Born at Epsom, Joseph Dockeray was the grandson of George Derby Dockeray (who won the 1826 Epsom Derby on Lap-dog) and the son of Thomas Dockeray (1808-1874).
Joseph was apprenticed to his grandfather before becoming a leading jockey in Moscow in 1857.
In 1855 (according to Kelly's Directory), he turned to training, sending out horses from his stables at Church Street, Epsom.
In 1867 he moved to Hungary.
He returned to England and, in 1871, began training once again at Epsom.
Joseph was still training when he died, at St Pancras, London, in 1881.
Following George Dockeray's move to Newmarket in 1855, a note appeared in the papers stating that his son, Thomas, and grandson, Joseph, had taken over the training grounds and stables at Mickleham, and “will be glad to take any horses entrusted to them.”
Thomas’s wife Ann, who died on June 29th, 1849, is buried in St. Martin’s Churchyard, Epsom.