George Fordham
1837 - 1887
1837 - 1887
George Fordham was born on the 24th September 1837 at 2, Mores Cottages, Old Chesterton, Cambridgeshire: he was the son of bricklayer James and had an older brother, also called James. Style was not an immediate priority for George when he began racing – he had an ungainly squat in the saddle, made all the worse by the carefree, unpolished, manner he adopted when going down to the post. He also had the odd habit of continual shrugging his shoulders, giving an altogether misleading impression of his brilliance.
George Fordham was born on the 24th September 1837 at 2, Mores Cottages, Old Chesterton, Cambridgeshire: he was the son of bricklayer James and had an older brother, also called James. Style was not an immediate priority for George when he began racing – he had an ungainly squat in the saddle, made all the worse by the carefree, unpolished, manner he adopted when going down to the post. He also had the odd habit of continual shrugging his shoulders, giving an altogether misleading impression of his brilliance.
He was introduced to racing by his uncle, who was the travelling head lad of Richard Drewitt, a racehorse trainer with stables at Upper House in Lewes. Drewitt agreed to take George on and eventually gave him his first ride - at Brighton. George was just 13 and weighing next to nothing. His mount was set to carry 5 stone. George, then, weighed 3 stone 8 pounds. Drewitt gave him extra clothes to wear under his silks plus an extra large saddle. George finished last but had gained mighty experience.
He was introduced to racing by his uncle, who was the travelling head lad of Richard Drewitt, a racehorse trainer with stables at Upper House in Lewes. Drewitt agreed to take George on and eventually gave him his first ride - at Brighton. George was just 13 and weighing next to nothing. His mount was set to carry 5 stone. George, then, weighed 3 stone 8 pounds. Drewitt gave him extra clothes to wear under his silks plus an extra large saddle. George finished last but had gained mighty experience.
Exactly a year later – at the same meeting – he gained his first win, riding Drewitt’s 2-y-o Hampton (carrying 4 stone 11 pounds) to a two-length victory in The Trial Stakes.
Exactly a year later – at the same meeting – he gained his first win, riding Drewitt’s 2-y-o Hampton (carrying 4 stone 11 pounds) to a two-length victory in The Trial Stakes.
Then, a black day; he was nearly killed in the stables when schooling a highly fractious filly called Miss Nippet – the horse threw him, somehow suspending his knee in the irons. She dragged him around, kicking out – his screams brought other stable lads running. For the rest of his days he rode with an enlarged knee.
Then, a black day; he was nearly killed in the stables when schooling a highly fractious filly called Miss Nippet – the horse threw him, somehow suspending his knee in the irons. She dragged him around, kicking out – his screams brought other stable lads running. For the rest of his days he rode with an enlarged knee.
George’s career took off in 1853 when he rode Little David, the 30/1 six lengths winner of the Cambridgeshire. Carrying 3 stone 12 pounds, George led from start to finish and was quite unable to pull the horse up at the finish, the pair ending up in the centre of Newmarket. George’s reward for this was a Bible and a gold-headed whip upon which was inscribed ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ This struck a chord with the young jockey – from that moment he acted with unwavering fidelity and became known as much for his integrity as for his riding skills.
George’s career took off in 1853 when he rode Little David, the 30/1 six lengths winner of the Cambridgeshire. Carrying 3 stone 12 pounds, George led from start to finish and was quite unable to pull the horse up at the finish, the pair ending up in the centre of Newmarket. George’s reward for this was a Bible and a gold-headed whip upon which was inscribed ‘Honesty is the best policy.’ This struck a chord with the young jockey – from that moment he acted with unwavering fidelity and became known as much for his integrity as for his riding skills.
That Cambridgeshire victory brought him to the attention of several prominent trainers and he was booked to ride Captain Douglas Lane’s Epaminondas in the following year’s Chester Cup. Carrying 4 stone 10 pound and up against 23 rivals, George drew unreserved praise from those watching and, from that moment, never looked back.
That Cambridgeshire victory brought him to the attention of several prominent trainers and he was booked to ride Captain Douglas Lane’s Epaminondas in the following year’s Chester Cup. Carrying 4 stone 10 pound and up against 23 rivals, George drew unreserved praise from those watching and, from that moment, never looked back.
The very next year he became Champion Jockey with seventy winners, a figure he more than doubled in his best-ever season, that of 1862 when he was first past the post on 166 occasions. As Nat Flatman had done some twenty years earlier, George now totally dominated the racing scene. He was Champion Jockey on 13 occasions. He rode 14 Classic winners - though the St Leger escaped him.
