Frederick Brown

Frederick Brown

Article by Alan Trout

Frederick Brown enjoyed a measure of success during a spasmodic career that lasted from the start of the 20th century until the early 1930s. Apprenticed to C. W. Golding at Newmarket, he had his first ride on Florence Reddy, finishing unplaced in the Apprentices’ Handicap at Newmarket on April 16, 1901. 

Although he continued to have the occasional ride, his fortunes did not pick up until joining Sam Loates, a former champion jockey embarking on what would be a successful training career. Loates believed in giving his apprentices plenty of opportunities if they were good enough, and on June 7, 1904, Frederick rode his first winner on Don’s Birthday in the Minting Juvenile Selling Plate at Lincoln. The horse was sold at the post-race auction and Frederick did not add to his score on the Flat. 

However, the following year, on a mare named Chevening Belle, again owned and trained by Sam Loates, Frederick achieved his first success over jumps when landing the Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Newmarket by five lengths on December 29, 1905. That proved to be the last day’s racing ever staged at Newmarket’s National Hunt course, which had held its inaugural meeting in November 1894. Colonel Harry McCalmont had been the driving force behind the design and building of the course. When he died in 1902, support for the meeting waned, leading to its closure three years later. The track is now the Links schooling ground, over which Newmarket-trained jumpers work during the winter months.

Two more wins six days apart in January 1906 on the four-year-old hurdler Mansvelt at Manchester and Windsor promised well for the future, but Frederick then had to wait until December for his third win of the year, again on Mansvelt, in the Moderate Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. He relinquished his licence for a while but returned in 1909 to win the Priory Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hurst Park on March 10 by a length on Goldrock. The horse was exported to Germany soon after that victory, and Frederick did not renew his licence for 1911. 

Twelve years and one world war later, Frederick made his next comeback in 1923, which was to prove easily the most successful year of his career with nine wins, including doubles at Haydock Park and Ludlow within the space of a week in February. However, there were to be no more for six years.

His final victory was on Smithers, trained by Fred Taylor, in the Farnsfield Juvenile Hurdle at Southwell on September 26, 1932. He held a licence for one more season, ending his career with 20 wins under National Hunt rules plus one on the Flat.

Frederick Brown’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Don’s Birthday, Lincoln, June 7, 1904 

2. Chevening Belle, Newmarket, December 28, 1905

3. Mansvelt, Manchester, January 17, 1906

4. Mansvelt, Windsor, January 23, 1906

5. Mansvelt, Newbury, December 18, 1906

6. Goldrock, Hurst Park, March 10, 1909 

7. Hedu, Leicester, January 23, 1923 

8. Hedu, Haydock Park, February 9, 1923

9. Elson, Haydock Park, February 9, 1923

10. Mr Porta, Ludlow, February 16, 1923

11. Elson, Ludlow, February 16, 1923

12. Cinzano, Manchester, February 24, 1923

13. Elson, Derby, February 26, 1923

14. Newtown Wonder, Uttoxeter, May 15, 1923

15. Harmonious, Hexham, May 21, 1923

16. Stripanatit, Wetherby, April 22, 1930

17. Royal Spear, Southwell, April 4, 1931

18. Starkader, Sedgefield, April 15, 1931

19. Starkader, Worcester, April 22, 1931

20. True Count, Hexham, October 15, 1931

21. Smithers, Southwell, September 26, 1932