Constable, Henry

Henry Constable, the son of a greengrocer, was born on 4th September, 1854, in Pickering Street, Paddington, London. He left home as a young man and moved into Downs Cottage, Downs Road, Epsom, the home of the highly respected jockey and trainer William Reeves, to whom Henry had become apprenticed. Reeves counted Lord Rosebery and Sir Lister John Kaye among his many high profile patrons. Henry was an especially delicate child lacking in physical strength, but such was his amiability of character and honesty that he quickly became a general favorite. He commenced riding aged 16 in 1870 but, from a fair number of mounts, he only managed two wins. He gave indication of his ability in 1871 when coming second on Cedric the Saxon in the Goodwood Stakes, and the following season won 67 races, including the Chesterfield Cup on Napolitain. In 1873 he won 109 races among which were the Ebor on Louise Victoria and the Produce Stakes on George Frederick. 1874 brought him 89 winners, including Lowlander in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Henry Constable became champion jockey in 1873, but William Reeves did not live to see this wonderful achievement. He died, aged 53, at his home on 4th May, 1871 and Henry went to work for Mr C Brooks. 

His greatest day came aboard the  Epsom Derby winner, Sefton in 1878. In a field of twenty-two runners, Henry won by a length and a half. The value of the race was £5,825.

On October 6th, 1874, William Bayliss - who lived next door to the Reeves family - sold the cottage to Henry. The property (26, The Parade) was situated in Dull Shot, Epsom Common Fields (number 880 on the Epsom tithe map) and became known as Primrose Cottage, perhaps in honour of Lord Rosebery whose family surname was Primrose and for whom Henry had worked.

Henry appeared as a witness at the inquest into the fatal accident of jockey John Wass at Epsom on 22nd April 1875. The unfortunate young jockey had been killed outright when his mount, Dudlam, stumbled, throwing Wass onto a concrete post. Henry, who had been racing close behind, gave his version of events.

Henry had begun to train and ride for Lord Rosebery when, towards the end of 1880, ill health compelled him to stop. His last appearance on a racecourse had been October 26th 1880 when he had finished third on Cipollata in the Cambridgeshire - such was his state of weakness after dismounting that it was obvious that his career was over. Lord Rosebery, to whom he was first jockey, called in Sir William Gull whose efforts to save his patient's life unfortunately proved useless.

Henry, aged 26, died of consumption on Thursday, February 17th, 1881, and was buried beside the west boundary wall of Epsom Cemetery.

He left an estate of £8,000, requesting that Lord Rosebery act as trustee for his mother Mary and sister Ellen. Lord Rosebery was moved by the tragic early death of his loyal and likeable employee, and paid for Henry’s memorial in Epsom cemetery. Protected by a low box hedge, the tombstone is a base of red Balmoral granite, with a suspended memorial stone above. The stone is supported at the four corners by carved angels; the front two face Lord Rosebery’s home The Durdans, the back two have their heads turned so that they are looking towards The Durdans also. There is an inscription that says, “Erected by his friend and employer Archibald, Lord Rosebery”. After Constable’s mother’s death, Lord Rosebery conveyed Primrose Cottage to Constable’s daughter Ellen. Henry’s brother, Charles Constable, also lived there for a short period. Charles Constable was related by marriage to John Sherrington and Robert Wyatt.    (Courtesy of Bill Eacott)

In his ten years in the saddle, he had won two Cambridgeshires: Rosebery (1876) and La Merville (1879), a Royal Hunt Cup on Lowlander (1874), the Ascot Stakes on Ridotto, the Lincoln Handicap twice on Controversy (1876) and Touchet (1879) and the Ebor Handicap on Louise Victoria (1873). Other races won include the Liverpool Summer Cup, the Autumn Cup, the Portland Plate and the Chesterfield Cup.

The Family:

Henry's parents:

Henry was the third of six children born to Henry and Mary Constable (nee Burns). They had married on 14th November, 1849 at Saint Mary's Church, Bermondsey, London. Henry Snr. had various jobs - greengrocer, omnibus conductor, cab driver, waiter, coach driver - and the family lived at 29, Victoria Road, Paddington, London.

Henry's siblings;

Mary Ann (born 1851), Elizabeth Jane (1853), Charles Sidney (1857), Amelia Frances (1859) and Ellen (1862). 

Both Mary Ann and Elizabeth Jane failed to to survive their third birthdays.

Henry's first ride was Skittles at Wye , 1870

His last ride came on Cipolata in the 1880 Cambridgeshire. He came third.

Henry rode a total of 680 winners.

His father, Henry, died in 1877 aged 54