Jem Snowden
Jem Snowden 1843 - 1889
Jem Snowden 1843 - 1889
Of gipsy descent, James (always known as Jem) was born on 26th October 1843 in Flixton, Yorkshire and like his older, ill-fated, brother Luke - paid little attention to teachers at school. He preferred instead to dream of future glories in the saddle.
Of gipsy descent, James (always known as Jem) was born on 26th October 1843 in Flixton, Yorkshire and like his older, ill-fated, brother Luke - paid little attention to teachers at school. He preferred instead to dream of future glories in the saddle.
Furnished with a racing saddle, riding boots and breeches by a Beverley trainer, he was sent to Doncaster on the off chance that he might get a spare ride. The gatekeeper turned him away but, not to be frustrated in his quest, Jem, with his saddle on his back, climbed over the wall at the back and straight into the Doncaster paddock.
Furnished with a racing saddle, riding boots and breeches by a Beverley trainer, he was sent to Doncaster on the off chance that he might get a spare ride. The gatekeeper turned him away but, not to be frustrated in his quest, Jem, with his saddle on his back, climbed over the wall at the back and straight into the Doncaster paddock.
Over the months, his riding skills, quick eye and ability to seize an opening were swiftly recognized: a superb judge of pace, self-control in a close finish and great courage – he was the complete jockey. He disliked the whip intensely and rarely used it on a horse. His one inability – he was taciturn; consequently he had great difficulty in speaking to owners and trainers regarding the performances of their horses, neither could he comfortably speak to reporters.
Over the months, his riding skills, quick eye and ability to seize an opening were swiftly recognized: a superb judge of pace, self-control in a close finish and great courage – he was the complete jockey. He disliked the whip intensely and rarely used it on a horse. His one inability – he was taciturn; consequently he had great difficulty in speaking to owners and trainers regarding the performances of their horses, neither could he comfortably speak to reporters.
He was certainly precocious, winning the Oaks aged 17 and achieving lasting fame when he won the Derby and St Leger on Blair Athol.
He was certainly precocious, winning the Oaks aged 17 and achieving lasting fame when he won the Derby and St Leger on Blair Athol.
Doubtless he would have died a rich man but for his love of a drink in the Yorkshire pubs. James Snowden’s liking for the bottle was legendary – he once turned up for Chester Races a week late.
Doubtless he would have died a rich man but for his love of a drink in the Yorkshire pubs. James Snowden’s liking for the bottle was legendary – he once turned up for Chester Races a week late.
Another spell of drinking cost him the winning Derby ride on Doncaster. He was also hopelessly drunk when he threw away the Cambridgeshire on Bendigo.
Another spell of drinking cost him the winning Derby ride on Doncaster. He was also hopelessly drunk when he threw away the Cambridgeshire on Bendigo.
Jem was once asked not to win a selling race by more than a neck as the connections wanted to buy the horse back as cheaply as possible. Jem made every yard of the running, winning by six lengths. The owner, having to pay a good deal more than he wanted to buy back his horse, complained bitterly to Nat Outred, Jem’s life-long companion.
Jem was once asked not to win a selling race by more than a neck as the connections wanted to buy the horse back as cheaply as possible. Jem made every yard of the running, winning by six lengths. The owner, having to pay a good deal more than he wanted to buy back his horse, complained bitterly to Nat Outred, Jem’s life-long companion.
When Nat repeated the conversation to Jem, the jockey – almost blind drunk – said “He was lucky to win at all. I saw five winning posts, and didn’t know which was the right one.”
When Nat repeated the conversation to Jem, the jockey – almost blind drunk – said “He was lucky to win at all. I saw five winning posts, and didn’t know which was the right one.”
In his drinking habits he was like fellow-jockey Bill Scott, the difference being Scott invested his winnings into collieries and died worth £100,000.
In his drinking habits he was like fellow-jockey Bill Scott, the difference being Scott invested his winnings into collieries and died worth £100,000.
Drink finally got the better him. Penniless and without his train fare home, James Snowden died destitute aged 45 at Bentley, near Doncaster on Wednesday 6th February 1889. A cheque for £288 for riding fees was discovered in his back pocket.
Drink finally got the better him. Penniless and without his train fare home, James Snowden died destitute aged 45 at Bentley, near Doncaster on Wednesday 6th February 1889. A cheque for £288 for riding fees was discovered in his back pocket.
Nat paid Jem’s last hotel bill.
Nat paid Jem’s last hotel bill.
Top trainer William l'Anson described James as 'the greatest jockey, drunk or sober, that I ever saw.'
Top trainer William l'Anson described James as 'the greatest jockey, drunk or sober, that I ever saw.'
Jem never married.
Jem never married.
Nat had his life-long friend buried in the churchyard of Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A subscription organized by the Middleham trainers J.Drislane, H.Hall and Thomas Green of Beverley paid for the funeral and the memorial erected to him there.
Nat had his life-long friend buried in the churchyard of Pocklington in the East Riding of Yorkshire. A subscription organized by the Middleham trainers J.Drislane, H.Hall and Thomas Green of Beverley paid for the funeral and the memorial erected to him there.
Jem’s Derby winner, Blair Athol, missed his Two Guineas engagement through an unexplained lameness: in fact, the horse became mysteriously lame on several occasions. The horse was subjected to the most careful of examinations, but no cause was found.
Jem’s Derby winner, Blair Athol, missed his Two Guineas engagement through an unexplained lameness: in fact, the horse became mysteriously lame on several occasions. The horse was subjected to the most careful of examinations, but no cause was found.
One day, a friend of the owner stepped into a barber’s close to the stables, and quite by accident overheard a conversation between a stable lad (whose duty it was to look after Blair Athol) and the barber. The stable lad evidently had a grudge against his employer and told the barber that the horse couldn’t win the Derby. Then he went on to relate how he continually kicked the horse’s testicles, thereby causing the lameness which had hitherto baffled its vet.
One day, a friend of the owner stepped into a barber’s close to the stables, and quite by accident overheard a conversation between a stable lad (whose duty it was to look after Blair Athol) and the barber. The stable lad evidently had a grudge against his employer and told the barber that the horse couldn’t win the Derby. Then he went on to relate how he continually kicked the horse’s testicles, thereby causing the lameness which had hitherto baffled its vet.
The owner was speedily informed. The stable lad was brought before him, interrogated, and a confession was obtained. The culprit was then soundly thrashed to within an inch of his life by the understandably incensed owner, and thrown out of the stable.
The owner was speedily informed. The stable lad was brought before him, interrogated, and a confession was obtained. The culprit was then soundly thrashed to within an inch of his life by the understandably incensed owner, and thrown out of the stable.
Jim Snowden’s classic wins:
Jim Snowden’s classic wins:
The Derby: Blair Athol (1864)
The Derby: Blair Athol (1864)
The Oaks: Butterfly (1860) and Jenny Howlett (1880)
The Oaks: Butterfly (1860) and Jenny Howlett (1880)
St Leger: Blair Athol (1864)
St Leger: Blair Athol (1864)