Doug Marks
May 8 1922 - 7 June 2007
May 8 1922 - 7 June 2007
Doug Marks came to Lambourn in 1962, buying the Uplands Stable in Upper Lambourn from where he planned to train. It was a stable eventually to be made famous by Fred Winter and his successors, Charlie Brooks and Simon Sherwood.
Doug Marks came to Lambourn in 1962, buying the Uplands Stable in Upper Lambourn from where he planned to train. It was a stable eventually to be made famous by Fred Winter and his successors, Charlie Brooks and Simon Sherwood.
But in his earlier life, back in the late 1930s, he was an apprentice jockey employed by royal trainer William Jarvis.
But in his earlier life, back in the late 1930s, he was an apprentice jockey employed by royal trainer William Jarvis.
Doug's father, a First World War veteran, had written to the Prince of Wales seeking stable work for his son.
Doug's father, a First World War veteran, had written to the Prince of Wales seeking stable work for his son.
'At the time,' recalls Doug, 'I weighed four stone, and that was mostly head. Dad took me to the stables and told everyone how much I loved horses. Actually, I'd never seen one! I was confined to the stable pony for my first eighteen months there. Then the Prince of Wales turned up and wondered how I was doing. For something to say, Mr Jarvis replied that he was thinking of letting me ride in a race soon. Because he'd committed himself in front of the Prince, he put me up on Brescia at Newcastle. I won, but because the stable money wasn't down, nobody said Well Done!'
'At the time,' recalls Doug, 'I weighed four stone, and that was mostly head. Dad took me to the stables and told everyone how much I loved horses. Actually, I'd never seen one! I was confined to the stable pony for my first eighteen months there. Then the Prince of Wales turned up and wondered how I was doing. For something to say, Mr Jarvis replied that he was thinking of letting me ride in a race soon. Because he'd committed himself in front of the Prince, he put me up on Brescia at Newcastle. I won, but because the stable money wasn't down, nobody said Well Done!'
But the door had been left ajar.
But the door had been left ajar.
Doug now found himself trusted to ride more often for the stable, and one filly in particular, Godiva, cemented his progress.
Doug now found himself trusted to ride more often for the stable, and one filly in particular, Godiva, cemented his progress.
Godiva had arrived in a batch of twenty-five-odd yearlings: Doug spotted something about her and pleaded to be her lad. His wish was granted and he led her up for her early races.
Godiva had arrived in a batch of twenty-five-odd yearlings: Doug spotted something about her and pleaded to be her lad. His wish was granted and he led her up for her early races.
Then Jackie Crouch, the royal jockey and rider of Godiva, was tragically killed in a plane crash on the way to Newcastle races: Doug was informed 'You're not leading up Godiva today - you're riding her.'
Then Jackie Crouch, the royal jockey and rider of Godiva, was tragically killed in a plane crash on the way to Newcastle races: Doug was informed 'You're not leading up Godiva today - you're riding her.'
Doug grabbed his chance. The race was the Stud Produce Stakes at Newmarket He was up against Gordon Richards riding a filly (Snowberry) which had won the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot by a head.
Doug grabbed his chance. The race was the Stud Produce Stakes at Newmarket He was up against Gordon Richards riding a filly (Snowberry) which had won the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot by a head.
Amazingly, Doug & Godiva won, coming home a length clear beating Snowberry, the 4/7 favourite.
Amazingly, Doug & Godiva won, coming home a length clear beating Snowberry, the 4/7 favourite.
The pair then went on to come third in the Middle Park Stakes.
The pair then went on to come third in the Middle Park Stakes.
Doug spent the winter of 1939 wondering if he'd be trusted to ride her in the 1,000 Guineas.
Doug spent the winter of 1939 wondering if he'd be trusted to ride her in the 1,000 Guineas.
He was, Mr Jarvis saying to him 'Don't do anything stupid.'
He was, Mr Jarvis saying to him 'Don't do anything stupid.'
The trainer was worried about one horse in particular which he felt might beat Godiva, but Doug was ahead of him. He told the trainer that his cousin Jack did that one at home and had told him that she wasn't very good. So it proved.
The trainer was worried about one horse in particular which he felt might beat Godiva, but Doug was ahead of him. He told the trainer that his cousin Jack did that one at home and had told him that she wasn't very good. So it proved.
Golden Penny, the cousin's horse, started at 8/11, but was beaten fairly and squarely by Godiva, who started at 10/1.
Golden Penny, the cousin's horse, started at 8/11, but was beaten fairly and squarely by Godiva, who started at 10/1.
