Frederick Taylor
Major Frederick Ernest Taylor served with the Royal Artillery and twice won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on his horse William Pitt. His first attempt at winning the race came in 1953 when he finished third on another of his horses, Captain Gold. Four weeks later, Major Taylor rode Captain Gold to win a Wye hunters’ chase, registering his first success under National Hunt rules. He rode Captain Gold in the 1955 Royal Artillery Gold Cup but was unplaced.
Major Frederick Ernest Taylor served with the Royal Artillery and twice won the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on his horse William Pitt. His first attempt at winning the race came in 1953 when he finished third on another of his horses, Captain Gold. Four weeks later, Major Taylor rode Captain Gold to win a Wye hunters’ chase, registering his first success under National Hunt rules. He rode Captain Gold in the 1955 Royal Artillery Gold Cup but was unplaced.
He did not try again until 1958 when he fell on William Pitt. The combination finished fourth in 1959 Royal Artillery Gold Cup but they enjoyed success in that year’s point-to-point sphere, winning the Earl Cavan’s Cup at the United Services fixture and two military races at the Army and Tedworth meetings.
He did not try again until 1958 when he fell on William Pitt. The combination finished fourth in 1959 Royal Artillery Gold Cup but they enjoyed success in that year’s point-to-point sphere, winning the Earl Cavan’s Cup at the United Services fixture and two military races at the Army and Tedworth meetings.
In 1960, Major Taylor rode William Pitt (left) to victory in the both the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase and Royal Artillery Gold Cup, winning the latter by three lengths, having been left clear six fences from home when the previous year’s winner, Sunton Heath, ran out. In addition to their dual Sandown triumphs that year, they also won three point-to-points, comprising the Royal Artillery Hunt race, a Tedworth Army Saddle Club event and the Craven Open race, as well as finishing second and third in two hunter chases.
In 1960, Major Taylor rode William Pitt (left) to victory in the both the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase and Royal Artillery Gold Cup, winning the latter by three lengths, having been left clear six fences from home when the previous year’s winner, Sunton Heath, ran out. In addition to their dual Sandown triumphs that year, they also won three point-to-points, comprising the Royal Artillery Hunt race, a Tedworth Army Saddle Club event and the Craven Open race, as well as finishing second and third in two hunter chases.
In 1961, they again completed the double, winning the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase by two
In 1961, they again completed the double, winning the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase by two
lengths, then adding the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, beating Captain Franey Matthews on Hal’s Decision by 15 lengths. They also won the Royal Artillery Army Saddle Club race and finished second, beaten a neck, in the Prince of Wales Cup at the United Services point-to-point and second in a Taunton hunter chase.
lengths, then adding the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, beating Captain Franey Matthews on Hal’s Decision by 15 lengths. They also won the Royal Artillery Army Saddle Club race and finished second, beaten a neck, in the Prince of Wales Cup at the United Services point-to-point and second in a Taunton hunter chase.
William Pitt ran his last race, aged 14, in the Army Lightweight race in 1962, being pulled up after having led for a short way. Major Taylor rode in the five more Royal Artillery Gold Cups, finishing fourth and third on Crazy Gang in 1962 and 1963. On his eleventh and final ride in the race, in 1966, he completed the course last of the ten finishers on Innocent Jack.
William Pitt ran his last race, aged 14, in the Army Lightweight race in 1962, being pulled up after having led for a short way. Major Taylor rode in the five more Royal Artillery Gold Cups, finishing fourth and third on Crazy Gang in 1962 and 1963. On his eleventh and final ride in the race, in 1966, he completed the course last of the ten finishers on Innocent Jack.
Major Frederick Taylor’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
Major Frederick Taylor’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
1. Captain Gold, Wye, April 20, 1953
1. Captain Gold, Wye, April 20, 1953
2. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 19, 1960
2. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 19, 1960
3. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960
3. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 30, 1960
4. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 18, 1961
4. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 18, 1961
5. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 29, 1961
5. William Pitt, Sandown Park, March 29, 1961