John Forth (c. 1769 – 4 February 1848) was a Britishjockey and racehorse trainer. He is the oldest man to have ridden the Derby winner and one of the very few to have both ridden and trained the winner.
John Forth
Frederick, with (presumed) John Forth on board. Painting by John Frederick Herring Sr. (1795-1865)
Forth rose to prominence in the horseracing world late in life. There is no record of him having any major race victories as a young man, either as jockey or trainer. The peak of his career came only in 1829 when, aged 60, he performed the remarkable feat of both riding and training the Derby winner. As far as records are known, this also makes him the oldest jockey to win the Derby.[1]
A year prior, he had placed a bet with a bookmaker named Crockford that he would win the race on a horse, The Exquisite, which he trained and planned to ride. Over the winter, however, he decided that Frederick, another horse in his stable, would be a more likely winner. He therefore asked Crockford to change his bet, and the bookmaker consented, considering neither to have a chance. Frederick won at 40/1, while Forth's other horse, The Exquisite, ridden by Frank Buckle, finished second, beaten just a head, at 50/1.[2]
Forth later became embroiled in a Derby scandal when Leander, owned by a German horse-dealer friend of his, broke its leg and died running in the 1844 Derby. Accusations were made that Leander was a four-year-old and therefore ineligible for the race (the Derby being a race for three-year-olds). To settle the matter, the horse was disinterred to check its mouth, as a way of telling its correct age. On exhumation, however, the horse's lower jaw was found to be missing, Forth having removed it earlier to protect his friend.[2]
The following year's Derby would be happier for Forth, recording a third win as a trainer with The Merry Monarch, ridden by Foster Bell.[2] Both Forth's Derby winners were owned by G. William Gratwicke of Angmering, Sussex, heir to a fortune. Gratwicke had Frederick buried on his estate, under what is now the 18th green of Ham Manor golf course.
Personal lifeedit
Forth married Hannah Townsend (died 1825). They had at least one son, H. T. Forth (died 1852) and one daughter (1797-1830). He died on 4 February 1848 at Oxford Street in London, after a long illness, and was buried in St. Martin's Churchyard, Epsom.[2]
^ abcd "John Forth". Jockeypedia. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
Bibliographyedit
Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN0-354-08536-0.
Wright, Howard (1986). The Encyclopaedia of Flat Racing. London: Robert Hale. ISBN0-7090-2639-0.
This British horse racing biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
john, forth, 1769, february, 1848, british, jockey, racehorse, trainer, oldest, have, ridden, derby, winner, very, have, both, ridden, trained, winner, frederick, with, presumed, board, painting, john, frederick, herring, 1795, 1865, occupationjockeybornc, 176. John Forth c 1769 4 February 1848 was a British jockey and racehorse trainer He is the oldest man to have ridden the Derby winner and one of the very few to have both ridden and trained the winner John ForthFrederick with presumed John Forth on board Painting by John Frederick Herring Sr 1795 1865 OccupationJockeyBornc 1769Died4 February 1848Oxford Street LondonResting placeSt Martin s Churchyard EpsomMajor racing winsMajor races as jockey Epsom Derby 1829 Major races as trainer Epsom Derby 1829 1840 1845 Significant horsesFrederick Little Wonder The Merry Monarch Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Major wins as jockey 4 Major wins as trainer 5 References 6 BibliographyCareer editForth rose to prominence in the horseracing world late in life There is no record of him having any major race victories as a young man either as jockey or trainer The peak of his career came only in 1829 when aged 60 he performed the remarkable feat of both riding and training the Derby winner As far as records are known this also makes him the oldest jockey to win the Derby 1 A year prior he had placed a bet with a bookmaker named Crockford that he would win the race on a horse The Exquisite which he trained and planned to ride Over the winter however he decided that Frederick another horse in his stable would be a more likely winner He therefore asked Crockford to change his bet and the bookmaker consented considering neither to have a chance Frederick won at 40 1 while Forth s other horse The Exquisite ridden by Frank Buckle finished second beaten just a head at 50 1 2 Forth would train a second winner of the Derby in 1840 Little Wonder for David Robertson 1st Baron Marjoribanks Forth later became embroiled in a Derby scandal when Leander owned by a German horse dealer friend of his broke its leg and died running in the 1844 Derby Accusations were made that Leander was a four year old and therefore ineligible for the race the Derby being a race for three year olds To settle the matter the horse was disinterred to check its mouth as a way of telling its correct age On exhumation however the horse s lower jaw was found to be missing Forth having removed it earlier to protect his friend 2 The following year s Derby would be happier for Forth recording a third win as a trainer with The Merry Monarch ridden by Foster Bell 2 Both Forth s Derby winners were owned by G William Gratwicke of Angmering Sussex heir to a fortune Gratwicke had Frederick buried on his estate under what is now the 18th green of Ham Manor golf course Personal life editForth married Hannah Townsend died 1825 They had at least one son H T Forth died 1852 and one daughter 1797 1830 He died on 4 February 1848 at Oxford Street in London after a long illness and was buried in St Martin s Churchyard Epsom 2 Major wins as jockey edit nbsp Great Britain Epsom Derby Frederick 1829 Major wins as trainer edit nbsp Great Britain Epsom Derby Frederick 1829 The Merry Monarch 1845 References edit Mortimer Onslow amp Willett 1978 p 220 a b c d John Forth Jockeypedia Retrieved 27 January 2015 Bibliography editMortimer Roger Onslow Richard Willett Peter 1978 Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing London Macdonald and Jane s ISBN 0 354 08536 0 Wright Howard 1986 The Encyclopaedia of Flat Racing London Robert Hale ISBN 0 7090 2639 0 nbsp This British horse racing biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Forth amp oldid 1116884841, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
