CARACTACUS and
HOLYWELL FARM
The 1862 Epsom Derby
was run on 4th June with a huge field of 34 horses, the largest ever recorded
at the Derby. When James 'Jim' Goater refused to ride Caractacus in
favour of Goater's brother's horse, the Sprite, Mr Snewing's stable boy John
Parsons, believed to be about 16 years old and reported to be the youngest
jockey ever to win the Derby, was given the ride, as he had in the horse's
three previous races. The horses made three false starts before the race
got underway with Caractacus being a distant outsider. Yet Caractacus won by a
neck from Buckstone and Neptunus. An objection was raised by Lord Stamford,
which was not upheld and then, when all the jockeys and saddles were
weighed post race, Parsons did not initially meet the 122 lbs requirement
weight and only the adding of the bridle to the tack prevented
disqualification.
"Caractacus,
whose wondrous shape
Sets every country
mouth agape-
And if, of the
outsiders there,
One horse should pass
the winning chair,
Enrolled in the
successful three,
Be sure Caractacus is
he."
—Orange
Blossom, Bell's Life
Caractacus was described as a
bay colt that stood 15.1 hands high, with a “light” neck, fine shoulders,
good girth and sound feet. He had a large white blaze, a white sock on his
right front foot and a grey full-stocking on his right hind leg. He had a
“corky” personality and possessed refined movement, leading him to be described
as a “slashing goer.”
As a yearling,
Caractacus was bought for 250 guineas by the trainer William Day,
acting on behalf of a London publican named Charles Snewing who also was a
veterinary surgeon. Allegedly, the colt was named 'Caractacus'
because Snewing had admired a statue of the British chieftain
'Caractacus bound in chains' at the 1851 Exhibition. He is reported to
have said, "If ever I try a horse good enough I'll call him Caractacus,
and win the Derby with him". In spring 1861, the two-year-old
colt was moved to a stable at Harpenden in Hertfordshire, where his
training was managed by Robert "Bob" Smith. After the Derby
win Caractacus was retired to stud in 1863, with Snewing retaining
ownership. He was a breeding stallion first at the Highfield Paddock near St Albans for an annual fee of 20
guineas. He was moved to the Holywell Stud Farm in Watford sometime before 1872. Caractacus serviced approximately 40
mares per season while in Britain before being sold for £7,000 to Mr. Strass
who exported him to St Petersburg at the end of the 1872 breeding season.
Caractacus sired about 57 foals in Russia, none of which were successful racers
or sires. He died in 1878 at the Russian Imperial Stud in Hrenoosky.
In honour of the
Derby win, Charles Snewing hosted a Festival in honour of Caractacus at
his Holywell Farm where it was "a
scene of such recreation and joy as will never be forgotten by anyone who had
the good fortune to be present". Apart from his own extensive circle of
friends, there were invited a large gathering of the labouring men of Watford
and male inmates of the Union Workhouse, to celebrate 'by jubilant feelings the
concluded harvest and to pay honour to Caractacus'. The entrance to the grounds
was decorated with festoons of evergreens and flowers. The bay and "centre
transept" of a large barn was tastefully decorated with the light blue and
white colours of the winner and with mottoes such as 'Welcome', 'God Save the
Queen', 'Speed the Plough' and 'Long Reign King Caractacus'. A large marquee
had been placed in the Home Field, on the slope between the hill of the
homestead and the river Colne and was laid for 500 poor people, but far more
than 500 enjoyed Mr Snewing's hospitality that day, which consisted of some 800
lbs of roast and boiled meat, 1,400 quarts of ale and porter and a plentiful
supply of plum puddings. There were many speeches and toasts and the Watford
Volunteer Band entertained the guests and the bells rang peals throughout the
day by the express wish of the inhabitants of Watford and with the sanction of
the Vicar and Churchwardens.
