Smith was apprenticed to Major Sneyd in Sparsholt, Oxfordshire in 1929 and spent seven years there.
Riding Red Queen he beat Champion Jockey, Gordon Richards by a short head to get his first victory on 15 August 1930.
The Goodwood Cup gave him Group 1 success on Sans Peine in 1933 and Fearless Fox in 1937.
His greatest moments came at the end of the decade riding Lord Rosebery's horse Blue Peter on whom he won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the 2000 Guineas and Derby, as well as the Eclipse.
He had success for other trainers too, including consecutive Nunthorpe Stakes for William Smyth on Linklater.
in 1950, he won the Cesarewitch Handicap and Yorkshire Oaks in the colours of King George VI on Above Board.
Then, in 1954, he won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Aureole, another royal horse.
[3] He didn't win as many races as his brother, who was five times Champion Jockey, but some regarded him as being the greater talent.
[5] He retained the Berkshire accent of his family and his forthright opinions and lack of diplomacy likely cost him employment.