Ted Fordyce
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
1914 - 1995
1914 - 1995
Australian jockey Ted Fordyce had two highly successful seasons riding in England in the early 1950s, returning for a brief stay in 1959.
Australian jockey Ted Fordyce had two highly successful seasons riding in England in the early 1950s, returning for a brief stay in 1959.
Born in 1914, Edwin James Fordyce, always known as Ted, rode for many years in India and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was one of the first ex-pat Australian jockeys to ride in India and was nicknamed ‘The Railwayman’.
Born in 1914, Edwin James Fordyce, always known as Ted, rode for many years in India and in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). He was one of the first ex-pat Australian jockeys to ride in India and was nicknamed ‘The Railwayman’.
During the late 1940s and 1950s, he was a household name in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. Indeed, it could truthfully be said that Ted Fordyce was to Ceylon what Lester Piggott was to Britain. Colombo knew him as ‘Honest Ted’ and ‘Ride ’em out Ted’, whose driving finishes, particularly in the sprints, was apparently worth going a long way to see.
During the late 1940s and 1950s, he was a household name in Colombo, the capital of Ceylon. Indeed, it could truthfully be said that Ted Fordyce was to Ceylon what Lester Piggott was to Britain. Colombo knew him as ‘Honest Ted’ and ‘Ride ’em out Ted’, whose driving finishes, particularly in the sprints, was apparently worth going a long way to see.
In 1950 he rode his 100th winner in Ceylon on the final day of Colombo’s 1950 season. Having been successful there for the last two years, he commented that he enjoyed riding in Ceylon so much he would be registering for Ceylon citizenship as he wished to make Ceylon his home. He married the much younger Dhanalakshmi, the daughter and sister of two leading racehorse trainers in Colombo.
In 1950 he rode his 100th winner in Ceylon on the final day of Colombo’s 1950 season. Having been successful there for the last two years, he commented that he enjoyed riding in Ceylon so much he would be registering for Ceylon citizenship as he wished to make Ceylon his home. He married the much younger Dhanalakshmi, the daughter and sister of two leading racehorse trainers in Colombo.
Ted first came to England for the 1952 Flat season and made a swift impact, winning Epsom’s historic City and Suburban Handicap on April 23 aboard 100/6 shot Sunny Brae, getting the better of a short-head finish with Stan Clayton’s mount Damremont. He soon acquired another nickname, ‘First-time Fordyce’.
Ted first came to England for the 1952 Flat season and made a swift impact, winning Epsom’s historic City and Suburban Handicap on April 23 aboard 100/6 shot Sunny Brae, getting the better of a short-head finish with Stan Clayton’s mount Damremont. He soon acquired another nickname, ‘First-time Fordyce’.
Ted rode the French challenger Thunderhead II that year’s Derby. The colt had already won the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket when ridden by the French jockey Roger Poincelet, but with Poincelet committing to partner Thunderhead’s stable companion Silnet, in the premier classic, Ted came in for the spare ride. As things turned out, Poincelet made the right call, finishing sixth on Silnet, whereas Thunderhead II, though prominent to halfway, failed to see out the trip and finished midfield. Ted rode two winners at that year’s Royal Ascot, the Chesham Stakes on George Beeby’s filly Nigrette, and the King’s Stand Stakes on Tom Rimell’s three-year-old Easter Bride. He also won Goodwood’s Chesterfield Cup on Sunny Brae, finishing the year with a score of 39 winners, despite having left the country well before the end of the season.
Ted rode the French challenger Thunderhead II that year’s Derby. The colt had already won the Two Thousand Guineas at Newmarket when ridden by the French jockey Roger Poincelet, but with Poincelet committing to partner Thunderhead’s stable companion Silnet, in the premier classic, Ted came in for the spare ride. As things turned out, Poincelet made the right call, finishing sixth on Silnet, whereas Thunderhead II, though prominent to halfway, failed to see out the trip and finished midfield. Ted rode two winners at that year’s Royal Ascot, the Chesham Stakes on George Beeby’s filly Nigrette, and the King’s Stand Stakes on Tom Rimell’s three-year-old Easter Bride. He also won Goodwood’s Chesterfield Cup on Sunny Brae, finishing the year with a score of 39 winners, despite having left the country well before the end of the season.
In January 1953 he won India’s most important cup race, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Calcutta, on the Maharaja of Parlakimedi’s Our Owen. He returned to England three months later and rode a dozen winners that season, highlighted by a couple of high profile triumphs, beginning with Newbury’s Greenham Stakes on Ken Cundell’s March Past. He partnered March Past in the Two Thousand Guineas but finished well beaten. He did, though, enjoy another Royal Ascot success, on 100/7 shot Pluchino in the Ascot Stakes.
In January 1953 he won India’s most important cup race, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Calcutta, on the Maharaja of Parlakimedi’s Our Owen. He returned to England three months later and rode a dozen winners that season, highlighted by a couple of high profile triumphs, beginning with Newbury’s Greenham Stakes on Ken Cundell’s March Past. He partnered March Past in the Two Thousand Guineas but finished well beaten. He did, though, enjoy another Royal Ascot success, on 100/7 shot Pluchino in the Ascot Stakes.
When racing was brought to an end in Ceylon in 1956, the Fordyces moved to India, where Ted was equally successful in Madras and Bangalore.
When racing was brought to an end in Ceylon in 1956, the Fordyces moved to India, where Ted was equally successful in Madras and Bangalore.
He made one more pilgrimage to England, in 1959, and rode eight winners during his three-month stay, including a treble for Middleham trainer Colonel Wilfrid Lyde at Lanark in May. Those eight winners were:
He made one more pilgrimage to England, in 1959, and rode eight winners during his three-month stay, including a treble for Middleham trainer Colonel Wilfrid Lyde at Lanark in May. Those eight winners were:
Cavan, Hamilton Park, April 25; Creagroy, Altbrig and Lord of Kintail, Lanark, May 2; High Spy, Lanark, May 4; New Issue, Wolverhampton, May 12; It’s a Pleasure, Bath, May 14; and Wiseandy, Birmingham, July 13.
Cavan, Hamilton Park, April 25; Creagroy, Altbrig and Lord of Kintail, Lanark, May 2; High Spy, Lanark, May 4; New Issue, Wolverhampton, May 12; It’s a Pleasure, Bath, May 14; and Wiseandy, Birmingham, July 13.
When he retired, Ted and his wife settled in Bangalore where Dhanalakshmi ran a successful florist’s shop and built up an enviable collection of art and artefacts, as much to adorn their house as to offer a select clientele.
When he retired, Ted and his wife settled in Bangalore where Dhanalakshmi ran a successful florist’s shop and built up an enviable collection of art and artefacts, as much to adorn their house as to offer a select clientele.
Ted Fordyce died in October 1995.
Ted Fordyce died in October 1995.
Big winners in Britain:
Big winners in Britain:
1952: City and Suburban Handicap – Sunny Brae
1952: City and Suburban Handicap – Sunny Brae
1952: Festival Stakes – Grey Sovereign
1952: Festival Stakes – Grey Sovereign
1952: Chesham Stakes – Nigrette
1952: Chesham Stakes – Nigrette
1952: King’s Stand Stakes – Easter Bride
1952: King’s Stand Stakes – Easter Bride
1952: Chesterfield Cup – Sunny Brae
1952: Chesterfield Cup – Sunny Brae
1953: Greenham Stakes – March Past
1953: Greenham Stakes – March Past
1953: Winston Churchill Stakes – Pluchino
1953: Winston Churchill Stakes – Pluchino
1953: Ascot Stakes – Pluchino
1953: Ascot Stakes – Pluchino