Fred Darling
Encyclopedia
Frederick Darling was a British
Thoroughbred
racehorse
trainer
who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby
winners.
Fred’s father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
who trained two Derby winners himself. Fred initially started training National Hunt racehorses for Lady de Bathe (Lillie Langtry
) at Kentford near Newmarket, and then went to train in Germany. He returned to Britain in 1913 to take over the Beckhampton stables when his father retired. He continued to train there until his retirement in 1947. He was succeeded as trainer at Beckhampton by Noel Murless
.
Amongst his most successful horses were Hurry On
, the unbeaten St. Leger
winner of 1916; Sun Chariot
who won three British Classic Races in 1942; and Tudor Minstrel
, the 2,000 Guineas winner of 1947. From 1932 until his retirement Darling's stable jockey was Gordon Richards
.
He is commemorated by the Fred Darling Stakes
, run at Newbury Racecourse
.
Fred Darling was Champion Trainer
six times - in 1926, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1947.
As well as a trainer, he was also a breeder of thoroughbreds and bred Pinza
, who won the Derby in 1953.
He trained the winners of 19 English Classic Races as follows;
2,000 Guineas (5)
1,000 Guineas (2)
Epsom Derby
(7)
Epsom Oaks
(2)
St. Leger Stakes
(3)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winners.
Fred’s father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
who trained two Derby winners himself. Fred initially started training National Hunt racehorses for Lady de Bathe (Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry , usually spelled Lily Langtry when she was in the U.S., born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton, was a British actress born on the island of Jersey...
) at Kentford near Newmarket, and then went to train in Germany. He returned to Britain in 1913 to take over the Beckhampton stables when his father retired. He continued to train there until his retirement in 1947. He was succeeded as trainer at Beckhampton by Noel Murless
Noel Murless
Sir Charles Francis Noel Murless began his career as a racehorse trainer in 1935 at Hambleton Lodge in Yorkshire before moving to Hambleton House after the war, at one time sharing premises with the equally legendary Ryan Price...
.
Amongst his most successful horses were Hurry On
Hurry On
Hurry On was an outstanding, undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line. For a trainer who conditioned as many top winners as the Englishman Fred Darling, the observation that Hurry On was the best horse he ever trained is high praise indeed.-Breeding:He...
, the unbeaten St. Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner of 1916; Sun Chariot
Sun Chariot (horse)
Sun Chariot was a good Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Fillies Triple Crown series of races.She was bred by the National Stud and raced for King George VI. Sun Chariot was a filly of great talent but very difficult temperament...
who won three British Classic Races in 1942; and Tudor Minstrel
Tudor Minstrel
Tudor Minstrel was a British-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Owen Tudor, the 1941 Epsom Derby winner.Ridden by Gordon Richards, in 1947 Tudor Minstrel won the 1 mile long 2,000 Guineas by 8 lengths, the largest winning margin in the race since 1900...
, the 2,000 Guineas winner of 1947. From 1932 until his retirement Darling's stable jockey was Gordon Richards
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
.
He is commemorated by the Fred Darling Stakes
Fred Darling Stakes
The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Newbury over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April....
, run at Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
.
Fred Darling was Champion Trainer
British flat racing Champion Trainer
The Champion Trainer of flat racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prize money during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each year since 1896.-----See also:* British flat racing Champion Jockey...
six times - in 1926, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1947.
As well as a trainer, he was also a breeder of thoroughbreds and bred Pinza
Pinza
Pinza was a Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 1953 Epsom Derby beating Aureole by four lengths. Pinza was owned by the businessman and hotelier Sir Victor Sassoon....
, who won the Derby in 1953.
He trained the winners of 19 English Classic Races as follows;
2,000 Guineas (5)
- MannaManna (horse)Manna was a British Thoroughbred racehorse an sire. In a career which lasted from summer 1922 until September 1923, Manna ran four times, winning eight races. As a three-year-old in 1925 he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby by a record margin of eight lengths...
(1925), CameronianCameronian (horse)Cameronian was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1932 but finished unplaced in the St Leger in his attempt to win the English Triple Crown...
(1931), Pasch (1938), Big Game (1942), Tudor MinstrelTudor MinstrelTudor Minstrel was a British-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Owen Tudor, the 1941 Epsom Derby winner.Ridden by Gordon Richards, in 1947 Tudor Minstrel won the 1 mile long 2,000 Guineas by 8 lengths, the largest winning margin in the race since 1900...
(1947)
1,000 Guineas (2)
- Four Course (1931), Sun ChariotSun Chariot (horse)Sun Chariot was a good Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Fillies Triple Crown series of races.She was bred by the National Stud and raced for King George VI. Sun Chariot was a filly of great talent but very difficult temperament...
(1942)
Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
(7)
- Captain CuttleCaptain CuttleCaptain Cuttle was a British Thoroughbred racehorse an sire. He ran only six times in a career which was restricted by chronic injury problems. He was the outstanding British colt of his generation, winning the Epsom Derby and the St. James's Palace Stakes in 1922...
(1922), MannaManna (horse)Manna was a British Thoroughbred racehorse an sire. In a career which lasted from summer 1922 until September 1923, Manna ran four times, winning eight races. As a three-year-old in 1925 he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Epsom Derby by a record margin of eight lengths...
(1925), CoronachCoronach (horse)Coronach was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a champion two-year-old who went on to complete a then unique treble by winning the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the St Leger as a three-year-old in 1926, a year in which he also won the St. James's Palace Stakes...
(1926), CameronianCameronian (horse)Cameronian was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1932 but finished unplaced in the St Leger in his attempt to win the English Triple Crown...
(1931), Bois RousselBois RousselBois Roussel was an French-bred Thoroughbred champion racehorse and a leading broodmare sire. He won the 1938 Epsom Derby on his second racecourse appearance.-Background:...
(1938), Pont l'EvequePont l'Eveque (horse)Pont l’Eveque was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from 1939 until 1940 he ran seven times and won three races. His most important success came in 1940 when he won the “New Derby”, a wartime substitute for the Epsom Derby run at Newmarket...
(1940), Owen TudorOwen Tudor (horse)Owen Tudor was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1940 to 1942 he ran twelve times and won six races. His most important win came as a three-year-old in the summer of 1941 when he won the “New Derby” at Newmarket...
(1941)
Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
(2)
- Commotion (1941), Sun ChariotSun Chariot (horse)Sun Chariot was a good Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Fillies Triple Crown series of races.She was bred by the National Stud and raced for King George VI. Sun Chariot was a filly of great talent but very difficult temperament...
(1942)
St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
(3)
- Hurry OnHurry OnHurry On was an outstanding, undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line. For a trainer who conditioned as many top winners as the Englishman Fred Darling, the observation that Hurry On was the best horse he ever trained is high praise indeed.-Breeding:He...
(1916), CoronachCoronach (horse)Coronach was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was a champion two-year-old who went on to complete a then unique treble by winning the Epsom Derby, the Eclipse Stakes and the St Leger as a three-year-old in 1926, a year in which he also won the St. James's Palace Stakes...
(1926), Sun ChariotSun Chariot (horse)Sun Chariot was a good Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Fillies Triple Crown series of races.She was bred by the National Stud and raced for King George VI. Sun Chariot was a filly of great talent but very difficult temperament...
(1942)