Fred Templeman
1892 – 1973
1892 – 1973
Frederick George Templeman was born in Hertfordshire on 10th February 1892 and, in 1901, aged nine, was living with his sister and recently widowed father in Fox Farm, next to the Fox Inn, in Great Bradley where they had lived since 1889.
Frederick George Templeman was born in Hertfordshire on 10th February 1892 and, in 1901, aged nine, was living with his sister and recently widowed father in Fox Farm, next to the Fox Inn, in Great Bradley where they had lived since 1889.
In 1904, determined to become a jockey, he left home for Lambourn in Berkshire and became apprenticed to John Hallick. His great-grandfather Simeon Templeman had won the Derby three times, thus giving Fred plenty to live up to. Fred has his first ride on September 22, 1905, aged 13.
In 1904, determined to become a jockey, he left home for Lambourn in Berkshire and became apprenticed to John Hallick. His great-grandfather Simeon Templeman had won the Derby three times, thus giving Fred plenty to live up to. Fred has his first ride on September 22, 1905, aged 13.
When, in the 1919 Epsom Derby, Frank Barling’s stable jockey Arthur Smith rejected the 100/9 shot Grand Parade in order to ride the stable’s first string 100/30 Dominion, Templeman stepped in for the ride. He had finished runner-up in the previous two Derbies, but the £500 purchase Grand Parade made it third time lucky, becoming the first black horse to win the Derby in 106 years.
When, in the 1919 Epsom Derby, Frank Barling’s stable jockey Arthur Smith rejected the 100/9 shot Grand Parade in order to ride the stable’s first string 100/30 Dominion, Templeman stepped in for the ride. He had finished runner-up in the previous two Derbies, but the £500 purchase Grand Parade made it third time lucky, becoming the first black horse to win the Derby in 106 years.
Incredibly, the very next season, Arthur Smith made the same mistake again, choosing to ride another horse instead of the winner.
Incredibly, the very next season, Arthur Smith made the same mistake again, choosing to ride another horse instead of the winner.
Templeman’s other notable success came on Irish Elegance in the Royal Hunt Cup, on June 18th 1919. The horse, 7/1 co/favourite and leading all the way in a field of 26, set the present weight-carrying record of 9st 11lb for the race.
Templeman’s other notable success came on Irish Elegance in the Royal Hunt Cup, on June 18th 1919. The horse, 7/1 co/favourite and leading all the way in a field of 26, set the present weight-carrying record of 9st 11lb for the race.
For this sterling effort he was given 100 shares in the Beecham Trust, which owned valuable property in Covent Garden, by the horse’s owner, financier Mr James White. Soon afterwards Fred – struggling to make ends met – sold them. He was reprimanded by White’s regular rider, Steve Donoghue, for his ingratitude. Fred remarked ‘I’m hard up and need the money!’
For this sterling effort he was given 100 shares in the Beecham Trust, which owned valuable property in Covent Garden, by the horse’s owner, financier Mr James White. Soon afterwards Fred – struggling to make ends met – sold them. He was reprimanded by White’s regular rider, Steve Donoghue, for his ingratitude. Fred remarked ‘I’m hard up and need the money!’
After Hallick died in 1916, Fred turned to training (1921) and won the 2,000 Guineas twice: with the 480 guineas purchase Diolite in 1930 and with Lambert Simmel in 1941.
After Hallick died in 1916, Fred turned to training (1921) and won the 2,000 Guineas twice: with the 480 guineas purchase Diolite in 1930 and with Lambert Simmel in 1941.
Templeman’s favourite horse was Cotoneaster, who won 14 races for the stable including the Hardwicke Stakes and the Great Jubilee H’cap.
Templeman’s favourite horse was Cotoneaster, who won 14 races for the stable including the Hardwicke Stakes and the Great Jubilee H’cap.
Fred Templeman died of cancer at Lambourn on Thursday May 17 1973 aged 83. He left £416,062.
