Fred Thackray

(1907 - 1980)

Frederick Robert Thackray, the son of a charabanc proprietor, was born in London on January 30, 1907.

He was champion amateur in 1930/31 and rode in four Nationals.

In 1932, aged 25, he was knocked over by a loose horse, Pelorus Jack, at the 12th and very badly injured when his mount, Gregalach, fell on top of him. Fred broke his back in three places and was unconscious for 13 days.

His mother and father and two sisters sat by his bedside throughout his ordeal.

The race always remained blank in his mind. He said later: 'I remember buying a ticket at Reading Station. The next thing I recall is being carried from the same station on a stretcher - five weeks later. As a memento, I was given the Pathe newsreel of the race. From it, there is no doubt that we were going very easily in fourth place just before disaster struck.'

Ironically, he had the chance to ride the winner, Forbra, but had already agreed to ride Gregalach.

'It was big prize money in those days,' he recalled. 'The same year the winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup collected only £670. I beat Golden Miller on a disqualification.' (it raced under an incorrect weight). 'We were all aware of this before the race and knew we only had to finish second to take first prize.'

He had three other Grand National mounts: Fleet Prince (1929), Royal Arch (1930) & Sir Lindsay (1931).

He returned to the saddle but only raced on the Flat.

He finished second on his comeback ride, Orphic at Lewes on May 23, 1933.

Fred, aged 16, rode his first winner, Don, in a jumping competition at Spencer's Wood. Don had been bought from the father of the famous flat race jockeys, Doug and Eph Smith.

Fred rode a total of 167 winners and enjoyed his greatest success when steering Forbra to victory in a £600 Handicap Chase at Newbury.

Fred's son, Brian, was an amateur jockey attached to Fred Rimell's stable at Kinnersley. He had just a dozen rides but finished in the frame in all of them bar one. His greatest moment in the saddle was when riding his own horse, Flame Royal, to victory at Liverpool. Because of increasing weight, Brian quit after just three years. Switching sports, he took up motor racing, and - driving a 1,850c Ford Escort, won the ten-lap Special Saloon race at Snetterton in April 1975.

Once retired from the saddle, Fred took up golf and became an 18-handicap member of Calcot Park Golf Club - just a drive and a five iron away from his Reading home in Mill Lane.

Fred Thackray committed suicide, dying in Hastings Hospital, Reading, on June 23, 1980.

He left £238,510.