Fred Rickaby - died 2010
1916 – 2010
1916 – 2010
Without doubt, Frederick was the family name.
Without doubt, Frederick was the family name.
Fred’s father was Fred Lester Rickaby, who rode five classic winners. His grandfather, also called Fred, rode three classic winners. His great-great-grandfather, another Fred, had trained Wild Dayrell to win the 1855 Derby.
Fred’s father was Fred Lester Rickaby, who rode five classic winners. His grandfather, also called Fred, rode three classic winners. His great-great-grandfather, another Fred, had trained Wild Dayrell to win the 1855 Derby.
Born at Newmarket on 26th February 1916, Fred Arthur Rickaby lost his father just two years later, killed whilst serving in the Royal Tank Corps in France. Fred’s uncle was Walter Griggs, who had been a top class jockey. Griggs had begun training and took Fred and his younger brother Bill on as apprentices. Taught by such a master, it was not long before Fred made an impression: he won his first race aged 14 (Fifty-50, at Newmarket, Tuesday May 6, 1930) and was the champion apprentice for the next two years with 44 wins in the first year and 37 in the second.
Born at Newmarket on 26th February 1916, Fred Arthur Rickaby lost his father just two years later, killed whilst serving in the Royal Tank Corps in France. Fred’s uncle was Walter Griggs, who had been a top class jockey. Griggs had begun training and took Fred and his younger brother Bill on as apprentices. Taught by such a master, it was not long before Fred made an impression: he won his first race aged 14 (Fifty-50, at Newmarket, Tuesday May 6, 1930) and was the champion apprentice for the next two years with 44 wins in the first year and 37 in the second.
He then succeeded Gordon Richards as first jockey to Lord Glanely, one of the country’s leading owners.
He then succeeded Gordon Richards as first jockey to Lord Glanely, one of the country’s leading owners.
With his precocious talent, he seemed set for a bright future, but it was not to be. His weight spiralled dramatically and, at just 17, he was already too heavy to continue. It was left to Bill to carry on the family tradition.
With his precocious talent, he seemed set for a bright future, but it was not to be. His weight spiralled dramatically and, at just 17, he was already too heavy to continue. It was left to Bill to carry on the family tradition.
Determined to stay in racing, Fred became a pupil assistant to the Newmarket trainer Colledge Leader who had taken over from George Lambton at Lord Derby’s Stanley House Stables. Fred began to ride over the jumps, but the war intervened and he found himself flying Spitfires. He won the Air Force Cross and Bar for gallantry. Returning to the saddle at war’s cessation, Fred won the International Hurdle on Carton and finished third on the same horse in the Champion Hurdle. He also rode the subsequent Champion Hurdle winner National Spirit to victory at Doncaster in December 1946.
Determined to stay in racing, Fred became a pupil assistant to the Newmarket trainer Colledge Leader who had taken over from George Lambton at Lord Derby’s Stanley House Stables. Fred began to ride over the jumps, but the war intervened and he found himself flying Spitfires. He won the Air Force Cross and Bar for gallantry. Returning to the saddle at war’s cessation, Fred won the International Hurdle on Carton and finished third on the same horse in the Champion Hurdle. He also rode the subsequent Champion Hurdle winner National Spirit to victory at Doncaster in December 1946.
Having briefly kept a pub (The Wheatsheaf) in Peterborough, Fred - with his wife and two sons – decided to escape the post-war austerity. South Africa’s champion jockey, Tiger Wright, was trying his luck in England at the time, and Fred was mightily impressed with his ability. Between them, they planned to take South Africa’s local racing scene by storm, with Fred training and Tiger riding.
Having briefly kept a pub (The Wheatsheaf) in Peterborough, Fred - with his wife and two sons – decided to escape the post-war austerity. South Africa’s champion jockey, Tiger Wright, was trying his luck in England at the time, and Fred was mightily impressed with his ability. Between them, they planned to take South Africa’s local racing scene by storm, with Fred training and Tiger riding.
Writing of South Africa in 1946, Fred penned ‘I had expected it to be different from England, but the contrast was extreme. The glorious climate and general love of life was infectious. By God! I was glad to be there.’
Writing of South Africa in 1946, Fred penned ‘I had expected it to be different from England, but the contrast was extreme. The glorious climate and general love of life was infectious. By God! I was glad to be there.’
Fred and Tiger started from the bottom with no stables, training gallop, horse transport or nearby vet, but, as Fred commented, ‘Our enthusiasm blinded us to the impossibility of the whole thing and we battled on regardless.’ Training from a maize farm 50 kilometres east of Johannesburg, they had, after months of struggle, their first winner, Trunk Call.
