Frederick Darling (1884–1953) was a British

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse 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 ...

trainer who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby winners. Darling's father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, near

Avebury Avebury () is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, in south-west England. One of the best-known prehistoric sites in Britain, it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in ...

in Wiltshire, who trained two Derby winners himself. Fred initially started training

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

racehorses for Lady de Bathe 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, and continued to train there until his own retirement in 1947. In 1928 he bought Billy Higgs' stud at Blackland or Blacklands, a few miles west of Beckhampton. Darling was succeeded as trainer at Beckhampton by

Noel Murless Sir Charles Francis Noel Murless (24 March 19109 May 1987) was an English racehorse trainer who one of the most successful of the twentieth century. Murless began his career as a trainer in 1935 at Hambleton Lodge in Yorkshire before moving to H ...

. Amongst his most successful horses were

Hurry On Hurry On (7 May 1913 – 1936) was an undefeated British Thoroughbred Horse racing, racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line.Leicester, Sir Charles, "Bloodstock Breeding", J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969 English trainer Fred Darling c ...

, the unbeaten St. Leger winner of 1916; Sun Chariot who won three

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 ...

in 1942; and Tudor Minstrel, the

2,000 Guineas 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 yea ...

winner of 1947. From 1932 until his retirement Darling's stable jockey was Gordon Richards. He is commemorated by the

Fred Darling Stakes The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs () at Newbury in April. History ...

, run at

Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's List of ...

. Fred Darling was Champion Trainer six times: in 1926, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1947. As well as a trainer, he was a breeder of thoroughbreds and bred Pinza, who won the Derby in 1953. He trained the winners of 19 English Classic Races, as follows;

(5) *

Manna Manna (, ; ), sometimes or archaically spelled Mahna or Mana, is described in the Bible and the Quran as an edible substance that God in Abrahamic religions, God bestowed upon the Israelites while they were wandering the desert during the 40-year ...

(1925),

Cameronian Cameronian was a name given to a radical faction of Scottish Covenanters who followed the teachings of Richard Cameron, and who were composed principally of those who signed the Sanquhar Declaration in 1680. They were also known as Society M ...

(1931), Pasch (1938), Big Game (1942), Tudor Minstrel (1947) 1,000 Guineas (2) * Four Course (1931), Sun Chariot (1942)

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 ...

(7) * Captain Cuttle (1922),

(1925), Coronach (1926),

(1931), Bois Roussel (1938), Pont l'Eveque (1940),

Owen Tudor Sir Owen Tudor (, – 2 February 1461) was a Welsh courtier and the second husband of Queen Catherine of Valois (1401–1437), widow of King Henry V of England. He was the grandfather of Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty. Background ...

(1941)

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 ...

(2) * Commotion (1941), Sun Chariot (1942) St. Leger Stakes (3) *

(1916), Coronach (1926), Sun Chariot (1942)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darling, Fred British racehorse trainers British racehorse owners and breeders Owners of Epsom Derby winners 1884 births 1953 deaths