John Loates, the oldest of four jockey brothers, was born in Derby in 1846 and began riding in public in 1862. He was apprenticed to Joseph Dawson at Newmarket
A civilised and well-behaved boy, he first came to prominence when finishing second on Lord Stamford's Limosina in the Cambridgeshire of 1862 won by Bathilde.
Had she won, she would have made the fortunes of half the people of Newmarket.
John just missed on another big prize the following season when again more finishing second on Limosina, this time to Lioness in the 1863 Cesarewitch.
He did, however, land that year's Ebor Handicap on Golden Pledge.
1866 saw him win the inaugural running of the Middle Park Stakes for trainer Joe Dawson and owner Mr Pryor on The Rake, beating those good horses Knight of the Garter and Achievement.
John, on the same horse, also landed the Althorp Park Stakes.
He will be mostly remembered for his association with Friponnier, a prolific winner.
John's last day in the saddle came on Tuesday, October 8, 1867. He unsuccessfully sported the white colours of Mr Barnes on Oberon before, in the Mexican blue jacket of Mr Pryor, taking his final mount, Tornado, which ran unplaced in the Maiden Plate.
His best year riding had come in 1866 with 48 victories.
Though a polite, obliging lad, it is thought that his imprudence brought about his early death. He suffered greatly from gout in his last year which prevented him from riding. As his condition worsened, he was moved from Newmarket back to his native town of Derby where, on Thursday, 5 March, 1868, he died aged just 21.