1. George Fordham was Champion Jockey every year between 1855 and 1863, as well as four other occasions in his own right and once as joint champion.
24 Facts About George Fordham
1. 2.
George Fordham then won the Derby in 1879, won the Oaks five times, and the Grand Prix de Paris three times.
3.
George Fordham was described in 1910 as "one of the greatest jockeys of all-time".
4.
George Fordham's uncle was travelling head lad to Richard Drewitt in Middleham, North Yorkshire and it was here he became an apprentice.
5.
George Fordham was trained by Drewitt and Edward Smith, and at the age of thirteen had his first ride at Brighton after Drewitt moved to Lewes, Sussex.
6.
George Fordham won the Cambridgeshire in 1853 on Little David, for which he received a bible and a gold-mounted whip, and in the following year unexpectedly won the Chester Cup on Epaminondas.
7.
George Fordham won the Ascot Cup five times, the Alexandra Plate once, the Gold Vase six times, the Ascot Stakes twice, and the Prince of Wales's Stakes four times.
8.
George Fordham rode several favourites for the Derby, but only won it in 1879 upon Sir Bevys.
9.
George Fordham had, in all, twenty-two mounts for the Derby, his last appearance in the race being in 1883, when he was unplaced on Ladislas.
10.
George Fordham never won the St Leger, though he rode twenty-two races.
11.
George Fordham secured the 1,000 Guineas seven times out of twenty-one mounts.
12.
George Fordham was a great favourite on the continent, and especially in France, where he frequently rode.
13.
George Fordham won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1867,1868, and 1881, the French Derby in 1861 and 1868, and the French Oaks in 1880.
14.
George Fordham had no superior as a rider of two-year-olds.
15.
George Fordham's weight was only when he won his first Cambridgeshire.
16.
George Fordham's services were much in request from a very early period and one owner presented him with a Bible, a testimonial pin, and a gold-mounted whip, all of which he preserved through life, religiously following the motto engraved upon the whip of 'Honesty is the best policy.
17.
George Fordham carried the most implicit confidence of all his employers, and was kind to young jockeys.
18.
George Fordham was twice married: first to Miss Penelope Amelia Hyde of Lewes, who was the niece of the trainer Richard Drewitt.
19.
George Fordham died in early 1879 in the Isle of Wight, aged 40.
20.
George Fordham survived him, dying in the Brighton area at the end of 1918 aged 74.
21.
At the close of 1884 George Fordham left Brighton and returned to Slough, where he had previously lived, and he died there 12 October 1887.
22.
George Fordham was never known to give a vote for a parliamentary candidate in his life.
23.
George Fordham was extremely reticent on horse-racing, had a deep aversion to gambling of all kinds, and was anxious to keep his son from following him into a career on the turf.
24.
George Fordham did perform somewhat below his best on one occasion.