A rare collection of original racing jockey steel engravings on paper, each one with a portrait of a celebrated professional flat race jockey of the day. Originally printed individually this set has been carefully collected and is an intriguing example of racing memorabilia - each jockey adopts an engaging pose, sporting their individual liveries and reflecting the social history and fashion of horse race portraiture at this time, when jockeys were sporting celebrities with fans closely following their careers and lives. Interesting also as they precede the Vanity Fair caricatures that first started appearing in 1860s.
Each image is after the work of Harry Hall, a British artist active in mid 1800s, and well known for his sporting portraits, particularly for those with equestrian themes. Some were engraved and published by J B (Joseph Brown) Hunt in Newmarket and others engraved and published by E Hacker.
From left to right:-
Number 1 ~ James “Jem” Robinson (1794 – 1873)
During his riding career he won 24 British Classic victories, the 2,000 Guineas nine times (a record which still stands today), six Derby victories, two wins in the Oaks and two St Leger Stakes wins. His riding style was unusual for the time, preferring a low crouched position and he was well known for vigorously using the whip and for his competitive spirit. In 1852 he fell at Newmarket, resulting in several injuries and was left with one leg permanently shortened, which ended his riding career. After this he tried training but was not successful, in old age he experienced financial hardship, resorting to the aid of previous patrons.
Number 2 ~ Simeon “Sim” Templeman (1805 – 1884)
He won seven British Classics including the Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and St Leger Stakes. His reputation was initially built upon his achievements in northern racing, and he had major patrons such as the Duke of Leeds. Known for his small, wiry stature and distinctive riding style, he was highly competitive. Having been born into a farming family in East Riding, Yorkshire he eventually married Sarah Templeman and they had three children. With his racing earnings, he acquired significant land and built Burnby House near Pocklington, living comfortably in later life before retiring to York, where he eventually died.
Number 3 ~ Tom Chaloner (1839 – 1886)
He won the Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas Stakes and St Leger Stakes. He was renowned for his calm and patient riding skills and for his tactical judgment. After retiring he briefly turned to training. Born in Manchester his career with horses started at the age of 13 when he went to work for trainer John Osborne, falling in love with Osborne’s daughter Ellen, whom he married in 1865 and had eight children with. Known as a ‘reliable and unassuming man’ from his race earnings he bought a pub for his parents. However, his health declined and he died at the age 46. His wife Ellen retained her husband's training license, which was unusual at that time, and she continued to ride out until well into her nineties, eventually dying in 1944.
Number 4 ~ John Charlton (1829 – 1862)
Born near West Hartlepool, he won the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks and the Epsom Derby on several occasions. Contemporaries described Charlton as quiet and unassuming in style, a solid and effective rider rather than a flamboyant one. He was known to be capable of riding at very light weights when required. However, his career was not without controversy – it was rumoured that he had deliberately restrained his horse (Blink Bonny) in the 1857 St Leger on the instructions of a bookmaker. The Doncaster crowd reacted violently, and the incident was described by Charles Dickens. He continued riding until close to his death, which occurred when he was only 33 years of age, due to consumption (tuberculosis)
Number 5 ~ the Late Luke Snowden
He was a flat racing jockey who rode Sunbeam to victory in the St Leger Stakes in 1858 and also rode St Albans to a win in the St Leger in 1860. There are several other race entries for him at Newmarket and Chester races on horses such as Brown Duchess, but no documented wins. There are few other records about him.
Number 6 ~ Ralph ‘Geordie’ Bullock (1841 – 1863).
Notable achievements included winning the Epsom Derby in 1861 on Kettledrum and finishing second in the 1860 St Leger on High Treason. He also finished in a dead heat in the Doncaster Cup riding Kettledrum once more. Over his short career which spanned 1854 – 1862 he achieved 212 victories. Born in Morpeth, Northumberland into a well-known racing family, his father was a trainer. He died in January 1863, at the age of 21, having developed a severe skin infection known as erysipelas. A rumour persisted that the infection came from a cutthroat razor which had been given to him as a gift for his Derby win, although erysipelas was listed as the cause of death.
