Fred Freemantle
Born circa 1877, National Hunt jockey Frederick Freemantle rode a total of 184 winners over jumps in Britain.
Born circa 1877, National Hunt jockey Frederick Freemantle rode a total of 184 winners over jumps in Britain.
He had first ride under NH rules on a horse named Galston, finishing unplaced in the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on January 21, 1896. Before achieving his first success over jumps he rode a winner of a Flat race, landing the Hermitage Selling Plate on Winford at Sandown Park on October 22, 1896. His first win under National Hunt rules was achieved on Tamarind in the Thames Valley Selling Hurdle at Kempton Park on February 5, 1897.
He had first ride under NH rules on a horse named Galston, finishing unplaced in the Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on January 21, 1896. Before achieving his first success over jumps he rode a winner of a Flat race, landing the Hermitage Selling Plate on Winford at Sandown Park on October 22, 1896. His first win under National Hunt rules was achieved on Tamarind in the Thames Valley Selling Hurdle at Kempton Park on February 5, 1897.
The best horse he rode was Lurgan, on whom he recorded his two most important victories, both of them in 1901, in the Valentine Chase over the Grand National fences and the valuable Great Cheshire Chase at Hooton Park. He also rode Lurgan to finish fifth in the 1902 Grand National.
The best horse he rode was Lurgan, on whom he recorded his two most important victories, both of them in 1901, in the Valentine Chase over the Grand National fences and the valuable Great Cheshire Chase at Hooton Park. He also rode Lurgan to finish fifth in the 1902 Grand National.
Lurgan was the first of Fred’s three Grand National mounts and the only one to complete the course. Sadly, his second mount, Loch Lomond in 1904, suffered a fatal fall, breaking his neck. His three Grand National rides were:
Lurgan was the first of Fred’s three Grand National mounts and the only one to complete the course. Sadly, his second mount, Loch Lomond in 1904, suffered a fatal fall, breaking his neck. His three Grand National rides were:
1902: Lurgan (100-8), fifth
1902: Lurgan (100-8), fifth
1904: Loch Lomond (66-1), fell
1904: Loch Lomond (66-1), fell
1905: Longthorpe (33-1), refused
1905: Longthorpe (33-1), refused
Fred’s best year numerically was in 1903 when he rode 43 winners, placing him second in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ table.
Fred’s best year numerically was in 1903 when he rode 43 winners, placing him second in that year’s National Hunt jockeys’ table.
He recorded a remarkable success over the Grand National fences on Glenmore in the 1904 Stanley Chase after twice remounting to finish alone, all their nine rivals having fell or refused.
He recorded a remarkable success over the Grand National fences on Glenmore in the 1904 Stanley Chase after twice remounting to finish alone, all their nine rivals having fell or refused.
He was perhaps unlucky not to have won more big races. He finished second in four major contests: the 1898 Liverpool Hurdle on Glenbower, the 1904 Great Metropolitan Chase at Gatwick on Cottenshope, the 1905 Grand Sefton Chase on Actuary, and the 1907 Scottish Grand National on Johnstown Lad.
He was perhaps unlucky not to have won more big races. He finished second in four major contests: the 1898 Liverpool Hurdle on Glenbower, the 1904 Great Metropolitan Chase at Gatwick on Cottenshope, the 1905 Grand Sefton Chase on Actuary, and the 1907 Scottish Grand National on Johnstown Lad.
Fred lost the sight of his right eye when Richmond Roy, the 2-1 on favourite, was killed in a fall in the Bridgetown Selling Chase at Totnes on September 10, 1907. However, that did not prevent Fred from continuing his career. He finished the year having ridden 17 winners but thereafter his annual scores were in single figures.
Fred lost the sight of his right eye when Richmond Roy, the 2-1 on favourite, was killed in a fall in the Bridgetown Selling Chase at Totnes on September 10, 1907. However, that did not prevent Fred from continuing his career. He finished the year having ridden 17 winners but thereafter his annual scores were in single figures.
He rode the last of his 184 winners on Marita in the Winter Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on January 7, 1916. He continued to take the occasional mount after World War One had ended, appearing from the last time when finishing unplaced on Boddam in the Wimbledon Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle, over one and a half miles, at Kempton Park on December 2, 1922.
He rode the last of his 184 winners on Marita in the Winter Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on January 7, 1916. He continued to take the occasional mount after World War One had ended, appearing from the last time when finishing unplaced on Boddam in the Wimbledon Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle, over one and a half miles, at Kempton Park on December 2, 1922.
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
1901: Great Cheshire Handicap Chase – Lurgan
1901: Great Cheshire Handicap Chase – Lurgan
1901: Valentine Chase – Lurgan
1901: Valentine Chase – Lurgan
1904: Stanley Chase – Glenmore
1904: Stanley Chase – Glenmore