There are several
accounts of the great day and below are a few extracts:
From
'The Field' - October 11th
Holywell Farm,
Watford, was a scene of joy and merriment on Thursday; the owner of the last
Derby winner opened house to a large party of friends and acquaintances and
gave an entertainment to the poor of the parish that will long be remembered by
hundreds who rarely taste a substantial meal, and by all who reside
within hearing of the bells of Watford ...... Mr Charles Snewing, gentleman,
joined his Harvest Home with his Derby dinner and nearly half a ton of
butcher's meat was cooked upon the premises and had we not seen in the farm and
rick yards some clever "improved Middlesex" and lumping grey
Dorkings, we should have fancied neither pig nor pullet was alive in the
vicinity. Guests began to arrive at mid-day and were greeted by
"Welcome" on a triumphal arch and by the band of the Second Herts
Volunteers telling them to enjoy the Roast Beef of Old England .... The
neighing of horses and the lowing of oxen informed the lover of agriculture
that he was on a spot where those animals are well tended; and that a stroll
before luncheon would repay him for the trouble of crossing a few fields to
take survey of the stock. That stroll we took and were gratified at the sight
of Polestar with a colt foal by Wild Dayrell, of British Remedy with a spanking
filly by the same horse; and Riseber's dam with a good but not very forward
colt. The little wanton herd was wild, from the notes of the Volunteers and
scampered up and down their paddock when they heard sweet music. Listless, but
still a trifle impatient, stood a remarkably fine hunting mare and Maid of
Honour's dam on the other side of an iron fencing; the former with an eye that
seemed to say "Find a fox in Oxhey Woods yonder and you'll see that I yet
have spirit for a gallop". The we turned towards the meadows and
passing the home now being formed for Caractacus at the termination of his
career, we came upon the shorthorns; there we beheld the red Filbert, by
Marmaduke, and her beautiful (26 months) heifer by Cock-o'-the-Walk; the roan
Honeymoon and her daughter Dulcibella. An Alderney kept them company and
reminded us of "the big ones for the milk, the little one for the
cream" given in "Silk and Scarlet" as a reply to the Empress of
Russia.
Mrs W Snewing had now
set the barn in order and the clatter of plates and the flying of corks soon
announced the revels as commenced. The early repast was quickly ended and the
guest repaired to the large tent where the flying of flags and beating of drums
announced -
That the winner of
the Derby had opened his house to all,
and though he
entertained the rich, he ne'er forgot the small;
for round and surloin stood upon the
long tables in readiness for the keen appetites of every man employed upon the
farm, of their friends and relatives and of the aged, worn-out sons of toil, who
are ending their weary pilgrimage in the poor-house.
From 'The Morning
Herald' - October 10th
There were some neat speeches delivered
by one or two clergymen and other gentlemen after luncheon; but the enthusiasm
which prevailed amongst the workmen in the tent at dinner cannot be described;
Some members of the fair sex assisted them at table - an honour and a treat
they will ever remember; and when the owner of the Derby winner walked through
the tent the cheering was something terrific. As each huge joint of beef was
stripped to the bone, the men held up the empty dish and called out
"Hurrah for the roast beef of old England!" which was immediately
followed by cries of "Halloo boys! Halloo".... Such a day of
rejoicing has never, I will venture to assert, been seen at Holywell Farm
before, and should Mr Snewing ever run another horse in the Derby, the result
will be eagerly awaited by hundreds at Watford, who will dream of Caractacus
tonight, as I did two months before he won the Derby.
From the 'Daily
Telegraph'- October 13th
Mr Snewing had delayed the fete until
after the St Leger, as he was sanguine that he should be able to celebrate the
double success of his horse for both the great three year old encounters at
Epsom and Doncaster. A more pleasant day I have seldom spent at Watford
and from the beginning to end the whole thing constituted one of the most
gratifying and even romantic chapters in the history or racing ..... The sound
of the church bells, the strains of the volunteer band, the gaily decorated
marquee and, as the Americans phrase it, the entire "surroundings" of
the scene, carried one's mind back a hundred years, when such purely English
festivals were far more common. ..... The farm is delightfully situated in a
well-wooded valley and the cottage and out-houses are as neat and pretty as it
is possible to imagine. A bright stream flows through the meadows, making a
paradise well worthy of Caractacus when his turf career is terminated.
Later in the day, the entertainment
being enlivened by some excellent volunteered songs from Messrs Mackney and
Corri, many well-known racing gentlemen were present and all seemed highly
delighted. The company then separated, some to tea and some to witness the
amusements of the rustics, including hurdle and foot racing etc., etc. into
which they entered with greatest hilarity. The Watford Volunteer
Band with its enlivening strains, accompanied the rural guests, who made the
welkin ring*, part way to Watford and then returned, when to their inspiring
music many soon mingled in the merry dance.
*to make the welkin ring - an archaic
term meaning to make a loud noise or sound during revels.
The Derby was ultimately Caractacus'
last start. He was entered for the 1862 St Leger Stakes, but he injured both suspensory ligaments in his front legs shortly before the running and was
permanently retired from racing.