Fred and Tiger started from the bottom with no stables, training gallop, horse transport or nearby vet, but, as Fred commented, ‘Our enthusiasm blinded us to the impossibility of the whole thing and we battled on regardless.’ Training from a maize farm 50 kilometres east of Johannesburg, they had, after months of struggle, their first winner, Trunk Call.
Realistically, they mutually agreed that their dream was just that – a dream – and, amicably, they parted. Fred moved on to a smallholding near Newmarket racecourse in Alberton. After five years of limited success, he relocated to yet another Newmarket and some old stables near Greyville. Here his luck changed when the sugar baron Douglas Saunders became his principal owner.
Realistically, they mutually agreed that their dream was just that – a dream – and, amicably, they parted. Fred moved on to a smallholding near Newmarket racecourse in Alberton. After five years of limited success, he relocated to yet another Newmarket and some old stables near Greyville. Here his luck changed when the sugar baron Douglas Saunders became his principal owner.
Fred then won most of South Africa’s major races including the Natal Derby (Beau Sabreue), the Cape of Good Hope Derby (Aztec), the Cape Guineas (Savonarola), the Durban July Handicap (Jollify, Naval Escort and Sledgehammer) and the Holiday Inns Handicap (Majestic Crown). He became South Africa’s leading trainer in 1975, returning to England two years later and becoming a bloodstock adviser.
Fred then won most of South Africa’s major races including the Natal Derby (Beau Sabreue), the Cape of Good Hope Derby (Aztec), the Cape Guineas (Savonarola), the Durban July Handicap (Jollify, Naval Escort and Sledgehammer) and the Holiday Inns Handicap (Majestic Crown). He became South Africa’s leading trainer in 1975, returning to England two years later and becoming a bloodstock adviser.
Fred also had the knack of producing first-rate jockeys: one of his stable apprentices was John Gorton, who was to win the Epsom Oaks on Sleeping Partner, and Michael Roberts who, in 1992, became Britain’s champion jockey.
Fred also had the knack of producing first-rate jockeys: one of his stable apprentices was John Gorton, who was to win the Epsom Oaks on Sleeping Partner, and Michael Roberts who, in 1992, became Britain’s champion jockey.
Fred Rickaby became absorbed with equine physiology and, after his retirement in 1978, wrote several books on the subject (including 'Are Your Horses Really trying?')
Fred Rickaby became absorbed with equine physiology and, after his retirement in 1978, wrote several books on the subject (including 'Are Your Horses Really trying?')
He also used his self-taught skills as a chiropractor and physiotherapist with trainers in Newmarket.
He also used his self-taught skills as a chiropractor and physiotherapist with trainers in Newmarket.
In October, 1933, Fred - then living at Far End, Newmarket - was fined £3 and costs at Cambridge Police Court for driving a motor car in a dangerous manner in St Andrew's Street, Cambridge on the evening of Sunday, October 15.
In October, 1933, Fred - then living at Far End, Newmarket - was fined £3 and costs at Cambridge Police Court for driving a motor car in a dangerous manner in St Andrew's Street, Cambridge on the evening of Sunday, October 15.
In May, 2008, he paid a nostalgic visit to Market Rasen where, as a young man, he had ridden 60 winners.
In May, 2008, he paid a nostalgic visit to Market Rasen where, as a young man, he had ridden 60 winners.
Fred died aged 93 at Boston, in Lincolnshire, on 30th January, 2010, and was cremated at West Suffolk Crematorium.
Fred died aged 93 at Boston, in Lincolnshire, on 30th January, 2010, and was cremated at West Suffolk Crematorium.
The New Zealand-bred Sledgehammer, a winner of 21 of his 31 starts, was a genuinely top-class animal who, in England, would have troubled the best. One morning, the horse dislocated its near-hind in training. Using his skill as a physiotherapist, Fred calmed the panicking horse before pushing the patella back into place.
The New Zealand-bred Sledgehammer, a winner of 21 of his 31 starts, was a genuinely top-class animal who, in England, would have troubled the best. One morning, the horse dislocated its near-hind in training. Using his skill as a physiotherapist, Fred calmed the panicking horse before pushing the patella back into place.
Best wins:
Best wins:
1932: Yorkshire Oaks - Nash Light
1932: Yorkshire Oaks - Nash Light
1940: International Hurdle - Carton
1940: International Hurdle - Carton
1946: Coronation Hurdle - Red Fife
1946: Coronation Hurdle - Red Fife
1946: Lancashire Hurdle - Gay Scot
1946: Lancashire Hurdle - Gay Scot
1946: Princess Elizabeth Hurdle - National Spirit
1946: Princess Elizabeth Hurdle - National Spirit