John Bingham

Article by Alan Trout

Apprentice John William Bingham rode for four seasons at the start of the 20th century but only managed one winner.

He was apprenticed to James Chandler and was in action almost from the start of the 1902 Flat season, partnering Twitter, who finished unplaced in the Doddington Selling Plate at Birmingham on Easter Monday, March 31. This was a race for apprentice jockeys and was won by Frank Holland on the appropriately-named Gallops And Stays. Future legendary trainer Fred Darling finished third on Julia Franks.

Although John persevered, it was not until 1904 that he won a race. He had already finished second at Birmingham on June 24 that year, when his mount Daric was beaten half a length by John Watts on Grey Girl in the Trial Selling Plate. Then, at Gatwick on August 26 he won a match for the Tilgate Welter Handicap. His mount, Vernham, started 9-4 on favourite despite only having one third-place finish to show for six previous efforts that season. Vernham beat Broadway, the mount of Bill Saxby, by two lengths. By then, Saxby was well on his way to recording 49 winners in his first full season as a jockey.

John rode Vernham once more in 1904, finishing fourth of six runners in the Kempsey Handicap at Worcester on October 14.

His final ride came on July 11, 1905 when partnering Envoy, who finished unplaced in the Salisbury Maiden Two-Year-Old Plate. The race was won by Bill Of The Play, ridden by George Thursby, one of only two amateurs permitted to ride against professionals at that time.

James Chandler died the following year, and John Bingham did not ride in public again following that Salisbury race.