One of the bricks from the Male Courtyard of the old Workhouse (Shrodells - now part of Watford General Hospital) depicting a horse and rider
References: The
County Herald - October 18th 1862
The
Morning Herald - October 10th
The Daily
Telegraph - October 13th
The Field
- October 11th
Wikipedia
See also photographs in Gallery - Holywell Farm
About James Parsons, the Jockey
James 'Charlie' Parsons’ spell in the sun lasted for just
the three minutes it took to run the 1862 Derby.
Aged 16 years and six months, James Parsons, was legged-up
on the 66/1 outsider Caractacus with no chance, so everyone thought, of getting in the first ten, let alone
disposing of the favourite, The Marquis.
Several leading jockeys had turned down the ride: on the
morning of the race connections were still trying to find a professional jockey
to take the mount. With options exhausted, they turned to Parsons who knew the
horse well. So well, in fact, that – wearing the blue cap and white jacket of
owner Mr Snewing - the pale-faced youngster brought the horse home a shock
winner amid total silence from the stands. The favourite was second.
But the drama had only just started. When Parsons sat on the
scales to weigh-in, he was slightly light and in very real danger of losing the
race. Then a stable lad rushed in with the bridle and Parsons just tipped the
scales.
Then someone objected to winner, claiming that he had not
taken the proper course. Again, an awful moment of suspense – until it was
realized that the objection had been made five minutes too late.
Caractacus had been trained by Bob Smith, based at
Harpenden, just outside Watford. Smith won £10,000 and, that night, a bullock
was roasted whole in Watford market-place to celebrate the local triumph. Mr
Snewing, a publican, threw his doors open to the poor so they, too, could join
in the festivities.
James Parsons - known to his mates as Charlie - was born in
Cranbourne, Dorset in 1845, and was apprenticed to Bob Smith.
The Derby was his third and final win as a jockey. He
unsuccessfully advertised in 'Bell's Life' for further rides.
After the Derby, Caractacus became a stallion at a stud in
Tyttenhanger, St Albans. John moved with the horse and lived at St Pancras
between 1891 and 1901.
His finished up as a cab washer in London and died somewhat
impoverished in a University Hospital on May 4, 1907, aged 61.
He is remembered as the youngest jockey ever to win the
Derby.
James Parsons married, and became the great-grandfather of
Susan Tardley, an amateur lady rider of the 1980s.
The owner of Caractacus, Mr Snelling, had attended the
Exhibition of 1951 and had seen a magnificent piece of statuary representing
Caractacus in chains being led captive to Rome. He turned to a companion and
said. ‘If ever I own a good enough horse, I’ll call him Caractacus and try to win
the Derby with him.’
Ten years later he bought himself a colt from Mr Blenkiron’s
sale for 270 guineas. Given the name Caractacus, the colt did not distinguish
itself as a two-year-old but, next season, ran a cracking race at the Great
Metropolitan Spring Meeting at Epsom and was immediately installed as one of
the favourites for that year’s Derby. Then the horse turned in three dreadful
performances and was driven out to 100/1 in the betting.
At this point, James Goater, Snewing’s chief jockey, was offered
the mount, but he turned it down in order to ride an animal belonging to his
brother. Goater was later said to be mortified when finishing last. Not only
had he missed out on riding a Derby winner, but had also lost an annuity of
£100 a year for life which Snewing had promised to him if he should win on
Caractacus.
Young James Parsons was well looked after instead.
Snewing’s trainer, after those three defeats, changed the
horse’s training routine and Caractacus immediately returned to form.
Caractacus is often quoted as having won the Derby at odds
of 40-1. This is incorrect as its exact starting price was 1,000-15 i.e. 66⅔-1.
He broke down on both forelegs after the Derby and never ran again.
Victorians weren't especially keen on first names and it is
unlikely that the trainers or connections of Caractacus knew James by any other
name than Parsons.
The old Saxon name for Epsom was Ebbesheim, relating to
Ebba’s palace and immediate neighbourhood, the name Epsom being derived from
this. (Ebbda was a Queen of England.) After a time, the place was pronounced
Ebbisham, then Eb’s-ham before the name finally emerged into Epsom.
At about the time of the Stuarts, a member of the Tottenham
family bought a strip of land in the parish of Barnstead which came to a point
at the spot where the present five-furlong course joins the Derby course.
This corner of land became known as Tottenham Corner which,
over the years, was corrupted to Tattenham Corner. Before the race, Mr Snewing
sprinkled the track with paper for the horse to follow round Tattenham Corner
into the straight.
James Parsons' classic win:
The Derby: Caractacus (1862)
Reference: Jockeypedia
No comments:
Post a Comment