When, in December 1870, Mr Robert Peck vacated Spring Cottage, Malton, to take up his recent appointment as private trainer to Mr James Merry, Mr Henry Dobson of Preston acquired the property, and installed his own jockey/trainer, Martin Gurry.
Born in Nottingham on October 18, 1842, Martin had begun his apprenticeship with William Oates at Manor House, Middleham, and had been ill-treated throughout its term. In return for food, he was given no wages and slept with the stable dog. He still managed to win a few races, including Catalogue at Thirsk in 1864.
After three years, Martin found better employment at the stables of former jockey C. Winteringham and enjoyed moderate success before completing his troubled apprenticeship with trainer James Watson. He then began to work for Mr Dobson, and was given the care and training of six horses.
Things came to a head when, on 20 July 1871, Mr Dobson called at the cottage and rowed furiously with Martin as to the performances of some of his horses. Dobson then demanded money which he alleged Martin owed him. This was hotly disputed by Martin upon which Dobson launched a violent attack upon him. He knocked the young trainer to the ground and kicked him in the neck and face. He then gave Martin immediate notice to quit the cottage.
Badly injured, Martin spent the next five days in bed before taking Dobson to court. On Saturday, August 5 1871 at Norton's East Riding Sessions, Dobson was found guilty of serious assault and ordered to pay Martin £2 10s 6d.
Finding himself now jobless and homeless, he contacted trainer Robert Peck at Russley Park with whom he had kept in contact, and was delighted to be offered both. As Peck's head lad, he helped in the training of Derby winners Doncaster (1873) and Bend D'Or (1880). Peck gave up training in 1881 and Martin became his private trainer, in which capacity Martin found his true forte. He sent out the remarkable two-year-old The Bard to win sixteen consecutive races before finishing second to Ormonde in the 1886 Derby.
Later he trained for the dissolute young Scottish millionaire George Baird, for whom he won the 1887 Derby with Merry Hampton.
Martin died at Newmarket - where he had lived for forty years - on Thursday morning, 20 December 1923. He was 82. His funeral took place on Christmas Eve at Newmarket's St Agnes' Church.