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Sam was born on March 11th 1852 at Bourton Hill, Moreton-in-the-Marsh (now known as Moreton-in-Marsh), in the north-east of Gloucestershire. His grandfather had ridden the 1833 St Leger winner Rockingham: his father, who rode but did not train, died when Sam was quite young. Sam then went to live with his grandfather.
Sam was born on March 11th 1852 at Bourton Hill, Moreton-in-the-Marsh (now known as Moreton-in-Marsh), in the north-east of Gloucestershire. His grandfather had ridden the 1833 St Leger winner Rockingham: his father, who rode but did not train, died when Sam was quite young. Sam then went to live with his grandfather.
Sam attended school at Alcester, Warwickshire. His first experience there was being set a subtraction sum by the head master – Sam had to deduct his own height from that of Goliath of Gath, the Philistine whom David slew with a sling and stone. Sam was just seven.
Sam attended school at Alcester, Warwickshire. His first experience there was being set a subtraction sum by the head master – Sam had to deduct his own height from that of Goliath of Gath, the Philistine whom David slew with a sling and stone. Sam was just seven.
As a nine-year-old attending Warwick College, he sneaked out of school one day (without his mortar-board) and ran to the nearby Warwick racecourse where he watched Salamander win the Grand Annual Steeplechase. From that moment, he was always going to be a jockey. In September 1866, Sam – then 14 – became apprenticed to Mr Weever at Bourton Hill.
As a nine-year-old attending Warwick College, he sneaked out of school one day (without his mortar-board) and ran to the nearby Warwick racecourse where he watched Salamander win the Grand Annual Steeplechase. From that moment, he was always going to be a jockey. In September 1866, Sam – then 14 – became apprenticed to Mr Weever at Bourton Hill.
His first ride came on Chimney Pot for Lord Coventry at Knighton, Wales. His first official winner came on Rumpus in the Nil Desperandum Stakes at Croydon racecourse for Mr Tom Golby. He actually rode a winner before that – the soon-to-be-famous Fred Archer, then just a small boy, was unable to handle his father’s pony – called The Chow - in a match: William Archer, Fred’s father, asked Sam to take the ride instead. Sam won easily and was carried shoulder-high by his schoolmates back to the paddock.
His first ride came on Chimney Pot for Lord Coventry at Knighton, Wales. His first official winner came on Rumpus in the Nil Desperandum Stakes at Croydon racecourse for Mr Tom Golby. He actually rode a winner before that – the soon-to-be-famous Fred Archer, then just a small boy, was unable to handle his father’s pony – called The Chow - in a match: William Archer, Fred’s father, asked Sam to take the ride instead. Sam won easily and was carried shoulder-high by his schoolmates back to the paddock.
Sam continued to learn his trade at Bourton before, after six years, moving first to the Northleach (Glos.) stables of Mr Golby. He then moved on to Mr Tom Wadlow’s yard at Stanton, where he assisted in stable management. Now weighing 9st. 6lbs., Sam had become too heavy for the flat and was able to ride in trials only. He had been there a year when his grandmother died: at the same time his aged grandfather fell ill and Sam moved in to see him through his final months.
Sam continued to learn his trade at Bourton before, after six years, moving first to the Northleach (Glos.) stables of Mr Golby. He then moved on to Mr Tom Wadlow’s yard at Stanton, where he assisted in stable management. Now weighing 9st. 6lbs., Sam had become too heavy for the flat and was able to ride in trials only. He had been there a year when his grandmother died: at the same time his aged grandfather fell ill and Sam moved in to see him through his final months.
It was during the last days of his grandfather’s life that Sam bought his first racehorse, a bag of bones called Acrobat, which had set Sam back £25. Sam gelded him and, having no training ground, exercised the horse along the main roads. Acrobat improved out of recognition – Sam entered it in a race at Sutton Park, Birmingham, and – riding himself – won at 6/1. Acrobat was then sent to Croydon; Sam couldn’t do the weight, so he engaged Charles Archer, who won easily. Then, after Acrobat had won the Bradgate Cup at Warwick, Sam sold him for £320.
It was during the last days of his grandfather’s life that Sam bought his first racehorse, a bag of bones called Acrobat, which had set Sam back £25. Sam gelded him and, having no training ground, exercised the horse along the main roads. Acrobat improved out of recognition – Sam entered it in a race at Sutton Park, Birmingham, and – riding himself – won at 6/1. Acrobat was then sent to Croydon; Sam couldn’t do the weight, so he engaged Charles Archer, who won easily. Then, after Acrobat had won the Bradgate Cup at Warwick, Sam sold him for £320.
In 1877, Sam moved into Emblem Villa, near Croome in Worcester. The house had been named after Lord Coventry’s mare, who had won the Grand National. Sam, his days as a flat jockey behind him, began buying and schooling horses for jumping. One such horse was Collingbourne, Sam rode him at a flooded Worcester where the top of the course was completely under water. (He jumped two flights of hurdles where only the top two bars were showing above the water.) Collingbourne proved to be a decent animal and won the Cup at Cheltenham. Sam had hopes of winning the Grand National with him, but one of the horse’s hind legs gave way.
