Fred Reed

Fred Reed

1887-1918

Article by Alan Trout

Frederick Reed had plenty of rides under National Hunt rules in the first decade of the 20th century and rode 24 winners. He returned in 1915 to add one more.

Born in 1887, his first ride was on October 29, 1901, when Vae Victis was unplaced in the Wolverhampton Handicap Hurdle at that Staffordshire venue. Just a few weeks later came a first win as Abbeywood proved too good for his three rivals, leading all the way to land the Thames Handicap Hurdle at Windsor on December 21 by 20 lengths. 

Progress was slow with one exception, in 1905, when he had nine wins including a double at Chelmsford. However, that did not mark the start of a breakthrough, for he rode just two winners in 1906 and none at all the following year. 

After three wins in both 1908 and 1909, the victories dried up completely. He rode in each year between 1910 and 1914 without managing to ride a winner. Finally, at the Moreton-in-Marsh meeting on April 9, 1915, he had his 25th, and final, win when Campaign beat three rivals to land the Maiden Chase by three lengths. He had his last ride at Pershore a few weeks later, when Clytie was a faller in the Elmsley Novices’ Hurdle. 

During the First World War, he initially joined the Veterinary Corps but was subsequently transferred to a line regiment. He was killed in action in Italy in December 1917. He left a wife and three children. 

Fred Reed’s winners were, in chronological order.

1. Abbeywood, Windsor, December 21, 1901

2. Abbeywood, Wolverhampton, January 22, 1902

3. Abbeywood, Ludlow, April 25, 1902

4. Coralline, Windsor, January 27, 1903 (dead heat)

5. Monster, Plumpton, April 2, 1904

6. Monster, Eridge Hunt, April 4, 1904

7. Monster, Maiden Erlegh, November 22, 1904

8. Sandy Brae, Wye, March 6, 1905

9. Sandy Brae, Vale of Aylesbury Hunt, April 6, 1905

10. Monster, Folkestone, May 8, 1905

11, Monster, Wye, May 15, 1905 

12. Sandy Brae, Newton Abbot, August 7, 1905

13. Seven, Newton Abbot, August 8, 1905

14. Trias, Wye, September 25, 1905

15. Trias, Chelmsford, November 9, 1905

16. Wych Elm, Chelmsford, November 9, 1905

17. Trias, Eridge Hunt, April 16, 1906

18. Sir Edwy, Chelmsford, November 8, 1906

19. Miss Sparrow, Southwell, February 24, 1908

20. Cantrae, Colwall Park, May 18, 1908

21. Cantrae, Cheltenham, May 21, 1908

22. Royal Guide, Southwell, April 10, 1909

23. Cantrae, Moreton-in-Marsh, April 15, 1909

24. Cantrae, Hall Green Hunt, May 19, 1909

25. Campaign, Moreton-in Marsh, April 9, 1915