Arthur Nightingall

               (1868 -1944)

Arthur Nightingall was born at South Hatch, Epsom on 1st August 1868, the son of trainer John Nightingall. He had his first ride on Pilfer (unplaced) at Lewes in 1882 and rode his first winner on Bonny King Charlie at Alexandra Park on 1st April 1883. 

Moving over to the jumps, he rode his first winner on Struanite at Sandown Park on 5th December 1884. He was joint champion National Hunt jockey with amateur rider Gwyn Saunders-Davies with 42 winners apiece. 

He still had the occasional ride on the Flat and rode St Maclou in the 1901 Derby. He also rode winners in France, Austria and Germany, including the big chase in Baden-Baden on Pampero. 

Racing Illustrated, in the January 1896 edition, records: 

'As a horseman Arthur Nightingall has acquired very great and thoroughly deserved reputation. In France and Germany, as well as his own country, he is looked upon as a great master of his art.'

Arthur Nightingall, in his book ‘My Racing Adventures’ states: 

'Riding, as alleged, runs in families, and it certainly seems to have been running very freely in mine for a long time past. We have cultivated a fine natural taste for jockeyship.'

Arthur Nightingall rode in fifteen Grand Nationals, riding three winners, a second, and four thirds. He also rode the winner of the Scottish Grand National. Arthur rode the first of his three Grand National winners on Ilex. He had ridden the horse to a comfortable victory in a Hunter Chase at Leicester, and recommended to the owner, Mr. G. Masterman, that he sent the horse to his father, John Nightingall at Epsom. Eighteen months later the partnership won the Grand National. In Ilex’s final gallop Arthur rode him for four miles around the Nightingall’s private racecourse at Walton Heath and reported him as “a certainty.”

In 1893 Arthur moved to Heath House, and was training eight horses there that year, while still riding. His second Grand National success came in 1894, riding Captain C. Fenwick’s Why Not, who carried 11st.13lb. The Daily Telegraph recorded: 

'..That the result of a punishing race was in favour of Why Not was due entirely to the jockeyship of Arthur Nightingall.’

In 1895 he succeeded John Jones at Priam Lodge, Epsom.

Arthur’s third success came in 1901 on Grudon. The snow was so deep that the race was in doubt. Only five of the original twenty-four starters finished. 

Arthur Nightingall subsequently summed up his career:

‘Not being satisfied with being actively employed as a steeplechase jockey which is occupation enough for three men until they are killed, I began to train racehorses, chiefly jumpers towards the back end of 1892.

‘I commenced to train racehorses in the stables formerly occupied by Robert l’Anson at Burgh Heath near Epsom. I had the great honour of training for His Majesty the King. On account of increased patronage and a larger number of horses, I was obliged to move to Priam Lodge, at one time I had no fewer than thirty-two jumpers. What amount of hard work that means for a man who is both a trainer and jockey.’

He died on 15th October 1944, aged 76. His ashes were scattered on Epsom racecourse.

Biggest Wins

1887: Great Metropolitan Chase – Ballot Box

1888: Jubilee Hurdle - Dan Dancer

1890: Grand International Chase – M.P. .

1890: Grand National – Ilex

1890: Lancashire Chase – Ilex 

1890: Liverpool Hurdle – Toscano

1893: Grand Sefton – Why Not 

1893: Stanley Chase – Marcellus 

1894: Scottish Grand National – Leybourne

1894: Grand National – Why Not 

1898: Lancashire Chase – Keelson 

1898: Jubilee Hurdle – Regret

1899: Jubilee Hurdle – Queen of the Plains

1900: Great Sandown Hurdle – Spook 

1901: Great Sandown Hurdle – Goldfinder 

1901: Grand National – Grudon