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Henry Taylor
Henry Taylor
1841 - 1870
1841 - 1870
The versatile Henry (Harry) Taylor rode well over 50 winners in Ireland. He also rode four winners at Lichfield on 3 September 1861, won the 1861 Stewards’ Cup on Croagh Patrick and the 1869 Grand National Hurdle on Barnabo.
The versatile Henry (Harry) Taylor rode well over 50 winners in Ireland. He also rode four winners at Lichfield on 3 September 1861, won the 1861 Stewards’ Cup on Croagh Patrick and the 1869 Grand National Hurdle on Barnabo.
He had been apprenticed to Thomas Cliff at Hednesford, riding his first winner on The Creeper at Wenlock on 12 August 1859. He also rode as jump jockey for Tom Coulthwaite.
He had been apprenticed to Thomas Cliff at Hednesford, riding his first winner on The Creeper at Wenlock on 12 August 1859. He also rode as jump jockey for Tom Coulthwaite.
Henry rode Fan in the 1870 National, the mare reportedly refusing at the second fence for the third year in a row. The second fence on the Grand National course is still known to this day as the Fan fence and, as Aintree historian John Pinfold comments in his book ‘Aintree: The History of the Racecourse’: “Although today the name of this fence is not nearly so well known as some of the others, it deserves to be retained as a memorial of one of the 19th century ‘stories’ of Grand National history.”
Henry rode Fan in the 1870 National, the mare reportedly refusing at the second fence for the third year in a row. The second fence on the Grand National course is still known to this day as the Fan fence and, as Aintree historian John Pinfold comments in his book ‘Aintree: The History of the Racecourse’: “Although today the name of this fence is not nearly so well known as some of the others, it deserves to be retained as a memorial of one of the 19th century ‘stories’ of Grand National history.”
It is, however, according to John Pinfold’s diligent research, open to debate whether or not Fan actually refused at that second fence three years running. Runner up to Cortolvin in the 1867 Grand National, she “decided to have little more to do with Aintree and subsequently refused early on in 1868, 1869 and 1870, as well as on the same section of the course in the 1869 Grand Sefton, but at which fence was this?”
It is, however, according to John Pinfold’s diligent research, open to debate whether or not Fan actually refused at that second fence three years running. Runner up to Cortolvin in the 1867 Grand National, she “decided to have little more to do with Aintree and subsequently refused early on in 1868, 1869 and 1870, as well as on the same section of the course in the 1869 Grand Sefton, but at which fence was this?”
John refers to a report of the 1868 Grand National in The Times which states that Fan refused at the second fence and after “repeating her objections at the following obstruction she was not persevered with”.
John refers to a report of the 1868 Grand National in The Times which states that Fan refused at the second fence and after “repeating her objections at the following obstruction she was not persevered with”.
Furthermore, “The following year there seems to be general agreement that she refused at the first fence.” In 1870 he finds that “according to most accounts, Fan got no further than the third.”
Furthermore, “The following year there seems to be general agreement that she refused at the first fence.” In 1870 he finds that “according to most accounts, Fan got no further than the third.”
Sadly, Henry (Harry) Taylor died following a fall at Sutton Coldfield later that year. Sutton Coldfield’s Longmoor Valley course staged predominantly Flat racing with the occasional hurdle event. Among the races on Wednesday 21 September 1870 was a one-mile hurdle race over three flights of hurdles, for which there were just three runners.
Sadly, Henry (Harry) Taylor died following a fall at Sutton Coldfield later that year. Sutton Coldfield’s Longmoor Valley course staged predominantly Flat racing with the occasional hurdle event. Among the races on Wednesday 21 September 1870 was a one-mile hurdle race over three flights of hurdles, for which there were just three runners.
His mount, Dean Of York, was reputed to be a dangerous ride, and so it proved when, approaching the first jump, he swerved and collided with Walter White on Marriage, then pitched and fell heavily at the hurdle. Taylor landed on his back and Dean Of York landed on top of him. Badly injured, Taylor was taken unconscious on an improvised stretcher to nearby Bannersgate Cottage where he “lingered in great agony” and died early the following morning. He was 28 and left a wife and three children.
His mount, Dean Of York, was reputed to be a dangerous ride, and so it proved when, approaching the first jump, he swerved and collided with Walter White on Marriage, then pitched and fell heavily at the hurdle. Taylor landed on his back and Dean Of York landed on top of him. Badly injured, Taylor was taken unconscious on an improvised stretcher to nearby Bannersgate Cottage where he “lingered in great agony” and died early the following morning. He was 28 and left a wife and three children.
He had been a jockey for around 14 years and had stated that he was soon about to retire. He trained at Hednesford and had at one time given up riding in races but subsequently returned to the saddle.
He had been a jockey for around 14 years and had stated that he was soon about to retire. He trained at Hednesford and had at one time given up riding in races but subsequently returned to the saddle.
An inquest was held in the presence of the Coroner, the Reverend E. H. Kittoe, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death. James Cockin, who had identified the body, “suggested that in future the (race) committee should cause gorse to be put on the hurdles. In running, the sight of horses frequently becomes defective, and they had difficulty in seeing the hurdles”. The Coroner promised to convey this suggestion to the race committee.
An inquest was held in the presence of the Coroner, the Reverend E. H. Kittoe, the jury returning a verdict of accidental death. James Cockin, who had identified the body, “suggested that in future the (race) committee should cause gorse to be put on the hurdles. In running, the sight of horses frequently becomes defective, and they had difficulty in seeing the hurdles”. The Coroner promised to convey this suggestion to the race committee.
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