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Dominic Angelo Forte was born in Devon on January 27, 1934, and served his apprenticeship with Keith Piggott.Dominic gave the highlight of his career as 'when I won the Royal Hunt Cup on Chivalry and my twin brother, John, followed up by winning the Ascot Stakes on Corydalis'.
His first winner had come at Lingfield on October 4, 1950, aboard the
one-eyed Caledon. This was also the horse on which his brother, John, also scored his first win. Both the lads wanted to ride the horse in the 1950 Cesarewitch. A coin was tossed, coming down in favour of John.There was confusion when Dominic won on Caledon: a number of people protested at the 5lb weight allowance. They had seen Forte win in it at Epsom. Trainer Hill had to explain that it was the other twin.
On Wednesday, March 26, 1952, Dominic won the Lincoln Handicap
on the 33/1 shot Phariza, trained by James Powell.The draw (28) had helped Dominic, the first three home all being drawn high.
Phariza was by Pharis ll and had been bought from M. Boussac at the end of the 1950 season. During the winter, the horse had run four times over hurdles without success.
Dominic's win in the Royal Hunt Cup came on Wednesday, June 16, 1954. He had already won that year's Victoria Cup on Chivalry.
Riding Chivalry, and drawn 13, it was impossible to separate Dominic's mount from the Ken Gethin-ridden King of the Tudors, the naked eye showing nothing but a dead-heat.
Though just beaten, the honours went to the second who, with 9 st. 5 lb, led almost all the way and so nearly joined Irish Elegance, the only winner (then) to have carried over 9 st.
Hard to believe it now but the Jubilee Handicap run at Kempton was once a major race: Dominic won it on Saturday May 12, 1956, riding Tudor Jinks.
Making good use of Kempton's watering system, Dominic was smart enough to keep Tudor Jinks wide of the others to be sure of an unimpeded run. Entering the straight, where the going was softer than the horse had encountered before, Dominic's mount stretched out for an easy win.
Dominic also won the Welsh Stewards' Cup.
The twins were originally apprenticed to East Ilsley trainer E. Hill, but when Hill lost his licence, the boys split up for the first time in their lives. Dominic went to Keith Piggott, John went to Robert Read who trained from Delamere, Lambourn.
On November 19, 1955, he married Patricia Turvey: she gave him a son, Dominic.
As well as being a jockey, he also ran a sweet and tobacco business.
He relaxed by playing golf.
The boys' father ran a chain of ice cream parlours in Torquay, Exmouth and other seaside places.
'Father wanted me to go into the business' but I was keen on horses,' recalled Dominic. 'My father used to take me and my brother racing, and I got to be very fond of it.'
His twin brother John (Giovanni) (1934-1992) became a very successful rider in Malaya, winning most of the big races there. John also rode the 1954 Ascot Stakes winner, Corydalis.
This article appeared in The Glasgow Herald on July 29, 1955. I have not been able to find anything further on the story.
The Lingfield racecard (far left) is from October 4 1950.
In the first race, John was originally booked to ride Caledon, but is was brother Dominic who scored his first ever win on it.
Dominic Forte died in 1985 aged 51.
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