John Singleton Jr.
1776 -1803
1776 -1803
John Singleton Jr was born in France in 1776, the same year his father, John Singleton Sr, won the inaugural running of the St Leger in 1776 on Allabaculia.
John Singleton Jr was born in France in 1776, the same year his father, John Singleton Sr, won the inaugural running of the St Leger in 1776 on Allabaculia.
John’s parents planned to make him study to become a doctor and he was placed in the care of an uncle, a Sheffield surgeon, but he ran away to Newmarket and became apprenticed to Matt Stephenson, who was then training for the Duke of Bedford. As he went on to ride four Classic winners, it proved a shrewd move.
John’s parents planned to make him study to become a doctor and he was placed in the care of an uncle, a Sheffield surgeon, but he ran away to Newmarket and became apprenticed to Matt Stephenson, who was then training for the Duke of Bedford. As he went on to ride four Classic winners, it proved a shrewd move.
He won the Oaks twice, on Portia in 1791 and Coelia in 1793. He then achieved his greatest success when winning the 1797 Derby on the Duke of Bedford’s unnamed colt by Fidget. The Fidget colt had never run before and only ran once afterwards, finishing well beaten in a race at Newmarket when a four-year-old.
He won the Oaks twice, on Portia in 1791 and Coelia in 1793. He then achieved his greatest success when winning the 1797 Derby on the Duke of Bedford’s unnamed colt by Fidget. The Fidget colt had never run before and only ran once afterwards, finishing well beaten in a race at Newmarket when a four-year-old.
John emulated his father by winning the St Leger on Orville in 1802.
John emulated his father by winning the St Leger on Orville in 1802.
Tragically, he died early the following year, on Friday 21 January 1803, at the young age of 26.
Tragically, he died early the following year, on Friday 21 January 1803, at the young age of 26.
He was buried at Great Givendale, near Grimthorpe.
He was buried at Great Givendale, near Grimthorpe.