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John Kempton
John Kempton
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
John Kempton will forever be remembered as the trainer of 100-1 Grand National winner Foinavon. The story of Foinavon’s remarkable victory and the fact he was so unfancied that neither his owner or trainer ventured to Aintree that day has long been part of the race’s folklore.
John Kempton will forever be remembered as the trainer of 100-1 Grand National winner Foinavon. The story of Foinavon’s remarkable victory and the fact he was so unfancied that neither his owner or trainer ventured to Aintree that day has long been part of the race’s folklore.
John was still combining training with riding at the time and had gone to Worcester instead, a decision that looked fully justified when he won the first race, a two-mile novices’ hurdle, on Three Dons. But little over an hour later the life of that unheralded, small-time trainer-jockey would be changed forever.
John was still combining training with riding at the time and had gone to Worcester instead, a decision that looked fully justified when he won the first race, a two-mile novices’ hurdle, on Three Dons. But little over an hour later the life of that unheralded, small-time trainer-jockey would be changed forever.
John Henry Kempton was born on November 13, 1938, the son of a South London car dealer. As author David Owen recounts in his excellent 2013 book ‘Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National’s Biggest Upset’: “Kempton was studying in the late 1950s to be a vet when his world was turned upside down by the collapse of his father’s business. His father Jack suffered a nervous breakdown as a result, spending some time in hospital. The financial consequences included turfing John out of vets’ school to seek gainful employment.
John Henry Kempton was born on November 13, 1938, the son of a South London car dealer. As author David Owen recounts in his excellent 2013 book ‘Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National’s Biggest Upset’: “Kempton was studying in the late 1950s to be a vet when his world was turned upside down by the collapse of his father’s business. His father Jack suffered a nervous breakdown as a result, spending some time in hospital. The financial consequences included turfing John out of vets’ school to seek gainful employment.
“During a childhood spent mainly in Wimbledon and Epsom, John had developed a fondness for horses, learning to ride on Wimbledon Common and in Richmond Park.”
“During a childhood spent mainly in Wimbledon and Epsom, John had developed a fondness for horses, learning to ride on Wimbledon Common and in Richmond Park.”
Following his father’s illness, his mother, Molly, sought stables to rent with the notion of starting a livery yard business. They settled in Compton, Berkshire, where, having already learned how to shoe horses, John “turned to farriering in an attempt to make ends meet.”
Following his father’s illness, his mother, Molly, sought stables to rent with the notion of starting a livery yard business. They settled in Compton, Berkshire, where, having already learned how to shoe horses, John “turned to farriering in an attempt to make ends meet.”
It wasn’t long before John began thinking of obtaining a trainer’s licence. He persuaded one of his farriering clients to buy two racehorses and began training in 1959 while continuing to operate his shoeing business. He also took out a jockey’s licence.
It wasn’t long before John began thinking of obtaining a trainer’s licence. He persuaded one of his farriering clients to buy two racehorses and began training in 1959 while continuing to operate his shoeing business. He also took out a jockey’s licence.
John rode and trained his first winner when Rambler landed the Longcourse Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on March 1, 1960, although only after lodging an objection to the winner on the grounds that Rambler had been struck across the face by his rival jockey’s whip. The stewards duly disqualified the ‘winner’ and awarded the race to Rambler.
John rode and trained his first winner when Rambler landed the Longcourse Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on March 1, 1960, although only after lodging an objection to the winner on the grounds that Rambler had been struck across the face by his rival jockey’s whip. The stewards duly disqualified the ‘winner’ and awarded the race to Rambler.
As David Owen points out, “it was a hand-to-mouth existence” and the following season yielded just one winner, novice hurdler Bobby Belcher at Towcester on Easter Monday. John made a bright start to the 1961/62 campaign with a trio of novice hurdlers, In Tune, Pancake and Wotaface who won a race apiece, however that was as good as it got for the remainder of the season.
As David Owen points out, “it was a hand-to-mouth existence” and the following season yielded just one winner, novice hurdler Bobby Belcher at Towcester on Easter Monday. John made a bright start to the 1961/62 campaign with a trio of novice hurdlers, In Tune, Pancake and Wotaface who won a race apiece, however that was as good as it got for the remainder of the season.
