Dennis Fitzpatrick
1764 – 1806
1764 – 1806
Dennis Fitzpatrick was the son of an Irish farmer who was a tenant on Lord Claremont’s estate. Fitzpatrick, engaged at George Watson’s stable, rode principally for Lord Claremont and took the occasional ride for the Earl of Egremont and a Mr Cookson (who declared Fitzpatrick to be his favourite rider). Watson’s instructions to his jockey were always the same – ‘take the lead, and keep it’.
Dennis Fitzpatrick was the son of an Irish farmer who was a tenant on Lord Claremont’s estate. Fitzpatrick, engaged at George Watson’s stable, rode principally for Lord Claremont and took the occasional ride for the Earl of Egremont and a Mr Cookson (who declared Fitzpatrick to be his favourite rider). Watson’s instructions to his jockey were always the same – ‘take the lead, and keep it’.
Fitzpatrick took the lead in the 1787 St Leger, and kept it – winning on Annette. He won the same race twice more: the next year on Nightshade and again in 1795 on Platina, both owed by Lord Egremont.
Fitzpatrick took the lead in the 1787 St Leger, and kept it – winning on Annette. He won the same race twice more: the next year on Nightshade and again in 1795 on Platina, both owed by Lord Egremont.
Fitzpatrick excelled at ‘matches’, i.e. races in which just two horses participated.
Fitzpatrick excelled at ‘matches’, i.e. races in which just two horses participated.
In 1803 he partnered Goaler in just such an event. He was up against one of the finest riders of the day, Frank Buckle, who was to ride Orlando. Goaler and Orlander were the two best mile horses of the day. It was (it was recorded) ‘a very heavy betting race’. The race unfolded thus… ‘both jumped off together, each finessing to get a pull, till neither had a run left and only Goaler won by staying longer than the other. The men and the horses had seemed screwed together in the race; so exhausted were they in the struggle, that they appeared to be contending the race for some distance after they passed the winning post’. Fitzpatrick and Goaler had won, and afterwards Buckle spoke highly of his fellow jockey.
In 1803 he partnered Goaler in just such an event. He was up against one of the finest riders of the day, Frank Buckle, who was to ride Orlando. Goaler and Orlander were the two best mile horses of the day. It was (it was recorded) ‘a very heavy betting race’. The race unfolded thus… ‘both jumped off together, each finessing to get a pull, till neither had a run left and only Goaler won by staying longer than the other. The men and the horses had seemed screwed together in the race; so exhausted were they in the struggle, that they appeared to be contending the race for some distance after they passed the winning post’. Fitzpatrick and Goaler had won, and afterwards Buckle spoke highly of his fellow jockey.
Fitzpatrick then further filled the Lord Egremont’s coffers when taking the 1805 Derby on Cardinal Beaufort - but tragedy was around the corner. Within eight months, Dennis Fitzpatrick – like so many jockeys before and after – succumbed to the perils of wasting.
Fitzpatrick then further filled the Lord Egremont’s coffers when taking the 1805 Derby on Cardinal Beaufort - but tragedy was around the corner. Within eight months, Dennis Fitzpatrick – like so many jockeys before and after – succumbed to the perils of wasting.
He caught a cold which turned to pneumonia and at Newmarket, on the 27th of June, 1806, died aged 42.
He caught a cold which turned to pneumonia and at Newmarket, on the 27th of June, 1806, died aged 42.
Dennis Fitzpatrick’s classic wins:
Dennis Fitzpatrick’s classic wins:
The Derby: Cardinal Beaufort (1805)
The Derby: Cardinal Beaufort (1805)
The Oaks: Annette (1787), Nightshade (1788), Platina (1795) and Ephemera (1800).
The Oaks: Annette (1787), Nightshade (1788), Platina (1795) and Ephemera (1800).