The very next year he became Champion Jockey with seventy winners, a figure he more than doubled in his best-ever season, that of 1862 when he was first past the post on 166 occasions. As Nat Flatman had done some twenty years earlier, George now totally dominated the racing scene. He was Champion Jockey on 13 occasions. He rode 14 Classic winners - though the St Leger escaped him.
Throughout his career he maintained his scrupulous honesty; when William Day and Captain Machell accused him of not trying on The Happy Land in the 2,000 Guineas, he refused to ride for either again. He also reported Day to the Jockey Club. George was only 20 at the time.
Throughout his career he maintained his scrupulous honesty; when William Day and Captain Machell accused him of not trying on The Happy Land in the 2,000 Guineas, he refused to ride for either again. He also reported Day to the Jockey Club. George was only 20 at the time.
He became a great favourite in France and won the French Derby twice. He always regretted not speaking French – especially after a visit to a hairdresser’s shop in Paris when he came out practically bald.
He became a great favourite in France and won the French Derby twice. He always regretted not speaking French – especially after a visit to a hairdresser’s shop in Paris when he came out practically bald.
In 1874, George was faced with two career-changing challenges. Fred Archer, in many people’s eyes the greatest jockey ever, emerged to often ride over 200 winners a season. As good as George was, he – nor anyone else - came close to Archer, whose outrageous talent and single-mindedness cast a giant shadow over the sport until his shocking suicide in 1886. (It should, in fairness, be noted that most of the jockeys who rode against Archer and Fordham unhesitatingly named Fordham the better rider.)
In 1874, George was faced with two career-changing challenges. Fred Archer, in many people’s eyes the greatest jockey ever, emerged to often ride over 200 winners a season. As good as George was, he – nor anyone else - came close to Archer, whose outrageous talent and single-mindedness cast a giant shadow over the sport until his shocking suicide in 1886. (It should, in fairness, be noted that most of the jockeys who rode against Archer and Fordham unhesitatingly named Fordham the better rider.)
Now, having lost his grip on the Jockeys’ Championship, George faced a second threat. He had begun drinking heavily. At the Epsom Spring meeting of 1872 he was about to mount Digby Grand – a horse of uncertain temper – for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes when the horse’s trainer, Harry Woolcot, suddenly appeared holding a bottle of port which he gave to George, asking him to get the horse to drink it to steady the animal’s nerves. George drunk the whole bottle himself before going out and winning the race.
Now, having lost his grip on the Jockeys’ Championship, George faced a second threat. He had begun drinking heavily. At the Epsom Spring meeting of 1872 he was about to mount Digby Grand – a horse of uncertain temper – for the Prince of Wales’s Stakes when the horse’s trainer, Harry Woolcot, suddenly appeared holding a bottle of port which he gave to George, asking him to get the horse to drink it to steady the animal’s nerves. George drunk the whole bottle himself before going out and winning the race.
His health failing, he was eventually forced to quit the saddle in 1875. He invested heavily in continental stocks only to suffer severe financial losses and when Sir George Chetwynd persuaded him to dry out and get back in the saddle, it seemed the logical solution. He had not ridden for over four years but had forgotten nothing – before retiring for good in 1884, he had booted home a further 482 winners thus solving many of his financial worries.
His health failing, he was eventually forced to quit the saddle in 1875. He invested heavily in continental stocks only to suffer severe financial losses and when Sir George Chetwynd persuaded him to dry out and get back in the saddle, it seemed the logical solution. He had not ridden for over four years but had forgotten nothing – before retiring for good in 1884, he had booted home a further 482 winners thus solving many of his financial worries.
His last win was in Leopold de Rothschild's colours on Brag in the Brighton Cup of 1883, and his last race was the Park Stakes at Windsor in August 1884.
His last win was in Leopold de Rothschild's colours on Brag in the Brighton Cup of 1883, and his last race was the Park Stakes at Windsor in August 1884.
A devoted family man, George was twice-married, moving from Slough to 7, New Steine, Brighton after the death of his first wife. He took his leisure time seriously, enjoying shooting, cricket, a round of whist and, naturally, hunting. It was while out hunting that he had a serious accident which produced brain concussion and left him in a serious condition for many weeks. Upon recovery, he moved back to his home in Slough where he spent his remaining years.
A devoted family man, George was twice-married, moving from Slough to 7, New Steine, Brighton after the death of his first wife. He took his leisure time seriously, enjoying shooting, cricket, a round of whist and, naturally, hunting. It was while out hunting that he had a serious accident which produced brain concussion and left him in a serious condition for many weeks. Upon recovery, he moved back to his home in Slough where he spent his remaining years.
