last race at the Friday meeting in 1934 at Royal Ascot, the main headline on the front page of a major newspaper was simply:

“BROWN JACK TODAY 4.30”.

He was born at George Webb’s Corolanty Stud in Offaly, Webb was a breeder who lived not too far from Aubrey Hastings’ family. He brought the horse to a show and he was placed last, before attracting no bids at Ballsbridge.

Marcus Thompson from Cashel eventually paid €110 for him but fate took a hand when Charlie Rogers, racing manager to the famous Dorothy Paget, was driving to Limerick when his car broke down.

Thompson gave him a lift and at the paddock he spotted Brown Jack and bought him for €275. His only two runs in Ireland at Navan and the Phoenix Park over five furlongs brought no success.

Rogers sent him to Aubrey Hastings’ stable at Wroughton in Britain and he was purchased by Sir Harold Wernher for €750. This was to be the start of his great career.

The Hon. Aubrey Craven Theophilius ‘Robin Hood’ Hastings (1879-1929), grew up in Sharavogue House in Offaly and it was there he lost sight in one eye in a freak accident. He was cutting a stick when the knife slipped striking him in the eye.

The ‘Robin Hood’ reference relates to the legend that the original Robin of Sherwood was born in the Earldom of Huntington. George Hastings was created Earl in 1529 by Henry VIII and since then the Hastings family have used “Robin Hood” in their name.

Hastings was a great trainer and the first man to ride and train a winner of the Grand National, when Ascetic Silver won in 1905. He trained three other Grand National winners including Ally Sloper in 1915 and set another record as the owner Lady Nelson (Margaret Hope, Westmeath) was the first woman to win the Grand National.

He put Brown Jack over hurdles, and he won seven of his 10 races, before winning the Champion Hurdle in 1928, and he never jumped again.

Hastings asked famous jockey Steve Donoghue if he had enough speed to win on the flat and Donoghue replied “Yes, he’ll win on the flat and I’ll ride him”.

Between 1928 and 1934 Brown Jack was the toast of racing fans. It should be remembered that Ascot only had one meeting per year at that time. Over seven years he ran 11 times at the meeting.

When Hastings was training him, he won the Ascot Stakes in 1928 and his speciality was the Queen Alexandra Stakes over two and three quarter miles, which he won every year from 1929-’34. He also won the Goodwood Cup (1930), Doncaster Cup (1930), Chester Cup (1931), and Ebor Handicap (1931) carrying 9st 5lb.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t run in the Gold Cup as he was gelded by Thomson.

Tragically, Hastings died suddenly on May 25th, 1928, after a polo match. Before his death he said “He was a hell of a horse” and always claimed he was “a proud Irishman”.

His family included horse trainers Peter Hastings and William Hastings Bass, who purchased the famed Kingsclere Estate, with Ian Balding as assistant. It has now passed on to Andrew Balding (not forgetting the famous Clare Balding).

Ivor Anthony took over the training of Brown Jack for the rest of his career. The horse was lazy at home, often snoozing, but lit up on the track. Steve Donoghue, his great jockey, said ”I only had to talk to him during a race for him to do exactly as I want.”

He was the working man’s hero, who brought hope and victory during the depression. People could read stories about him on the papers. It was claimed that the horse did a two-step shuffle after winning a race.

In June 1934 he had his last race as he was now a 10-year-old and “long in the tooth”.

The people brought banners and shouted “Good Luck, Jack” around the track. Anthony couldn’t watch the race and hid in the stands. He faced eight runners, conceding 8lb to his main danger Solatium, a four-year-old.

He was forced to hit the front as the pacemaker Mail Fist (who went everywhere with him) weakened.

He turned into the straight in front but was challenged by Solatium, who was going well – it looked bad for the veteran champion against a young fresh horse.

Donoghue dropped the whip as a tremendous tussle developed, with him riding hands and heels inside the last furlong. He pricked his ears, and shrugged off his challenger to win by two lengths.

When the horse won, ”the stands rocked to a thunderous volume, grown men cried at his victory, and the ladies raised their skirts and ran to greet him”.

Donoghue said “Never will I forget the roar of the crowd, as long as I live. It was the greatest moment of my career”.

The King of Ascot loved the attention and one paper said he was immortal. He retired with pacemaker and travelling companion Mail Fist, after being a Champion Hurdle winner and seven times winner at Royal Ascot.

He lived until 24-year-old and is remembered as a national institution.