Fred Dixon
1942 -1970
1942 -1970
Shropshire jockey Fred Dixon was killed when his mount Pernie fell at Chepstow on Saturday, May 9, 1970. He was 28 and had ridden a total of 38 winners.
Shropshire jockey Fred Dixon was killed when his mount Pernie fell at Chepstow on Saturday, May 9, 1970. He was 28 and had ridden a total of 38 winners.
Frederick William Campbell Dixon – his surname was originally hyphenated Campbell-Dixon but he dropped the first part and rode as ‘Dixon’ – was born in Stafford on January 31 1942. He was apprenticed to Sam Armstrong and rode his first winner on Dairialitan in the one-mile Brandon Apprentice Plate at Newmarket on April 14, 1959.
Frederick William Campbell Dixon – his surname was originally hyphenated Campbell-Dixon but he dropped the first part and rode as ‘Dixon’ – was born in Stafford on January 31 1942. He was apprenticed to Sam Armstrong and rode his first winner on Dairialitan in the one-mile Brandon Apprentice Plate at Newmarket on April 14, 1959.
Increasing weight soon put an end to his Flat career and by the early 1960s he was riding over jumps. The glamour of big race wins and powerful retainers may not have come his way, but on run-of-the-mill horses in run-of-the-mill races, he was doing increasingly well. For a brief spell he combined riding with training, but the venture was not a great success and did not last long.
Increasing weight soon put an end to his Flat career and by the early 1960s he was riding over jumps. The glamour of big race wins and powerful retainers may not have come his way, but on run-of-the-mill horses in run-of-the-mill races, he was doing increasingly well. For a brief spell he combined riding with training, but the venture was not a great success and did not last long.
The 1969/70 campaign had been by far Fred’s most successful season, with 14 winners, many of them for Roy Whiston, the owner-trainer of Pernie. However, his tragic death came in the last race at Chepstow on that fateful Saturday in May. Pernie fell at the second fence after the water jump on the far side. An ambulance patrol doctor was on the spot within seconds of the fall, but Fred was already dead. He had broken his neck and died instantly.
The 1969/70 campaign had been by far Fred’s most successful season, with 14 winners, many of them for Roy Whiston, the owner-trainer of Pernie. However, his tragic death came in the last race at Chepstow on that fateful Saturday in May. Pernie fell at the second fence after the water jump on the far side. An ambulance patrol doctor was on the spot within seconds of the fall, but Fred was already dead. He had broken his neck and died instantly.
At the stewards’ inquiry, held formally to record the accident, the only jockey to be called was Jimmy Bourke, who said: “It was a very straightforward fall. The horse just hit the top of the fence, threw Fred forward, and then rolled on him.
At the stewards’ inquiry, held formally to record the accident, the only jockey to be called was Jimmy Bourke, who said: “It was a very straightforward fall. The horse just hit the top of the fence, threw Fred forward, and then rolled on him.
“We had ridden up together and had been chatting, neither of us having any chance in the race because we were 20 lengths behind the leaders. I was riding The Decca.”
“We had ridden up together and had been chatting, neither of us having any chance in the race because we were 20 lengths behind the leaders. I was riding The Decca.”
Fred was not wearing the new-type crash helmet, approved by the Jockey Club. The specially designed helmet should have become compulsory equipment under a new Jockey Club rule, introduced on January 1 that year, but there had been many complaints that the headgear was uncomfortable and no date had been fixed for its official introduction. Fred was wearing one of the American-type helmets, known as the ‘Caliente’, however it had no bearing on his death, as there was no trace of a mark on his helmet.
Fred was not wearing the new-type crash helmet, approved by the Jockey Club. The specially designed helmet should have become compulsory equipment under a new Jockey Club rule, introduced on January 1 that year, but there had been many complaints that the headgear was uncomfortable and no date had been fixed for its official introduction. Fred was wearing one of the American-type helmets, known as the ‘Caliente’, however it had no bearing on his death, as there was no trace of a mark on his helmet.
Following his death, a fund, organized by Henry Alper, owner of Persian War, was immediately set up, the target being £5,000 for Fred’s wife, Pauline and their three-year-old son. Alper kick-started the fund with £500 and promised to donate 10 per cent of the royalties of his book ‘The Persian War Story’, due out later that year, guaranteeing a minimum payment of £1,250 to Mrs Dixon and a similar amount to the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Following his death, a fund, organized by Henry Alper, owner of Persian War, was immediately set up, the target being £5,000 for Fred’s wife, Pauline and their three-year-old son. Alper kick-started the fund with £500 and promised to donate 10 per cent of the royalties of his book ‘The Persian War Story’, due out later that year, guaranteeing a minimum payment of £1,250 to Mrs Dixon and a similar amount to the Injured Jockeys Fund.
As a boy, Fred lived in Oxford Gardens, Stafford, and, aged five, started at St Leonard’s School before attending Brewood Grammar School. His parents bought two ponies for him when he was only four years old and encouraged him throughout his career.
As a boy, Fred lived in Oxford Gardens, Stafford, and, aged five, started at St Leonard’s School before attending Brewood Grammar School. His parents bought two ponies for him when he was only four years old and encouraged him throughout his career.