He had a deep aversion to gambling and forbade his son to have anything to do with horseracing.
He had a deep aversion to gambling and forbade his son to have anything to do with horseracing.
George was a resident of Upper House, Spital, Lewes, when he died a few weeks after his 50th birthday on 12th October 1887 and was buried on Tuesday afternoon, October 18, 1887, in Upton Old Churchyard, Slough.
George was a resident of Upper House, Spital, Lewes, when he died a few weeks after his 50th birthday on 12th October 1887 and was buried on Tuesday afternoon, October 18, 1887, in Upton Old Churchyard, Slough.
A silver plate on the coffin of the jockey who rode with his head as well as his hands proclaimed ‘Tis the pace that kills’.
A silver plate on the coffin of the jockey who rode with his head as well as his hands proclaimed ‘Tis the pace that kills’.
Fellow jockeys Custance and Cannon were present.
Fellow jockeys Custance and Cannon were present.
George Fordham was a good-looking man with strong features and dark brown eyes, framed by long side-whiskers as was the fashion of the day.
George Fordham was a good-looking man with strong features and dark brown eyes, framed by long side-whiskers as was the fashion of the day.
George was an extremely sensitive person. Riding a mare called Amy for Mr Ten Broeck, he was caught napping by Sam Rogers aboard Wild Rose. George, having made the running, could have won very easily, but steadied the mare in the last fifty yards. Sam Rogers, coming with a wet sail, beat him by a head. Ten Broeck had backed Amy to win a considerable amount, and George, knowing this, was inconsolable. He went straight back to where he and fellow jockey Henry Custance were staying and, refusing to have dinner, went straight to bed and cried like a child. Mr Broeck, quite happy to put up with this one error from a jockey who, in the past, had won many a race for him, wrote a letter to George telling him not to fret too much and that there were no hard feelings. For a man who had lost several hundred pounds by his jockey’s carelessness, it was a magnanimous gesture.
George was an extremely sensitive person. Riding a mare called Amy for Mr Ten Broeck, he was caught napping by Sam Rogers aboard Wild Rose. George, having made the running, could have won very easily, but steadied the mare in the last fifty yards. Sam Rogers, coming with a wet sail, beat him by a head. Ten Broeck had backed Amy to win a considerable amount, and George, knowing this, was inconsolable. He went straight back to where he and fellow jockey Henry Custance were staying and, refusing to have dinner, went straight to bed and cried like a child. Mr Broeck, quite happy to put up with this one error from a jockey who, in the past, had won many a race for him, wrote a letter to George telling him not to fret too much and that there were no hard feelings. For a man who had lost several hundred pounds by his jockey’s carelessness, it was a magnanimous gesture.
George once rode a brilliant race, netting the owner £10,000. His reward was a pat on the back and a pocket of Everton toffees! On another occasion when he had come second, an owner offered him a pinch of snuff saying 'Take an extra good pinch so as to blow the sleep out of your eyes.'
George once rode a brilliant race, netting the owner £10,000. His reward was a pat on the back and a pocket of Everton toffees! On another occasion when he had come second, an owner offered him a pinch of snuff saying 'Take an extra good pinch so as to blow the sleep out of your eyes.'
Fordham rode a total of 2,587 winners.
Fordham rode a total of 2,587 winners.
George Fordham’s classic wins:
George Fordham’s classic wins:
Two Thousand Guineas: Vauban (1867), Formosa (1868, dead-heat) and Petronel (1880)
Two Thousand Guineas: Vauban (1867), Formosa (1868, dead-heat) and Petronel (1880)
One Thousand Guineas Mayonnaise (1859), Nemesis (1861), Siberia (1865), Formosa (1868), Scottish Queen (1869), Thebais (1881) and Hauteur (1883)
One Thousand Guineas Mayonnaise (1859), Nemesis (1861), Siberia (1865), Formosa (1868), Scottish Queen (1869), Thebais (1881) and Hauteur (1883)
The Derby: St Bevys (1879)
The Derby: St Bevys (1879)
The Oaks: Summerside (1859), Formosa (1868), Gamos (1870), Reine (1872) and Thebais (1881)
The Oaks: Summerside (1859), Formosa (1868), Gamos (1870), Reine (1872) and Thebais (1881)
George married Penelope Hyde, the niece of trainer Richard Drewitt (c1816 - 1874).
George married Penelope Hyde, the niece of trainer Richard Drewitt (c1816 - 1874).
