John Oakley
1736 - 1793
1736 - 1793
John Oakley was one of the three jockeys (Merriott & Fitzpatrick being the others) who rode the unbeaten Eclipse to 18 victories.
John Oakley was one of the three jockeys (Merriott & Fitzpatrick being the others) who rode the unbeaten Eclipse to 18 victories.
Oakley has been variously described as Eclipse’s groom and his jockey. Back in those days there was little distinction between the two. For a groom to double up as jockey, and vice versa, was normal for the time. Owners employed stable staff who were not yet recognised as jockeys or, for that matter, trainers.
Oakley has been variously described as Eclipse’s groom and his jockey. Back in those days there was little distinction between the two. For a groom to double up as jockey, and vice versa, was normal for the time. Owners employed stable staff who were not yet recognised as jockeys or, for that matter, trainers.
What little is known of John Oakley is revealed in Nick Clee’s thoroughly researched 2009 biography of Eclipse. He writes:
What little is known of John Oakley is revealed in Nick Clee’s thoroughly researched 2009 biography of Eclipse. He writes:
“All we hear of Oakley (c1736-1793) is that he was ‘a very celebrated rider, in great repute’; we cannot even be sure, because the racing calendars do not tell us (they did not list jockeys’ names until 1823), that he was Eclipse’s regular partner.”
“All we hear of Oakley (c1736-1793) is that he was ‘a very celebrated rider, in great repute’; we cannot even be sure, because the racing calendars do not tell us (they did not list jockeys’ names until 1823), that he was Eclipse’s regular partner.”
Clee continues: “John Lawrence, who saw Eclipse at stud, stated, ‘We believe, Oakley, a powerful man on horseback, generally or always rode Eclipse’, and there is a J. N. Sartorius painting entitled
Clee continues: “John Lawrence, who saw Eclipse at stud, stated, ‘We believe, Oakley, a powerful man on horseback, generally or always rode Eclipse’, and there is a J. N. Sartorius painting entitled
. But a catalogue entry for George Stubbs’s portrait of Eclipse at Newmarket identifies the jockey as ‘Samuel Merrit, who generally rode him’.” (The name is more usually spelt Merriott.)
. But a catalogue entry for George Stubbs’s portrait of Eclipse at Newmarket identifies the jockey as ‘Samuel Merrit, who generally rode him’.” (The name is more usually spelt Merriott.)
Clee notes that while Merriott is associated with Eclipse’s two 1770 races at York, “the earliest report we have asserts that Oakley was Eclipse’s jockey on 3 May 1769.” (That was the occasion of Eclipse’s first race, the Noblemen and Gentlemen’s Plate at Epsom, run in four-mile heats.)
Clee notes that while Merriott is associated with Eclipse’s two 1770 races at York, “the earliest report we have asserts that Oakley was Eclipse’s jockey on 3 May 1769.” (That was the occasion of Eclipse’s first race, the Noblemen and Gentlemen’s Plate at Epsom, run in four-mile heats.)
Clee records of that day: “After heat one, he and John Oakley returned to the rubbing-house for a break of just half an hour.”
Clee records of that day: “After heat one, he and John Oakley returned to the rubbing-house for a break of just half an hour.”
According to Clee, Oakley was also the jockey when Eclipse was granted a walkover for the £50 City Plate at Winchester on 15 June 1769. Eclipse’s next start, the King’s Plate at Salisbury on 28 June, resulted in another walkover. The following day at Salisbury, he beat one-rival in two four-mile heats for the 30-guinea City Plate.
According to Clee, Oakley was also the jockey when Eclipse was granted a walkover for the £50 City Plate at Winchester on 15 June 1769. Eclipse’s next start, the King’s Plate at Salisbury on 28 June, resulted in another walkover. The following day at Salisbury, he beat one-rival in two four-mile heats for the 30-guinea City Plate.
A third walkover occurred for Eclipse’s next intended race, the King’s Plate at Canterbury on 25 July. Clee relates: “A painting by Francis Sartorius (father of J. N.) commissioned by Dennis (O’Kelly, Eclipse’s owner) a few years later shows the Salisbury or Canterbury King’s Plate. Eclipse and Oakley, in isolation, are walking over a sloping cross-country course marked with white posts.”
A third walkover occurred for Eclipse’s next intended race, the King’s Plate at Canterbury on 25 July. Clee relates: “A painting by Francis Sartorius (father of J. N.) commissioned by Dennis (O’Kelly, Eclipse’s owner) a few years later shows the Salisbury or Canterbury King’s Plate. Eclipse and Oakley, in isolation, are walking over a sloping cross-country course marked with white posts.”
It is thus clear that John Oakley was Eclipse’s first jockey, with Samuel Merriott and Dennis Fitzpatrick having ridden him later in his career.
It is thus clear that John Oakley was Eclipse’s first jockey, with Samuel Merriott and Dennis Fitzpatrick having ridden him later in his career.
Ironically, despite having once being associated with one of the greatest racehorses of all time, John Oakley died in a parish poor house near Park Lane, London in 1793 aged 57.
Ironically, despite having once being associated with one of the greatest racehorses of all time, John Oakley died in a parish poor house near Park Lane, London in 1793 aged 57.
Eclipse died February 1, 1789, aged 24.
Eclipse died February 1, 1789, aged 24.