Harold Badger

Harold Lindsay Badger (10 October 1907 – 13 December 1981) was an Australian jockey, famous for riding the champion racehorse Ajax in many of his wins.

[1] Apprenticed at 14 to Richard Bradfield, he often raced in South Australia, winning the Adelaide Cup in 1925.

[2] He returned to Victoria, but had few opportunities in major races as the number-two jockey for trainer Lou Robertson, so he turned freelance in 1936.

[1] With Ajax's regular jockey, Maurice McCarten unavailable, Badger was given the ride in the 1937 Victoria Derby, finishing a close second.

[2] Possibly the most famous of these races was the 1939 Rawson Stakes, where Ajax finished second, despite starting favourite at 40/1 on.