Charlie Foy
1881 - 1946
1881 - 1946
Cornelius Foy, one-time jockey to King Edward Vll, was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland in 1881.
Cornelius Foy, one-time jockey to King Edward Vll, was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland in 1881.
He became apprenticed to Edward Percy and, in his best season, 1912, rode 60 winners.
He became apprenticed to Edward Percy and, in his best season, 1912, rode 60 winners.
He was known as Charlie Foy.
He was known as Charlie Foy.
In October 1919, he was made bankrupt. He had made around £50,000 during his riding campaign but had lost the lot and finished up on the dole and living in a church army hotel.
In October 1919, he was made bankrupt. He had made around £50,000 during his riding campaign but had lost the lot and finished up on the dole and living in a church army hotel.
Unconcerned, he sold off the gold-mounted whip given to him by King George V and the tea service and cigar box given to him by the Kaiser.
Unconcerned, he sold off the gold-mounted whip given to him by King George V and the tea service and cigar box given to him by the Kaiser.
He finished up selling tips on the racecourse.
He finished up selling tips on the racecourse.
Cornelius died, aged 65, in a Penrith, Cumberland, hospital on Monday, 30 December, 1946.
Cornelius died, aged 65, in a Penrith, Cumberland, hospital on Monday, 30 December, 1946.
On Oaks Day, June 8, 1907, Cornelius rode the winner of the race which followed the classic.
On Oaks Day, June 8, 1907, Cornelius rode the winner of the race which followed the classic.
On Tuesday, February 23, 1932, Foy was sentenced at Nottingham to six months' imprisonment for stealing a mail-bag from a van at Nottingham Victoria station on February 9. He said he only did it for a lark as he was drunk at the time. However, this was not his first offence: on July 5, 1926, at Newmarket, he stole a bicycle.
On Tuesday, February 23, 1932, Foy was sentenced at Nottingham to six months' imprisonment for stealing a mail-bag from a van at Nottingham Victoria station on February 9. He said he only did it for a lark as he was drunk at the time. However, this was not his first offence: on July 5, 1926, at Newmarket, he stole a bicycle.
Numerically, his best season was in 1912, when he rode 60 winners. His most successful in terms of big race wins was in 1914, when he won the Ascot Gold Cup, Eclipse Stakes, Champion Stakes and Chester Cup.
Numerically, his best season was in 1912, when he rode 60 winners. His most successful in terms of big race wins was in 1914, when he won the Ascot Gold Cup, Eclipse Stakes, Champion Stakes and Chester Cup.
His biggest wins were:
His biggest wins were:
Ascot Gold Cup on Aleppo (1914)
Ascot Gold Cup on Aleppo (1914)
Eclipse Stakes on Hapsburg (1914)
Eclipse Stakes on Hapsburg (1914)
Champion Stakes on Hapsburg (1914)
Champion Stakes on Hapsburg (1914)
Cambridgeshire on Adam Bede (1912)
Cambridgeshire on Adam Bede (1912)
Chester Cup twice on Rathlea (1912) and Aleppo (1914)
Chester Cup twice on Rathlea (1912) and Aleppo (1914)
Manchester November Handicap twice on Wagstaff (1912) and Dalmation (1913)
Manchester November Handicap twice on Wagstaff (1912) and Dalmation (1913)
Victoria Cup on Carados (1919)
Victoria Cup on Carados (1919)