Fred Templeman died of cancer at Lambourn on Thursday May 17 1973 aged 83. He left £416,062.
After Fred’s death, the Faring Road gallop at Lambourn, which he had privately owned, came up for auction (at the Red Lion Hotel). The gallops, which covered distances up to a mile, amounted to 47 acres. They were bought by the Lambourn trainer, Major Peter Nelson for £22,500 after an initial bid of £14,000 had been rejected.
After Fred’s death, the Faring Road gallop at Lambourn, which he had privately owned, came up for auction (at the Red Lion Hotel). The gallops, which covered distances up to a mile, amounted to 47 acres. They were bought by the Lambourn trainer, Major Peter Nelson for £22,500 after an initial bid of £14,000 had been rejected.
In 1919, 300 Lambourn stable lads went on strike for better pay. They wanted a rise in their wages from 40 shillings a week to fifty shillings a week. (At that time, Fred Templeman paid his stable lads five shillings a week, 30 shillings a week for their keep and £12 per year for clothing.) Work was then scarce, and several outside stablemen and girls volunteered their services, thus weakening the stable lads’ cause.
In 1919, 300 Lambourn stable lads went on strike for better pay. They wanted a rise in their wages from 40 shillings a week to fifty shillings a week. (At that time, Fred Templeman paid his stable lads five shillings a week, 30 shillings a week for their keep and £12 per year for clothing.) Work was then scarce, and several outside stablemen and girls volunteered their services, thus weakening the stable lads’ cause.
Fred Templeman, then training, said ‘The strike will not make any difference. With these girls we could get along until Doomsday. If the Newmarket lads come out in sympathy, as has been proposed, it will alter things, but if the strike is confined to Lambourn we will continue without trouble.’
Fred Templeman, then training, said ‘The strike will not make any difference. With these girls we could get along until Doomsday. If the Newmarket lads come out in sympathy, as has been proposed, it will alter things, but if the strike is confined to Lambourn we will continue without trouble.’
The girls were given quarters in a village a few miles from Lambourn and were escorted by the police to the stables at 6 a.m. each morning. The stable lads claimed that the transport workers would support them, thus preventing horses getting to Epsom, and the trainers prepared to use non-union lorry drivers.
The girls were given quarters in a village a few miles from Lambourn and were escorted by the police to the stables at 6 a.m. each morning. The stable lads claimed that the transport workers would support them, thus preventing horses getting to Epsom, and the trainers prepared to use non-union lorry drivers.
The stable lads at Epsom joined their Lambourn colleagues and informed their trainers that they, too, would withdraw their labour unless they were given 50s per week. A meeting was set up with the stable lads by the National Union of General Workers, to which the lads belonged, and a compromise was reached.
The stable lads at Epsom joined their Lambourn colleagues and informed their trainers that they, too, would withdraw their labour unless they were given 50s per week. A meeting was set up with the stable lads by the National Union of General Workers, to which the lads belonged, and a compromise was reached.
Fred Templeman had second claim on top jockey George Nicoll -Sir Abe Bailey had first. In January, 1938, Nicoll was found dead in his home at The Studio, Newmarket. At the inquest, his father-in-law said he had entered the house and found Nicoll in an armchair wearing a gas mask inside which one end was attached to a gas pipe. A verdict of suicide ‘while the balance of his mind was disturbed’ was recorded.
Fred Templeman had second claim on top jockey George Nicoll -Sir Abe Bailey had first. In January, 1938, Nicoll was found dead in his home at The Studio, Newmarket. At the inquest, his father-in-law said he had entered the house and found Nicoll in an armchair wearing a gas mask inside which one end was attached to a gas pipe. A verdict of suicide ‘while the balance of his mind was disturbed’ was recorded.
George Nicoll rode Sir Abe Bailey’s Raymond to win the 1933 Cambridgeshire.
George Nicoll rode Sir Abe Bailey’s Raymond to win the 1933 Cambridgeshire.