Godiva then hacked up in the New Oaks Trial run at Hurst Park before winning the real thing at Newmarket on June 13 at odds of 7/4. This, sadly was Godiva's last race: she died a couple of months later, leaving Doug shattered.
Godiva then hacked up in the New Oaks Trial run at Hurst Park before winning the real thing at Newmarket on June 13 at odds of 7/4. This, sadly was Godiva's last race: she died a couple of months later, leaving Doug shattered.
On Wednesday November 20, 1940, Doug rode the King's colt Merry Wanderer in the Bunbury Mile Nursery Stakes at Newmarket.
On Wednesday November 20, 1940, Doug rode the King's colt Merry Wanderer in the Bunbury Mile Nursery Stakes at Newmarket.
In a close finish, Merry Wanderer and Portclan, ridden by D V Dick, flashed past the post. Doug was convinced that he'd won, but in those days tradition was to give against the royal family in close finishes to avoid accusations of favouritism. The judge called Portclan the 'winner' by a head.
In a close finish, Merry Wanderer and Portclan, ridden by D V Dick, flashed past the post. Doug was convinced that he'd won, but in those days tradition was to give against the royal family in close finishes to avoid accusations of favouritism. The judge called Portclan the 'winner' by a head.
Then World War Two began and racing faded into the background.
Then World War Two began and racing faded into the background.
Doug went into the Air Force hoping to become an air gunner, but, as a result of a fall at exercise riding Starling, developed TB instead and was in hospital for three years.
Doug went into the Air Force hoping to become an air gunner, but, as a result of a fall at exercise riding Starling, developed TB instead and was in hospital for three years.
When the war ended, he went to work for trainer George Collin, but nobody wanted to hire a jockey who had been in hospital for three years.
When the war ended, he went to work for trainer George Collin, but nobody wanted to hire a jockey who had been in hospital for three years.
Then, one afternoon at Fontwell, he rode a very temperamental horse for the stable. He could have won on him, but - remembering the time he had won for Jarvis when no stable money was down - he steadied the horse instead of going for the win.
Then, one afternoon at Fontwell, he rode a very temperamental horse for the stable. He could have won on him, but - remembering the time he had won for Jarvis when no stable money was down - he steadied the horse instead of going for the win.
His action and consideration had not been lost on George Collin.
His action and consideration had not been lost on George Collin.
The horse won next time out at 100/6, and the stable money was most certainly down.
The horse won next time out at 100/6, and the stable money was most certainly down.
The horse ran in a further eight races, winning seven.
The horse ran in a further eight races, winning seven.
After taking a number of falls, Doug stopped riding and took out a trainer's licence.
After taking a number of falls, Doug stopped riding and took out a trainer's licence.
However, his wife, Pamela, was unhappy living at Uplands, claiming that it was haunted and Doug was obliged to sell. He took £24,00 from Fred Winter and moved to Waltham House which he renamed Lethornes
However, his wife, Pamela, was unhappy living at Uplands, claiming that it was haunted and Doug was obliged to sell. He took £24,00 from Fred Winter and moved to Waltham House which he renamed Lethornes
One of his best horses was the brilliant staying handicapper Golden Fire who, ridden by Flapper Yates, won the Chester Cup, Goodwood Stakes and Cesarewitch, all in 1962.
One of his best horses was the brilliant staying handicapper Golden Fire who, ridden by Flapper Yates, won the Chester Cup, Goodwood Stakes and Cesarewitch, all in 1962.
Doug trained for many show business people and, on behalf of Tom Jones's manager, Colin Berlin, bought Fireside Chat and Shiny Tenth. Fireside Chat won major sprints in Germany and France whilst Shiny Tenth won the Abernant Stakes and Palace House Stakes.
Doug trained for many show business people and, on behalf of Tom Jones's manager, Colin Berlin, bought Fireside Chat and Shiny Tenth. Fireside Chat won major sprints in Germany and France whilst Shiny Tenth won the Abernant Stakes and Palace House Stakes.
Looking back on his career he said: 'I've had tremendous fun over the years - it's been so much better than working. I've not got one regret. How could I have? It's been the perfect life.'
Looking back on his career he said: 'I've had tremendous fun over the years - it's been so much better than working. I've not got one regret. How could I have? It's been the perfect life.'
Doug, born in Lincoln on May 8, 1922, died, aged 85, at Lambourn on Thursday 7 June, 2007.
Doug, born in Lincoln on May 8, 1922, died, aged 85, at Lambourn on Thursday 7 June, 2007.