Number 7 ~ Charles Marlow (1814 – 1882)
He won the Derby and the St Leger Stakes in 1849 on the iconic Flying Dutchman - one of the most celebrated horses of the Victorian era. He also went on to win the Epsom Oaks, the Ascot Gold Cup twice and the Chester Cup. Highly regarded for his skill in major sporting races and his association with some of the era’s top thoroughbreds, a strong and clever rider who could handle horses superbly and was enormously popular in the paddock. In 1855, during The Oaks Marlow fell and badly broke his leg. He never fully recovered and his career deteriorated leaving him with physical and personal difficulties as he was also well-known drinker. The 1881 Census lists Marlow as a pauper in the Highworth and Swindon Workhouse. In 1882 he died in an Asylum in Devizes, Wiltshire.
Number 8 ~ John Howe Osborne 1833 - 1922 (known as John Osborne Jnr)
He won the 2,000 Guineas six times, the 1,000 Guineas twice, the Epsom Derby, the Epsom Oaks and St Leger Stakes, amongst other races, with a career which spanned an incredible 46 years. Born into a racing family, his father, John Osborne was a trainer. He was known as a reliable and upright jockey who in later life also trained.
Number 9 ~J Bartholomew
No biography available.
Number 10 – Alfred Day (1830 – 1868)
He won the 1,000 Guineas twice, 2,000 Guineas three times, Ascot Gold Cup twice, the Epsom Derby and the Epsom Oaks. These wins earned him the nickname of ‘King Alfred’. He was born into a prominent racing family, his father being an influential trainer and jockey and he had several brothers who were also jockeys. Day was regarded as a natural horseman with ‘exceptionally fine judgement’ - considered more accomplished than many of his contemporaries – he had an excellent riding style and sense of timing in the closing stages of a race. In common with other members of his family, he was not entirely trustworthy, coming third behind a horse he had a part share in, which caused an outcry. He died at the young age of 37.
Number 11 ~ E Flatman – Elnathan ‘Nat’ Flatman (1810 – 1860)
He won the 1,000 Guinea Stakes twice, the 2,000 Guinea Stakes twice and the St Leger Stakes three times. In 1848 he was the first jockey to ride over a hundred winners in a season. He was born in Suffolk, the son of a small farmer but moved to Newmarket to train and was soon in demand by leading owners and trainers, a standout jockey, noted for his honesty, integrity and consistency. He was described as honest and sober, rarely using the whip and often trusted with horses in training trials. His riding career ended in 1859 when he had a riding accident in Bath and was later kicked by a horse. Aged 50, he died near Newmarket of consumption.
Number 12 ~ James ‘Jem’ Chapple (1801 – 1858)
Born in Exeter but learned his trade in Newmarket, where he established a reputation as a strong and reliable rider who worked hard. His most notable success was in 1833 when he won both the Derby and the Oaks. He went on to with the Epsom Derby again and made a comeback in 1850 with some successful races. Despite his successes Chapple was known as a quiet and modest man, thrifty with his finances. He had married Eleanor Jennings in 1835 and they had a daughter Letitia Eleanor and eventually died in Suffolk.
Ref ~
Racing Around Hednesford, (Hednesford & Hazel Slade’s Horse Racing History)
Wikipedia
Condition ~
The works were framed a considerable time ago, using traditional designed frames, which have been overpainted, and mounts - but they are not Victorian. There is a light watermark on the mounts of engravings numbers 4 and 12. Underneath each image the jockey's name has also been engraved, on jockey number 11 - 'E Flatman' the name has faded and is bearly visible.
Dimensions ~
The sizes of the engravings in the first image are for guidance only. There is a one centimeter difference in width between two of the engravings and the rest.
Ten engravings = H 29 l W 22.5 l D 1.5 cm
Two engravings = H 29 l W 21.5 l D 1.5 cm