Born in Leamington on March 20, 1841, Colonel Frederick Henry Harford made his Grand National debut in 1867 riding King Arthur (10 st. 3 lbs.). His mount stared favourite but pulled up on the second circuit behind the winner, Cortolvin. He tried again in two years later and finished stone last on Harcourt.
Colonel Harford - familiarly known as Lummy - was earlier a pupil of Ben Land, at that time training in Ascot, and was soon winning at various meetings around London, such as Croydon, Bromley and Kingsbury.
In 1874, the Grand Military Meeting was held at Rugby: Colonel Harford won both the Gold Cup and the Light Weight Grand Military on the same horse, Marc Antoine. He also won the Guards' Cup on nine occasions.
Colonel Harford excelled on Yeoman, one of the best hunters of his time, winning eight out of eleven races in which he rode him.
Punchestown was a lucky meeting for him: here he won the 1868 Prince of Wales's Stakes on Excelsior, the Irish Grand Military, and the Conygham Cup three times: on Wild Fox in 1869, Chapeur in 1870 and on Miltown in 1872. He also rode frequently in France and Germany, coming second twice in the Grand Steeplechase at Baden-Baden.
He retired from the saddle in 1880, his last win coming on a pony - much to the mirth of his many friends - belonging to the Duke of Connaught.
Colonel Frederick Harford died in Down Place, Windsor, Berkshire on 29 August, 1926. He was 85.