In June 1961, John had paid around £500, on behalf of an owner from one of the families behind the Peak Frean biscuit company, for a horse called Seas End, a giant of a horse who had shown early potential but whose career appeared to be in decline. John observed that the horse had a tender mouth and so started racing him in a rubber bit and then with no bit at all, just a bridle fashioned like a padded head-collar. It brought about a complete transformation, with John riding him victory on firm ground at Cheltenham in October 1962 and Towcester in June 1963. He also rode him in the 1962 and 1963 Grand Nationals, pulling up at Becher’s second time on both occasions.
In June 1961, John had paid around £500, on behalf of an owner from one of the families behind the Peak Frean biscuit company, for a horse called Seas End, a giant of a horse who had shown early potential but whose career appeared to be in decline. John observed that the horse had a tender mouth and so started racing him in a rubber bit and then with no bit at all, just a bridle fashioned like a padded head-collar. It brought about a complete transformation, with John riding him victory on firm ground at Cheltenham in October 1962 and Towcester in June 1963. He also rode him in the 1962 and 1963 Grand Nationals, pulling up at Becher’s second time on both occasions.
Seas End won twice at Devon & Exeter in August 1964, two of four winners John rode and trained that season, another being a 12-year-old maiden chaser named Speaker, who justified his odds-on status when winning by a distance at Market Rasen in October.
Seas End won twice at Devon & Exeter in August 1964, two of four winners John rode and trained that season, another being a 12-year-old maiden chaser named Speaker, who justified his odds-on status when winning by a distance at Market Rasen in October.
John made another bright start to the following campaign, courtesy of Seas End and novice hurdler McCrimmon who both won twice. They combined to give John the only double of his career at Devon & Exeter on September 2, 1965. A photo showing McCrimmon winning at Folkestone in September appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life.
John made another bright start to the following campaign, courtesy of Seas End and novice hurdler McCrimmon who both won twice. They combined to give John the only double of his career at Devon & Exeter on September 2, 1965. A photo showing McCrimmon winning at Folkestone in September appeared on the front page of the following day’s Sporting Life.
Despite the promising start, there were no more winners that season. Indeed, it was Easter Monday 1967 before John rode into the winner’s enclosure again, courtesy of novice hurdler Three Dons at Huntingdon. In the previous race on that Huntingdon card, Foinavon had finished fourth in a three-mile handicap chase, partnered by Dave Patrick. After the race he was offered the ride on Foinavon in the Grand National but turned it down as he’d already committed to ride another long shot, selling chaser Bob-a-Job. As things transpired, Bob-a-Job’s trainer jocked Dave off in favour of his son despite his lack of experience, having had only a handful of rides, leaving Dave to rue what might have been.
Despite the promising start, there were no more winners that season. Indeed, it was Easter Monday 1967 before John rode into the winner’s enclosure again, courtesy of novice hurdler Three Dons at Huntingdon. In the previous race on that Huntingdon card, Foinavon had finished fourth in a three-mile handicap chase, partnered by Dave Patrick. After the race he was offered the ride on Foinavon in the Grand National but turned it down as he’d already committed to ride another long shot, selling chaser Bob-a-Job. As things transpired, Bob-a-Job’s trainer jocked Dave off in favour of his son despite his lack of experience, having had only a handful of rides, leaving Dave to rue what might have been.
John Kempton had ridden Foinavon in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 500-1 no-hoper actually led the field as far as the eleventh fence but then weakened quickly and finished tailed off. Unable to make the 10st weight to ride him in the Grand National, he sought other potential jockeys. After several had turned him down he eventually secured the services of John Buckingham three days before the race.
John Kempton had ridden Foinavon in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 500-1 no-hoper actually led the field as far as the eleventh fence but then weakened quickly and finished tailed off. Unable to make the 10st weight to ride him in the Grand National, he sought other potential jockeys. After several had turned him down he eventually secured the services of John Buckingham three days before the race.
Three Dons duly followed up his Huntingdon triumph in the aforementioned race at Worcester on April 8, an hour or so before Foinavon achieved the most unlikely of Grand National victories.
Three Dons duly followed up his Huntingdon triumph in the aforementioned race at Worcester on April 8, an hour or so before Foinavon achieved the most unlikely of Grand National victories.
John rode and trained four winners in the 1967/68 campaign, the last two of them being on novice hurdler Tandem, at Towcester on Easter Monday and Worcester on May 1. Tandem was also his last ride when finishing second at Towcester on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968. He hung up his boots at the end of that season.
John rode and trained four winners in the 1967/68 campaign, the last two of them being on novice hurdler Tandem, at Towcester on Easter Monday and Worcester on May 1. Tandem was also his last ride when finishing second at Towcester on Whit Monday, June 3, 1968. He hung up his boots at the end of that season.
