Job Marson Jr

1817 - 1872


Born at Malton in 1817, the son of trainer 'Old' Job Marson, Job rode his first winner on Cinderella at Beverley in 1831. He was greatly championed by Sim Templeman, a fellow-jockey some ten years his senior, but big-race success eluded him until he won the Goodwood Cup in 1841 on Charles Xll.

Job's first classic came in the St Leger, 1843, when he rode Nutwith to victory, but he was in trouble four years later when riding Van Tromp into third place in the Derby. Job then proceeded to win the St Leger on the same horse and its owner, Lord Eglington, suspected that Job had pulled Van Tromp in the Derby, and immediately sacked him.

Charles Marlow, who succeeded Job as first jockey to Lord Eglington, was convinced - as were most other racing people - of Job's innocence.

Lord Zetland, too, thought him blameless, and snapped up the jockey for his own horses: he was rewarded when Job took the Derby and St Leger with Lord Zetland's great horse, Voltigeur.

His luck decidedly changed for the better, Job went on to win the following year's 1,000 Guineas on Aphrodite and The Derby on Teddington, both owned by Sir Joseph Hawley, who gave Job a present of £2,000, having landed a substantial gamble on the result.

Job's last important winner was Fandango in the 1856 Doncaster Cup (for Lord Zetland).

Oddly, Job had a parochial loathing of Southern jockeys in general and champion Nat Flatman in particular.

Throughout his career, Job was able to ride at 8 stone. He had an odd presence in the saddle: sat bolt upright with leathers shorter than those of most other jockeys, his seat was far from elegant.

Job Marson died at Middleham on September 11, 1857, aged 40. He was buried at Spennithorne, near Middleham.

His father, who had been both jockey & trainer, lived to be 82, dying in May, 1872.

Job's own son (also called Job) also became a jockey. He died at Thirsk on December 11, 1869, aged 25.