Fred Offord

Fred Offord

Article by Alan Trout

Frederick Janes Offord, known as Fred, was born in 1953 and rode a couple of winners under National Hunt rules, both in May 1977. 

His first ride had been at Ascot on January 12, 1974, when the 11-year-old Master Dennis finished tailed off in the Durham Ranger Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2). 

It was not until the meeting at Fontwell Park on May 2, 1977 that he was able to celebrate success. The eight-year-old Probphoon, a 20/1 shot, took the lead at the second flight and held the strong challenge of Graham McCourt on King Gypsy to land the Fittleworth Selling Handicap Hurdle by half a length. The winner was trained by Peter Calver and had not been placed in five previous starts that season, with Fred in the saddle on each occasion, hence the long odds. 

Seventeen days later the pair turned out again at Newton Abbot and duly followed up, winning the West of England Opportunity Selling Handicap hurdle by two and a half lengths. Despite those two wins, Fred was then replaced by George Knight who finished second on both of Probphoon’s subsequent Starts. 

Fred persevered for one more season and looked to have every chance of another win when battling for the lead at the final fence in a match for the Coventry Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Worcester on September 15, only to be unseated from his mount Major Owen, although he remounted to finish second.

His final ride was on a horse named Officially, coming in sixth of 11 finishers in the Yarcombe Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2, Part 2) at Taunton on April 20, 1978.