John Wass
1853 - 1875
1853 - 1875
Death on the racecourse was commonplace and thought hardly worth a line in a newspaper. In 1875, John Wass, aged 22 from York, was killed while riding Dudiam in the Surrey Stakes at Epsom. In the straight, the horse was full of running, with Wass pulling very hard. Suddenly Dudlam stuck something and fell, throwing Wass. His head struck a post that supported chains. He was dead before the doctor reached him. The inquest, held at the White Hart Hotel at Epsom, recommended that posts and rails should be substituted for the chains which then existed.
Death on the racecourse was commonplace and thought hardly worth a line in a newspaper. In 1875, John Wass, aged 22 from York, was killed while riding Dudiam in the Surrey Stakes at Epsom. In the straight, the horse was full of running, with Wass pulling very hard. Suddenly Dudlam stuck something and fell, throwing Wass. His head struck a post that supported chains. He was dead before the doctor reached him. The inquest, held at the White Hart Hotel at Epsom, recommended that posts and rails should be substituted for the chains which then existed.
At the time of his death, John was said to be in the last 12 months of an apprenticeship with Mr John Mannington, veterinary surgeon of Brighton, whose stables were at The Paddocks, Mile Oak, Portslade, Sussex.
At the time of his death, John was said to be in the last 12 months of an apprenticeship with Mr John Mannington, veterinary surgeon of Brighton, whose stables were at The Paddocks, Mile Oak, Portslade, Sussex.
His death was treated as an afterthought by one writer: having devoted the first half of his report to the inaugural meeting at Sandown, he finally added “Remarks on the recent Epsom meeting need unfortunately to be tinged with melancholy owing to the sad accident which befell the poor lad Wass and whereby he lost his life. Wass miscalculated and, his horse cannoning against a post, the lad’s death was occasioned. Mr Mannington, in whose employ the lad was, appeared much cut up by the calamity.”
His death was treated as an afterthought by one writer: having devoted the first half of his report to the inaugural meeting at Sandown, he finally added “Remarks on the recent Epsom meeting need unfortunately to be tinged with melancholy owing to the sad accident which befell the poor lad Wass and whereby he lost his life. Wass miscalculated and, his horse cannoning against a post, the lad’s death was occasioned. Mr Mannington, in whose employ the lad was, appeared much cut up by the calamity.”
Two days later, the young jockey was buried in Plot C135, Epsom Cemetery on April 24th 1875.
Two days later, the young jockey was buried in Plot C135, Epsom Cemetery on April 24th 1875.
I am grateful to Brian Bouchards from Ashstead for supplying the following varying account of the incident: (George, Editor)
I am grateful to Brian Bouchards from Ashstead for supplying the following varying account of the incident: (George, Editor)
An eye-witness report in Racing Reminiscences and experiences of the Turf by Sir George Chetwynd, bart., published in 1891 provided further details: -
An eye-witness report in Racing Reminiscences and experiences of the Turf by Sir George Chetwynd, bart., published in 1891 provided further details: -
“A deplorable accident happened at Epsom this [1875] spring. A lad in Mr. Mannington's stable was riding his master's horse Dudaim, and came round the bend hugging the rails. Jeffery, who was riding Athlete, was next to him on his right hand, and was either pushed onto Dudaim by the other horses swinging round on them as they turn for the straight run-in, or else Athlete hung of his own accord onto the other.
“A deplorable accident happened at Epsom this [1875] spring. A lad in Mr. Mannington's stable was riding his master's horse Dudaim, and came round the bend hugging the rails. Jeffery, who was riding Athlete, was next to him on his right hand, and was either pushed onto Dudaim by the other horses swinging round on them as they turn for the straight run-in, or else Athlete hung of his own accord onto the other.
In any case, Dudaim was knocked against the rails; horse and rider were thrown heavily, and the lad was killed on the spot. A hurdle was fetched from a neighbouring field, and on this the body was conveyed down the course to the weighing-room. I shall never forget the sight of that poor white dead face, which was quite visible two or three hundred yards away through one's race-glasses, as four or five men bore their sad burden along on their shoulders. A gloom was cast over the meeting, but the races proceeded.”
In any case, Dudaim was knocked against the rails; horse and rider were thrown heavily, and the lad was killed on the spot. A hurdle was fetched from a neighbouring field, and on this the body was conveyed down the course to the weighing-room. I shall never forget the sight of that poor white dead face, which was quite visible two or three hundred yards away through one's race-glasses, as four or five men bore their sad burden along on their shoulders. A gloom was cast over the meeting, but the races proceeded.”
As may be seen his mount was in fact called 'Dudaim' [Hebrew mandrake] by Mandrake out of Olga, 1872.
As may be seen his mount was in fact called 'Dudaim' [Hebrew mandrake] by Mandrake out of Olga, 1872.
The parentage of John Wass has not been established and the earliest reference to him appears to be in the 1871 Census for Coverham cum Agglethorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he was a stable boy, aged 18, employed by the trainer Thomas Dawson at Tupgill Stables. He is recorded as having been born in London.
The parentage of John Wass has not been established and the earliest reference to him appears to be in the 1871 Census for Coverham cum Agglethorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he was a stable boy, aged 18, employed by the trainer Thomas Dawson at Tupgill Stables. He is recorded as having been born in London.
His grave in Epsom Cemetery is unmarked: further interments were made on each side during the 1930s.
His grave in Epsom Cemetery is unmarked: further interments were made on each side during the 1930s.