Fred Proudman

Fred Proudman

Article by Alan Trout

Frederick Thomas Proudman had four wins on the Flat just after the First World War. He then had two under National Hunt rules, albeit nine years apart.  

Born in 1904, he had the good fortune to be apprenticed to Alec Taylor, known as ‘The Wizard of Manton’ and one of the greatest trainers of the first half of the 20th century. Fred’s first ride in public was on Silver Bullet, finishing third in the Southfield Plate at Newmarket on October 18, 1918, a race won by Jack Brennan on Tit For Tat.

It was at Salisbury on May 29 the following year that he won his first race when Challow, carrying 5st 12lb, was successful in the historic City Bowl, Salisbury’s oldest race, confined that year to apprentices. The winning margin was three-quarters of a length. 

Fred added to his total when Oberto landed the Apprentices’ Plate at Newbury on June 26. His third success came at Manchester on May 26, 1920, when Tomatina beat two rivals in the Trial (Apprentice) Handicap. The four-year-old was again successful for him three months later at Kempton Park, winning a match for the Apprentices’ Plate. Thus, Fred rode two of the 47 winners Alec Taylor trained that season. 

However, he had few opportunities thereafter and turned his attention to the jumps, having his first ride on Frank Colin and finishing sixth of seven runners in the February Maiden Hurdle at Sandown Park on February 2, 1924. Later that year, on November 3, he rode his first winner under NH rules when Greenlet, making his debut over obstacles, landed the Juvenile Hurdle at Wolverhampton, beating Phillippi, the mount of Billy Speck, by two lengths. 

Fred continued to take the occasional ride over the next few years and finally doubled his score over jumps when Strategic won the Ellerton Novices’ Hurdle by a length at Catterick Bridge on November 18, 1933, beating Culbertson, ridden by Tim Hamey, and a dozen others. 

Although he held a licence for a few more seasons there were no more winners. His final ride was on Jack Bust, unplaced in the Stichill Hurdle at Kelso on October 7, 1938.

Fred Proudman’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Challow, Salisbury, May 29, 1919

2. Oberto, Newbury, June 26, 1919

3. Tomatina, Manchester, May 26, 1920

4. Tomatina, Kempton Park, August 11, 1920

5. Greenlet, Wolverhampton, November 3, 1924

6. Strategic, Catterick Bridge, November 18, 1933