William Wheatley (1786-1848) was a British Classic winning

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 ...

of the early 19th century. His father was the 1795

Derby Derby ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area on the River Derwent, Derbyshire, River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original co ...

-winning jockey,

Anthony Wheatley Anthony Wheatley (176? – 1838) was an Epsom Derby winning jockey of the 18th century. He won the 1795 Derby riding Spread Eagle, a horse owned and bred by Sir Frank Standish and trained by Richard Prince. Wheatley's son Will also became a ...

. He was, according to the Sporting Magazine of 1831, "one of the best jockeys in England." He was particularly known for creeping up slowly during a race to win unexpectedly. This was shown to memorable effect in the 1831 Derby. Wheatley was booked to ride 50/1 outsider,

Spaniel A spaniel is a Dog type, type of gun dog. Spaniels were especially bred to flush game out of denser brush. By the late 17th century, spaniels had been specialized into water and land breeds. The extinct English Water Spaniel was used to retriev ...

, a horse known for only possessing one steady pace. The race principals ran together in a tactical battle and appeared to have forgotten about Wheatley on the unfancied Spaniel, who racing at his customary pace, "came up with perfect ease... ndwon in a most triumphant style". Wheatley's ride was deemed "a splendid performance." Despite this, Spaniel has gone down in history as possibly the worst ever Derby winner. He was also known for having an untainted character, and in Spaniel's Derby he had had a £25 bet at odds of 40/1 on his mount winning, only to cancel it at the last minute, thereby missing out on £1000. Wheatley rode the Derby winner Mameluke in some of his best races (although not the Derby itself). One of his most noted rides was in the "ever-memorable"

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 ...

when he rode Mameluke against Zinganee, ridden by Sam Chifney, Jr. His principal patron was Lord Lowther. William Wheatley lived up to the 1840s at Newmarket where his father and family had settled but died at Kingsland, then a small settlement in Middlesex but now part of Hackney, in February 1848 aged about 62.

Major wins

Classic races

Great Britain *

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 ...

– (3) – ''Manfred (1817), Nicolo (1823), Schahriar (1824)'' *

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 ...

– (2) – '' Prince Leopold (1816),

(1831)''

Selected other races

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 ...

- ''Marcellus (1823)''

References

Bibliography

* * * * * British jockeys 1848 deaths 1786 births {{UK-horseracing-bio-stub