Job Marson (1817–1857) was an English

classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class. The word can be an adjective (a '' ...

-winning jockey, whose most famous partnership was with Voltigeur, winner of the 1850

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gain ...

and

St Leger 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 a ...

Career

Marson was born to trainer "Old" Job Marson in Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire in 1817. His first win came at

Beverley Beverley is a market and minster town and a civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, of which it is the county town. The town centre is located south-east of York's centre and north-west of City of Hull. The town is known for ...

in 1831, on a horse called Cinderella, and in his early years, he was much championed by fellow jockey

Sim Templeman Simeon "Sim" Templeman (1805-1884) was a British classic-winning jockey. He won seven classic races in total, including the Epsom classic double twice. Career Templeman was born into a long standing farming family in the village of Evering ...

, getting many rides on his recommendation. His first big win came much later, in the 1841

Goodwood Cup The Goodwood Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles (3,2 ...

, riding

Charles XII Charles XII, sometimes Carl XII ( sv, Karl XII) or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 O.S.), was King of Sweden (including current Finland) from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line o ...

, but then followed a period of extended success at the top level. Within another two years he had won his first classic - the 1843 St. Leger on Nutwith. In 1847, he rode Van Tromp for Lord Eglinton in the Derby, coming third. Later that year, he went on to take the St. Leger on the horse. Rather than securing his position in Eglinton's favour, it had the opposite effect. Now suspecting that Marson had pulled Van Tromp in the Derby, Eglinton sacked him. Even Charles Marlow, Marson's successor as Eglinton's stable jockey, believed Marson to be innocent. The setback did not mar Marson's career too much.

Lord Zetland Marquess of Zetland is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 22 August 1892 for the former Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lawrence Dundas, 3rd Earl of Zetland. Zetland is an archaic form of Shetland. The Dundas family ...

took him on, and it was for Zetland that Marson would ride one of the supreme champion horses of the 19th century, Voltigeur, who won both Derby and St. Leger in 1850. For Sir Joseph Hawley, Marson won the 1851

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 (1,6 ...

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and the Derby on

Teddington Teddington is a suburb in south-west London in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. In 2021, Teddington was named as the best place to live in London by ''The Sunday Times''. Historically in Middlesex, Teddington is situated on a long m ...

, receiving £2,000 in reward. His last major win again came for Zetland in the 1856

Doncaster Cup The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles 1 furlong and 197 yards (3,600 met ...

Fandango Fandango is a lively partner dance originating from Portugal and Spain, usually in triple meter, traditionally accompanied by guitars, castanets, or hand-clapping. Fandango can both be sung and danced. Sung fandango is usually bipartite: it has ...

Character and riding style

Marson rode at a weight of eight

stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

. He was a strong jockey, but was hard on his horses, using his spurs liberally. When riding, he sat bolt upright, in an inelegant style. As a jockey on the northern circuit, Marson had a loathing of Southern jockeys in general and, in particular

Nat Flatman Elnathan "Nat" Flatman (1810 – 20 August 1860), born Holton St. Mary, Suffolk, was the first Champion flat racing jockey of Great Britain. He began his thirty-four-year racing career as an apprentice jockey at age fifteen and by 1840 he was th ...

, who ended up riding Voltigeur in his most famous

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against The Flying Dutchman.

Personal life and death

Marson's son (another Job) also became a jockey, although he died at

Thirsk Thirsk is a market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England known for its racecourse; quirky yarnbomber displays, and depiction as local author James Herriot's fictional Darrowby. History Archeological ...

aged only 24 in 1869. Marson himself died at

Middleham Middleham is an English market town and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire. It lies in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, on the south side of the valley, upstream from the junction of the River Ure and River Co ...

, North Riding of Yorkshire on 11 September 1857. He is buried at Spennithorne nearby. His father outlived both son and grandson, dying in May 1872, aged 82.

Major wins

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

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 (1,60 ...

- ''

(1851)'' *

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,01 ...

- (2) - ''

Woolwich Woolwich () is a district in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained thro ...

(1851)'', ''

(1853)'' *

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, also known as the Epsom Derby or the Derby, and as the Cazoo Derby for sponsorship reasons, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey ...

- (2) - '' Voltigeur (1850)'', ''

(1851)'' *

St Leger 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 a ...

- (3) - '' Nutwith (1843)'', '' Van Tromp (1847)'', '' Voltigeur (1850)''

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Marson, Job 1817 births 1857 deaths British jockeys