James Grimshaw
1846 - 1889
1846 - 1889
James (Jem) Grimshaw (father of Herbert Grimshaw) was a famous lightweight who won the 1870 St Leger on Hawthornden. He left England in 1870 and obtained considerable success both as a jockey and a trainer in Austria and Germany.
James (Jem) Grimshaw (father of Herbert Grimshaw) was a famous lightweight who won the 1870 St Leger on Hawthornden. He left England in 1870 and obtained considerable success both as a jockey and a trainer in Austria and Germany.
Serving an apprenticeship under Mr Brown – owner of Brown Duchess - Grimshaw had his first ride in public in 1860, and between that year and 1865 he won 114 from 351 mounts. This total included two Czarowitz (Cesarewitch) winners: Mr Smith’s Hartington (1862) and the Earl of Coventry’s Thalestris (1864). He also won the Northumberland Plate (Queen of Trumps), the Portland (Persuasion), the Liverpool Autumn Cup (the brilliant Tartar) and the Ascot Stakes (Hippolyta).
Serving an apprenticeship under Mr Brown – owner of Brown Duchess - Grimshaw had his first ride in public in 1860, and between that year and 1865 he won 114 from 351 mounts. This total included two Czarowitz (Cesarewitch) winners: Mr Smith’s Hartington (1862) and the Earl of Coventry’s Thalestris (1864). He also won the Northumberland Plate (Queen of Trumps), the Portland (Persuasion), the Liverpool Autumn Cup (the brilliant Tartar) and the Ascot Stakes (Hippolyta).
Between 1865 and 1869 he rode mainly for the Marquis of Hastings. The Marquis paid £12,000 for a horse named Kangaroo which Grimshaw had earlier ridden to victory in the Newmarket Biennial. It proved a bad buy: Kangaroo never won a single penny for its new owner.
Between 1865 and 1869 he rode mainly for the Marquis of Hastings. The Marquis paid £12,000 for a horse named Kangaroo which Grimshaw had earlier ridden to victory in the Newmarket Biennial. It proved a bad buy: Kangaroo never won a single penny for its new owner.
Grimshaw narrowly failed to win the 1867 Derby aboard Mr Merry’s Marksman when losing out by a neck to Hermit.
Grimshaw narrowly failed to win the 1867 Derby aboard Mr Merry’s Marksman when losing out by a neck to Hermit.
His first Classic win came in 1870, winning the I,000 Guineas on Mr J Dawson’s Hester. An offer, in 1871, to ride in Germany and Austria was then accepted, and James Grimshaw quickly made a name for himself as a good, skilful jockey.
His first Classic win came in 1870, winning the I,000 Guineas on Mr J Dawson’s Hester. An offer, in 1871, to ride in Germany and Austria was then accepted, and James Grimshaw quickly made a name for himself as a good, skilful jockey.
But there was to be no happy ending. He died penniless and cancer-ridden in Padubitz, Bohemia, December 12, 1888, aged 42. He left a widow and six children.
But there was to be no happy ending. He died penniless and cancer-ridden in Padubitz, Bohemia, December 12, 1888, aged 42. He left a widow and six children.
Kangaroo was eventually sold to a Mr Dixon. Running in a Steeplechase Plate at Hambledon Hunt Meeting in April, 1870, Kangaroo broke a fetlock joint and was at once destroyed.
Kangaroo was eventually sold to a Mr Dixon. Running in a Steeplechase Plate at Hambledon Hunt Meeting in April, 1870, Kangaroo broke a fetlock joint and was at once destroyed.
The Grimshaw brothers, who both enjoyed reputations of being totally honest, were orphaned in 1865 when their father died.
The Grimshaw brothers, who both enjoyed reputations of being totally honest, were orphaned in 1865 when their father died.
James was retained as first jockey to Lord Hastings. For this he received £600 a year, plus £5 for each race won and £3 for each race lost. James also received his travelling expenses. This brought his earnings to between £2,000 & £3,000 per annum.
James was retained as first jockey to Lord Hastings. For this he received £600 a year, plus £5 for each race won and £3 for each race lost. James also received his travelling expenses. This brought his earnings to between £2,000 & £3,000 per annum.
James was sacked by Hastings when refusing to ride Prodigal for him which he considered to be unsafe.
James was sacked by Hastings when refusing to ride Prodigal for him which he considered to be unsafe.
James was born in Bolton on March 29, 1846.
James was born in Bolton on March 29, 1846.
On June 8, 1867, he fractured a leg when his pony chaise overturned near Lambourn. Further tragedy struck when his first wife Harriet, aged 19, was badly hurt after a pony-carriage accident on November 29, 1867.
On June 8, 1867, he fractured a leg when his pony chaise overturned near Lambourn. Further tragedy struck when his first wife Harriet, aged 19, was badly hurt after a pony-carriage accident on November 29, 1867.
He was made bankrupt in 1869.
He was made bankrupt in 1869.
He was jailed for 3 months at Dahlwitz in October 1874 for assault.
He was jailed for 3 months at Dahlwitz in October 1874 for assault.
His big race winners included:
His big race winners included:
1862: Northumberland Plate - Montebello
1862: Northumberland Plate - Montebello
1862: Cesarewitch - Hartington
1862: Cesarewitch - Hartington
1864: Queen Anne Stakes - Auditor
1864: Queen Anne Stakes - Auditor
1864: Ascot Stakes: Hippolyta
1864: Ascot Stakes: Hippolyta
1864: Cesarewitch - Thalestris
1864: Cesarewitch - Thalestris
1864: Portland Handicap - Persuasion
1864: Portland Handicap - Persuasion
1864: Liverpool Autumn Cup - Tartar
1864: Liverpool Autumn Cup - Tartar
1865: Stewards Cup - Out and Outer
1865: Stewards Cup - Out and Outer
1870: Queen Anne Stakes - Green Riband
1870: Queen Anne Stakes - Green Riband
1870: Coronation Stakes - Sunshine
1870: Coronation Stakes - Sunshine
1870: 1,000 Guineas - Hester
1870: 1,000 Guineas - Hester
1870: St Leger - Hawthornden
1870: St Leger - Hawthornden