John Rickaby
Standing over 16 hands high, Wild Dayrell was bred by Francis Popham at Littlecote House just outside Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire. (The horse had been named after a local murderer whose victim’s ghost was said to haunt Littlecote.)
Standing over 16 hands high, Wild Dayrell was bred by Francis Popham at Littlecote House just outside Chilton Foliat, Wiltshire. (The horse had been named after a local murderer whose victim’s ghost was said to haunt Littlecote.)
Popham sold a share in Wild Dayrell to Lord Craven, who then moved the horse to his estate, Ashdown Park, Oxfordshire. John Rickaby, working at that time for Popham, was asked to supervise the horse’s training and did so on the Ashdown gallops. Rickaby knew his job and, after winning its first race in a canter at Newmarket, the horse was made favourite for the following year’s Derby.
Popham sold a share in Wild Dayrell to Lord Craven, who then moved the horse to his estate, Ashdown Park, Oxfordshire. John Rickaby, working at that time for Popham, was asked to supervise the horse’s training and did so on the Ashdown gallops. Rickaby knew his job and, after winning its first race in a canter at Newmarket, the horse was made favourite for the following year’s Derby.
Such was the amount that bookmakers stood to lose that Popham was offered £5,000 to withdraw him from the Derby. He refused, and on May 27th 1855, Wild Dayrell, the even money favourite and ridden by Robert Sherwood, won in a canter.
Such was the amount that bookmakers stood to lose that Popham was offered £5,000 to withdraw him from the Derby. He refused, and on May 27th 1855, Wild Dayrell, the even money favourite and ridden by Robert Sherwood, won in a canter.
John died on July 8, 1892, aged 50.
John died on July 8, 1892, aged 50.
John Rickaby was the father of Frederick Edward Rickaby.
John Rickaby was the father of Frederick Edward Rickaby.