Francis Buckle (1766–1832), known to the British

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

public as "The Governor", was an English

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

, who has been described as "the jockey non-pareil" of the opening quarter of the 19th century, and the man who "brought respectability to race-riding". He won at least 27

British Classic Races The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their ow ...

during his career, a record which would not be beaten for over 150 years.

Early life

Buckle was born to a

saddle A saddle is a supportive structure for a rider of an animal, fastened to an animal's back by a girth. The most common type is equestrian. However, specialized saddles have been created for oxen, camels and other animals. It is not know ...

r in Newmarket, one of six children, and baptised on 18 July 1766. His parents died when he was 12, and he was brought up by an aunt and uncle. His uncle had him apprenticed to a saddler, but he absconded and refused to return, saying that "nothing on earth would he follow but the horses and stables." He started racing at the stables of Richard Vernon, making his first appearance on 17 May 1783 at the age of 16. He rode a

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colt called Wolf, and weighed in at only 3st 13 lbs (25 kg). His mentor was Sam Chifney, from who he learnt his customary riding style - holding his horse up for a late run. He was well-regarded from that first ride onwards, his master reflecting that "that boy has a head".

Classic wins

His first win in one of the English Classics came in 1792, riding Lord Grosvenor's colt

John Bull John Bull is a national personification of England, especially in political cartoons and similar graphic works. He is usually depicted as a stout, middle-aged, country-dwelling, jolly and matter-of-fact man. He originated in satirical works of ...

, who he thought was the best horse he ever rode. Grosvenor would provide Buckle with three more Classic winners -

Daedalus In Greek mythology, Daedalus (, ; Greek language, Greek: Δαίδαλος; Latin language, Latin: ''Daedalus''; Etruscan language, Etruscan: ''Taitale'') was a skillful architect and craftsman, seen as a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and power. H ...

in the 1794 Derby, Nike in the 1797 Oaks and Bellina in the 1799 Oaks. After Grosvenor's death, Buckle formed a profitable partnership with the leading trainer of the time,

Robert Robson Robert Robson may refer to: * Robert Robson (horse trainer) (c.1765–1838), British racehorse trainer * Robert M. Robson (1921–2006), American attorney and politician in Idaho * Bobby Robson Sir Robert William Robson (18 February 1933 – ...

. With Robson, and his main owners the

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and 4th Dukes of Grafton, Buckle won at least another eleven Classics, the unnamed jockey who rode the 1819 and 1825

1,000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1, ...

winners also being assumed to be Buckle. In 1800, he won both the

St. Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over ...

and The Derby on

Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional/provincial/state, national, continental and world champi ...

. In his career, Buckle rode 27 Classic wins, including 5 Derby winners, 9

Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 ya ...

and 2 St Legers. Besides Lord Grosvenor and the Dukes of Grafton, Buckle also rode for Sir Charles Bunbury and Colonel Mellish. One of his most famous victories came at the 1799 Craven meeting at Newmarket. Buckle on Hambletonian met

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, ridden by Dennis Fitzpatrick, in a 4-mile -furlong

match race A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head. In sailboat racing it is differentiated from a fleet race, which almost always involves three or more competitors competing against each other, and team racing where teams cons ...

. The amount bet on the race was without precedent, estimated at 250,000

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s, and Hambletonian won by half a neck. His last classics were the two Guineas of 1827, when, aged 60, he won on

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and Turcoman. His last ride was on Conservator at Newmarket on 6 November 1831. He was still able to ride at 8 st 7 lb (54 kg), although he had to be careful with his weight, sitting down to a traditional dinner of goose only on the last day of the season. His final total of 27 Classic wins remained for 150 years, although it is considered possible he won two further Classics which are uncredited.

Retirement and death

When he retired, on account of his famous riding stamina, there was a public call for a race between him and the famous sportsman Squire Osbaldeston "to ride for 25 days or till either of them dropped." He was not to enjoy a long retirement. Only months after retiring from the saddle he died on 5 February 1832, "in the esteem of all the racing world." He is buried in the Orton Longueville parish churchyard, beneath a tomb carrying the inscription:

Personality

Buckle was legendary for his stamina. He would think nothing of making a 92-mile (148 km) round trip between his farm at

Orton Longueville Orton is a suburb of the City of Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire, England, about south west of Peterborough city centre to the south of the River Nene. It is located on the route of the A1. It expanded from the villages of Orton Waterville ...

to Newmarket just for a trial. His outside hobbies revolved around his farm at Orton Longueville. He bred cattle, sheep, greyhounds, bulldogs and fighting cocks. Though the livestock he bred were of good quality (especially the sheep), he did not make much profit. He would also ride with the Hertfordshire Hounds, although he was known for falling at every jump. He was invariably seen accompanied by his bulldog. Buckle was known as honest - he would ride finishes against his own money in races - but lacking in intelligence. His obituary stated that he "died in the esteem of all the racing world."

Personal life

Buckle first married at the age of 24, but his wife died shortly after. He married his second wife, Jane Thornton, the daughter of a veterinary surgeon, in

Lichfield Lichfield () is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Lichfield is situated south-east of the county town of Stafford, north-east of Walsall, north-west of ...

in 1807. The couple lived in Orton Longueville, Huntingdonshire and had three sons, before moving first to

Peterborough Peterborough ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in the City of Peterborough district in the Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, England. The city is north of London, on the River Nene. A ...

, then

Bury St. Edmunds Bury St Edmunds (), commonly referred to locally as ''Bury,'' is a cathedral as well as market town and civil parish in the West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England.OS Explorer map 211: Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket Scale: . P ...

in 1822 for his sons' education, then back to Peterborough.

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

1,000 Guineas Stakes The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1 ...

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Whizgig Whizgig (1819–1840) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1822. In a racing career which lasted from April 1822 until May 1824 she ran fourteen times and won seven races. Unrac ...

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2,000 Guineas Stakes The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1.6 km) and scheduled to take place each year ...

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Pindarrie Pindarrie (foaled 1817) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced five times and won the Riddlesworth Stakes and 2000 Guineas Stakes. He was owned by George FitzRoy, 4th Duke of Grafton, and trained by Robert Robson. He only raced in 1820 ...

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Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...

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Epsom Oaks The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 ya ...

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References

Bibliography

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Buckle, Francis 1766 births 1832 deaths English jockeys Sportspeople from Newmarket, Suffolk