He continued training, although, as David Owen observes, that glory day at Aintree did little to attract new owners to the yard. “The nature of Foinavon’s victory was, it seems, just too outlandish for outside owners to conclude that the skills of the horse’s training team had much to do with it.”
He continued training, although, as David Owen observes, that glory day at Aintree did little to attract new owners to the yard. “The nature of Foinavon’s victory was, it seems, just too outlandish for outside owners to conclude that the skills of the horse’s training team had much to do with it.”
Although the yard enjoyed some success in the immediate post-Foinavon era, it was not sufficient to make training a viable proposition. Hence in the early 1970s, John accepted a job as assistant trainer to David Barons in South Devon. John and his wife, Trish, stayed with Barons expanding operation for five years. While there, a farmer-friend introduced them to scuba diving.
Although the yard enjoyed some success in the immediate post-Foinavon era, it was not sufficient to make training a viable proposition. Hence in the early 1970s, John accepted a job as assistant trainer to David Barons in South Devon. John and his wife, Trish, stayed with Barons expanding operation for five years. While there, a farmer-friend introduced them to scuba diving.
As David Owen relates: “From then on the sea began to exert its pull, as well as the desire to be their own bosses.” They bought a 42-foot boat and took diving parties out and “attracted sufficient custom that summer to take the plunge and turn their back on racing for good. The business proved viable enough to sustain them for 28 years, far longer than the time John Kempton had worked with horses.”
As David Owen relates: “From then on the sea began to exert its pull, as well as the desire to be their own bosses.” They bought a 42-foot boat and took diving parties out and “attracted sufficient custom that summer to take the plunge and turn their back on racing for good. The business proved viable enough to sustain them for 28 years, far longer than the time John Kempton had worked with horses.”
The Kemptons retired from their scuba diving business in the early years of the new millennium. A case, perhaps, of ‘Seas End’.
The Kemptons retired from their scuba diving business in the early years of the new millennium. A case, perhaps, of ‘Seas End’.
John Kempton’s winners were, in chronological order:
John Kempton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Rambler, Wolverhampton, March 1, 1960
1. Rambler, Wolverhampton, March 1, 1960
2. Bobby Belcher, Towcester, April 3, 1961
2. Bobby Belcher, Towcester, April 3, 1961
3. In Tune, Newton Abbot, August 19, 1961
3. In Tune, Newton Abbot, August 19, 1961
4. Pancake, Stratford-on-Avon, September 2, 1961
4. Pancake, Stratford-on-Avon, September 2, 1961
5. Wotaface, Worcester, October 11, 1961
5. Wotaface, Worcester, October 11, 1961
6. Seas End, Cheltenham, October 10, 1962
6. Seas End, Cheltenham, October 10, 1962
7. Seas End, Towcester, June 1, 1963
7. Seas End, Towcester, June 1, 1963
8. Sailaway Sailor, Birmingham, February 17, 1964
8. Sailaway Sailor, Birmingham, February 17, 1964
9. Bobby Belcher, Worcester, April 15, 1964
9. Bobby Belcher, Worcester, April 15, 1964
10. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, August 6, 1964
10. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, August 6, 1964
11. Ready Penny, Newton Abbot, August 12, 1964
11. Ready Penny, Newton Abbot, August 12, 1964
12. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, August 19, 1964
12. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, August 19, 1964
13. Speaker, Market Rasen, October 10, 1964
13. Speaker, Market Rasen, October 10, 1964
14. Seas End, Hereford, August 28, 1965
14. Seas End, Hereford, August 28, 1965
15. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1965
15. Seas End, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1965
16. McCrimmon, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1965
16. McCrimmon, Devon & Exeter, September 2, 1965
17. McCrimmon, Folkestone, September 27, 1965
17. McCrimmon, Folkestone, September 27, 1965
18. Three Dons, Huntingdon, March 27, 1967
18. Three Dons, Huntingdon, March 27, 1967
19. Three Dons, Worcester, April 8, 1967
19. Three Dons, Worcester, April 8, 1967
20. Salstar, September 23, 1967
20. Salstar, September 23, 1967
21. Nubian, Wye, October 23, 1967
21. Nubian, Wye, October 23, 1967
22. Tandem, Towcester, April 15, 1968
22. Tandem, Towcester, April 15, 1968
23. Tandem, Worcester, May 1,.1968
23. Tandem, Worcester, May 1,.1968
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