In 1877, Sam moved into Emblem Villa, near Croome in Worcester. The house had been named after Lord Coventry’s mare, who had won the Grand National. Sam, his days as a flat jockey behind him, began buying and schooling horses for jumping. One such horse was Collingbourne, Sam rode him at a flooded Worcester where the top of the course was completely under water. (He jumped two flights of hurdles where only the top two bars were showing above the water.) Collingbourne proved to be a decent animal and won the Cup at Cheltenham. Sam had hopes of winning the Grand National with him, but one of the horse’s hind legs gave way.
In 1879, he married Miss Davis, daughter of an owner for whom he had ridden many winners.
In 1879, he married Miss Davis, daughter of an owner for whom he had ridden many winners.
In the autumn of 1880, Sam moved on to Heddington, Wiltshire, where stood Beckhampton stables. The original would-be-buyer of the property, Mr Weston, had failed to show up at the sales: Sam, dealing directly with the owner, handed over a cheque for £500 as a deposit, and snapped up the bargain. The stable had fifty-eight boxes, which Sam quickly filled. He took on around thirty lads to look after the horses and, from a local farmer, Colonel Holford, bought a farm which stood immediately next door.
In the autumn of 1880, Sam moved on to Heddington, Wiltshire, where stood Beckhampton stables. The original would-be-buyer of the property, Mr Weston, had failed to show up at the sales: Sam, dealing directly with the owner, handed over a cheque for £500 as a deposit, and snapped up the bargain. The stable had fifty-eight boxes, which Sam quickly filled. He took on around thirty lads to look after the horses and, from a local farmer, Colonel Holford, bought a farm which stood immediately next door.
From Emblem Villa, Sam moved to Sandford House, Severn Stoke, as a tenant of Lord Coventry and began training for himself at first – soon afterwards, he had several clients. He went on to become a highly successful and respected trainer. He won seven classics, including the Derby twice, with Galtee More (1897) and Ard Patrick (1902).
From Emblem Villa, Sam moved to Sandford House, Severn Stoke, as a tenant of Lord Coventry and began training for himself at first – soon afterwards, he had several clients. He went on to become a highly successful and respected trainer. He won seven classics, including the Derby twice, with Galtee More (1897) and Ard Patrick (1902).
Having trained a total of 428 winners to a total value of £238,634. 10s., Sam retired in 1913 and his second son, Frederick, who had been training horses for some time in Germany and Austria, took over.
Having trained a total of 428 winners to a total value of £238,634. 10s., Sam retired in 1913 and his second son, Frederick, who had been training horses for some time in Germany and Austria, took over.
Sam’s autobiography - Sam Darling’s Reminiscences - was published in 1914.
Sam’s autobiography - Sam Darling’s Reminiscences - was published in 1914.
After a long illness, Sam died on May 16th in Beckhampton 1921. Throughout his life he had been obsessive about tidiness and this passion followed him to the grave. In accordance with his will, the streets of Beckhampton were meticulously swept and sanded on the day of his funeral and the coffin was carried on farm carts that had been freshly painted in specified colours.
After a long illness, Sam died on May 16th in Beckhampton 1921. Throughout his life he had been obsessive about tidiness and this passion followed him to the grave. In accordance with his will, the streets of Beckhampton were meticulously swept and sanded on the day of his funeral and the coffin was carried on farm carts that had been freshly painted in specified colours.
Sam left £38,603.
Sam left £38,603.
Fifteen years after its purchase, Sam had turned Colonel Holford’s old farm completely around: he built upon it the largest Dutch barn in the country and won over two hundred prizes with cattle, sheep (principally Hampshire Down), cart-horses, swedes and turnips. Sam called the farm “Galtee More Farm” after his first Derby winner.
Fifteen years after its purchase, Sam had turned Colonel Holford’s old farm completely around: he built upon it the largest Dutch barn in the country and won over two hundred prizes with cattle, sheep (principally Hampshire Down), cart-horses, swedes and turnips. Sam called the farm “Galtee More Farm” after his first Derby winner.
On May 12th, 1898, the Derby winner Galtee More was sold to the Russian Government who were seeking a high-class stallion. The price agreed was £22,500 which included the insurance premium and the cost of transport to Russia. On June 11th, 1898, sailing from Harwich on board s.s. Berlin. Galtee More left for Russia where he became by far the most successful stallion ever. On January 30th, 1917, he was being loaded aboard a train bound for the Union Stud in Hoppegarten. The horse slipped and trapped his hind legs. He was taken back to the stud by sledge, but had suffered an untreatable fracture to the upper part of his leg. He was euthanized the same evening.
On May 12th, 1898, the Derby winner Galtee More was sold to the Russian Government who were seeking a high-class stallion. The price agreed was £22,500 which included the insurance premium and the cost of transport to Russia. On June 11th, 1898, sailing from Harwich on board s.s. Berlin. Galtee More left for Russia where he became by far the most successful stallion ever. On January 30th, 1917, he was being loaded aboard a train bound for the Union Stud in Hoppegarten. The horse slipped and trapped his hind legs. He was taken back to the stud by sledge, but had suffered an untreatable fracture to the upper part of his leg. He was euthanized the same evening.
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