Background
April the Fifth was a big, good-looking brown horse sired by Craig an Eran, the winner of the 1921 2000 Guineas and Eclipse Stakes, as well as the runner-up in that year's Epsom Derby, finishing second to Humorist by a neck. His grandsire Sunstar won the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby in 1911 before becoming a successful stud; apart from Craig an Eran, notable offspring included the 1917 Epsom Oaks Sunny Jane. His dam, Sold Again had an unfashionable pedigree and proved useless in a career as a racehorse on the flat and was given away free to her trainer who sold her for 20 guineas. She was bought for 230 guineas by Sidney McGregor who raced her over hurdles without success before retiring her to stud. April the Fifth was bred by McGregor in partnership with Mr G.S.L. Whitelaw at a stud in Leamington Spa. He was foaled on 5 April, which was also the birthday of his breeder, McGregor.
When the partnership of McGregor and Whitelaw was dissolved, April the Fifth was put up for auction as a yearling and bought for 200 guineas by McGregor, who was therefore both part-vendor and buyer in the transaction. He raced in the name of Tom Walls who trained him at his stables at Epsom Downs. Although Walls had a keen interest in the sport he was much better known as a comic actor who was famous for his stage and film performances in the farces of Ben Travers. The ownership arrangement was that Walls was named as the official owner in return for meeting all the training expenses, with any prize money being equally divided between Walls and McGregor.
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