Fred Pratt
1876 – 1950
1876 – 1950
Frederick Charles Pratt was a nephew of Fred Archer who, in his will, left £2,000 towards the cost of the ‘maintenance and education of my nephew’. Pratt received a further £2,000 on reaching 21.
Frederick Charles Pratt was a nephew of Fred Archer who, in his will, left £2,000 towards the cost of the ‘maintenance and education of my nephew’. Pratt received a further £2,000 on reaching 21.
Born at Tewkesbury on March 4, 1876, Pratt was apprenticed to James Ryan at Newmarket. When Tommy Loates became unavailable, Pratt – then just 20 – came in for the ride on St Frusquin in the 1895 Middle Park Stakes and won ‘very cleverly’. Pratt and St Frusquin went on to win the Dewhurst Plate, the jockey easing the horse right down in the final furlong. His sole classic win as jockey came on 1,000 Guineas Galeottia in the same year. In 1911, he trained Atmah to win the same race.
Born at Tewkesbury on March 4, 1876, Pratt was apprenticed to James Ryan at Newmarket. When Tommy Loates became unavailable, Pratt – then just 20 – came in for the ride on St Frusquin in the 1895 Middle Park Stakes and won ‘very cleverly’. Pratt and St Frusquin went on to win the Dewhurst Plate, the jockey easing the horse right down in the final furlong. His sole classic win as jockey came on 1,000 Guineas Galeottia in the same year. In 1911, he trained Atmah to win the same race.
He tried his luck riding in Austria and, becoming too heavy to ride, returned to England. He was appointed in 1903 as private trainer to James de Rothschild, to whom he remained personally and professionally attached for 42 years.
He tried his luck riding in Austria and, becoming too heavy to ride, returned to England. He was appointed in 1903 as private trainer to James de Rothschild, to whom he remained personally and professionally attached for 42 years.
De Rothschild liked nothing better than a gamble – aged just 20, he backed a horse called Jeddah at odds of 100-1 to win the 1892 Epsom Derby. The horse duly won and de Rothchild’s legend as a fearless gambler was born.
De Rothschild liked nothing better than a gamble – aged just 20, he backed a horse called Jeddah at odds of 100-1 to win the 1892 Epsom Derby. The horse duly won and de Rothchild’s legend as a fearless gambler was born.
Pratt landed an enormous gamble for him in the 1919 Cambridgeshire with the bay Brigand. Carrying the dark blue, yellow chevrons of de Rothschild, Brigand had been offered at 333-1 shortly before the off and had been backed down to 25-1. Brigand won, pulling up, by six lengths. He won the same race again with Milenko in 1921 while Beppo won the Jockey Club Stakes in 1906 and the Manchester Cup and Hardwicke Stakes in 1907.
Pratt landed an enormous gamble for him in the 1919 Cambridgeshire with the bay Brigand. Carrying the dark blue, yellow chevrons of de Rothschild, Brigand had been offered at 333-1 shortly before the off and had been backed down to 25-1. Brigand won, pulling up, by six lengths. He won the same race again with Milenko in 1921 while Beppo won the Jockey Club Stakes in 1906 and the Manchester Cup and Hardwicke Stakes in 1907.
Frederick Pratt died at Lambourn on April 20, 1950, aged 74. He left £35,085.
Frederick Pratt died at Lambourn on April 20, 1950, aged 74. He left £35,085.
His brother, William Archer Pratt (1877-1957) was also a jockey and successful trainer.
His brother, William Archer Pratt (1877-1957) was also a jockey and successful trainer.
Fred's father, Frederick Pratt senior, had 6 sons altogether, all of whom served in the war. Sadly, two never came back.
Fred's father, Frederick Pratt senior, had 6 sons altogether, all of whom served in the war. Sadly, two never came back.
Ormonde Pratt was killed in 1915.
Ormonde Pratt was killed in 1915.
Ernest Hayward - Private 5389 Pratt – fought with the Australian Infantry 18th Battalion and was killed at the Battle of Arras on Thursday May 3, 1917, aged 27.
Ernest Hayward - Private 5389 Pratt – fought with the Australian Infantry 18th Battalion and was killed at the Battle of Arras on Thursday May 3, 1917, aged 27.
He is buried at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, France.
He is buried at Bailleul Road East Cemetery, France.
A third son, Arthur Wyndham (a professional pre-war jockey), succumbed to illness in 1920 due to the conflict. He joined the Berkshire Yeomanry and then the Machine Gun Corps, serving in Egypt and France.
A third son, Arthur Wyndham (a professional pre-war jockey), succumbed to illness in 1920 due to the conflict. He joined the Berkshire Yeomanry and then the Machine Gun Corps, serving in Egypt and France.
Whilst being posted to France, his ship was torpedoed. Incredibly, he survived several hours in the water.
Whilst being posted to France, his ship was torpedoed. Incredibly, he survived several hours in the water.
He was promoted to 2nd Lt in 1917, then to full Lt in 1919, but was invalided out after suffering from cerebrospinal fever brought on from being in the water.
He was promoted to 2nd Lt in 1917, then to full Lt in 1919, but was invalided out after suffering from cerebrospinal fever brought on from being in the water.
Arthur died on September 8th 1920 aged 37.
Arthur died on September 8th 1920 aged 37.
The other 3 brothers Frederick Charles ( Charlie), William Archer and Charles Hazel all survived.
The other 3 brothers Frederick Charles ( Charlie), William Archer and Charles Hazel all survived.
James de Rothschild, a real survivor, was twice seriously wounded in the First World War – he was blown out of his vehicle by an explosion: later, after recovering and becoming a war courier, his horse was shot from beneath him, once again causing desperate injuries. James survived a second time, and was nearly eighty years of age when he died in 1957.
James de Rothschild, a real survivor, was twice seriously wounded in the First World War – he was blown out of his vehicle by an explosion: later, after recovering and becoming a war courier, his horse was shot from beneath him, once again causing desperate injuries. James survived a second time, and was nearly eighty years of age when he died in 1957.