Fred Wood
c1877-1962
c1877-1962
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born circa 1877, the son of a Sleaford horse dealer, Frederick Wood only managed 14 winners during a career that lasted for at least a decade. However, he did have one golden spell when he won one of the season’s big handicaps and finished third in a Classic, albeit on a 300-1 outsider.
Born circa 1877, the son of a Sleaford horse dealer, Frederick Wood only managed 14 winners during a career that lasted for at least a decade. However, he did have one golden spell when he won one of the season’s big handicaps and finished third in a Classic, albeit on a 300-1 outsider.
Fred rode from an early age and was apprenticed to Newmarket trainer William Jarvis. He rode his first winner on Skirt Dance in the Apprentices Plate at Newmarket on May 9, 1894. Another Newmarket success followed on September 25 when Confessional won the Visitors Plate.
Fred rode from an early age and was apprenticed to Newmarket trainer William Jarvis. He rode his first winner on Skirt Dance in the Apprentices Plate at Newmarket on May 9, 1894. Another Newmarket success followed on September 25 when Confessional won the Visitors Plate.
There was to be only one victory in 1895, again at Newmarket, when Lilas took the T.Y.C. Nursery Plate on October 8, and none at all in both 1896 and 1897.
There was to be only one victory in 1895, again at Newmarket, when Lilas took the T.Y.C. Nursery Plate on October 8, and none at all in both 1896 and 1897.
However, 1898 started on a brighter note when Rose Tree won the Tyro Stakes at Liverpool on March 25, and there were three further victories, including another success on Rose Tree when winning the Glasgow Plate at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on September 6. A dead-heat on Tallahassee in the November Nursery Handicap at Lingfield Park on October 31 completed the season.
However, 1898 started on a brighter note when Rose Tree won the Tyro Stakes at Liverpool on March 25, and there were three further victories, including another success on Rose Tree when winning the Glasgow Plate at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on September 6. A dead-heat on Tallahassee in the November Nursery Handicap at Lingfield Park on October 31 completed the season.
Another four wins were achieved in 1899, culminating in victory in the Cesarewitch on October 11 aboard the William Jarvis-trained Scintillant, of whom Fred was also the groom. Fred’s mount was 6-1 joint favourite and beat Ercildonne, the mount of Tommy Loates, by a head. The Sporting Life praised Fred, who put up 4lb overweight at 7 stone, for riding a “splendid race”.
Another four wins were achieved in 1899, culminating in victory in the Cesarewitch on October 11 aboard the William Jarvis-trained Scintillant, of whom Fred was also the groom. Fred’s mount was 6-1 joint favourite and beat Ercildonne, the mount of Tommy Loates, by a head. The Sporting Life praised Fred, who put up 4lb overweight at 7 stone, for riding a “splendid race”.
This was the highlight of Fred’s career, and Scintillant was surely his favourite horse, for five weeks earlier he had carried Fred into third place in the St Leger, held on September 6. Flying Fox won by three lengths, thereby achieving the Triple Crown, but there was only a length between the second horse Caiman and Scintillant.
This was the highlight of Fred’s career, and Scintillant was surely his favourite horse, for five weeks earlier he had carried Fred into third place in the St Leger, held on September 6. Flying Fox won by three lengths, thereby achieving the Triple Crown, but there was only a length between the second horse Caiman and Scintillant.
Sadly, any hopes that those efforts would lead to more winners were quickly dashed, for there were only two in 1900, and the final one in 1901 at Lincoln on March 26, when Sweet Repose won the Sudbrooke Selling Plate.
Sadly, any hopes that those efforts would lead to more winners were quickly dashed, for there were only two in 1900, and the final one in 1901 at Lincoln on March 26, when Sweet Repose won the Sudbrooke Selling Plate.
Fred continued to ride for another three years, finishing unplaced on his final ride, Pitch Hill, trained by William Jarvis, in a two-year-old maiden race at Newmarket on May 11, 1904.
Fred continued to ride for another three years, finishing unplaced on his final ride, Pitch Hill, trained by William Jarvis, in a two-year-old maiden race at Newmarket on May 11, 1904.
Frederick Wood died at Newmarket on July 11, 1962, aged 85, and was buried there.
Frederick Wood died at Newmarket on July 11, 1962, aged 85, and was buried there.
Fred Wood’s wins were, in chronological order:
Fred Wood’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Skirt Dance, Newmarket, May 9, 1894
1. Skirt Dance, Newmarket, May 9, 1894
2. Confessional, Newmarket, September 25, 1894
2. Confessional, Newmarket, September 25, 1894
3. Lilias, Newmarket, October 8, 1895
3. Lilias, Newmarket, October 8, 1895
4. Rose Tree, Liverpool, March 25, 1898
4. Rose Tree, Liverpool, March 25, 1898
5. Heigh Presto, Doncaster, May 20, 1898
5. Heigh Presto, Doncaster, May 20, 1898
6. Rose Tree, Doncaster, September 6, 1898
6. Rose Tree, Doncaster, September 6, 1898
7. Tallahassee, Lingfield Park, October 31, 1898 (dead-heat)
7. Tallahassee, Lingfield Park, October 31, 1898 (dead-heat)
8. Ethel Nora, Kempton Park, August 8, 1899
8. Ethel Nora, Kempton Park, August 8, 1899
9. Scintillant, Newmarket, September 26, 1899
9. Scintillant, Newmarket, September 26, 1899
10. Scintillant, Newmarket, October 11, 1899
10. Scintillant, Newmarket, October 11, 1899
11. Hold Up, Wolverhampton, October 28, 1899
11. Hold Up, Wolverhampton, October 28, 1899
12. Templemore, Kempton Park, September 15, 1900
12. Templemore, Kempton Park, September 15, 1900
13. All Sunshine, Yarmouth, September 18, 1900
13. All Sunshine, Yarmouth, September 18, 1900
14. Sweet Repose, Lincoln, March 26, 1901
14. Sweet Repose, Lincoln, March 26, 1901
