James Chandler
1853 -1906
James Chandler was born at Reading on January 17, 1853, and - having ridden a few winners on the Flat - became a well-known jumps jockey.
He then switched to training and sent out the 1903 1,000 Guineas winner, Quintessence, which remained unbeaten. He once trained at Houghton Downs, Stockbridge, from where he sent out Amphion, which as a three-year-old won Kempton’s Jubilee Handicap and, as a four-year-old, Ascot’s Hardwicke Stakes. Then he removed his operation to rent a small plantation on Windmill Downs, just outside Lambourn, on which he trained his horses in the early mornings. On Friday, 11 May, 1906, when not returning home at the usual time, a search was made for him and, shortly before two o’clock, the vicar of the parish, the Rev. R. Bagnall, found the missing trainer by the exercise gallops. James was lying on his back on the ground with his throat badly cut and covered with blood. Close by was a blood-stained razor. The trainer, who had suffered from depression for some time, was 53 years old. He left a wife and family.
He had only managed to train three winners in each of the two seasons before his untimely death, and this played heavily on his mind.
James was buried at Upper Lambourn. An inquest held at the Police Station the next day returned a verdict of ‘Suicide whilst temporarily of unsound mind.’
It was later said of James: ‘No man was better liked, none more respected. He was the sort of man who brought honour to his profession. A shabby thought probably never passed through his brain. He was honesty personified, open, genial, hard-working and conscientious. James was a good citizen, husband and father. He paid his way through life and did not owe a penny when he died, but he was unable to leave enough money to keep the family going, and it is proposed to organise a subscription on their behalf.’
