Henry Custance was a British jockey who won the Derby three times in the 1860s and 1870s.
15 Facts About Henry Custance
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2.
Henry Custance began riding in pony races at Ramsey, Cambridgeshire at the age of 13, and won a contest for a saddle, when he weighed only four stone.
3.
Henry Custance was unsuccessful finding employment in Newmarket, so moved to Epsom to become apprentice to Ned Smith.
4.
Henry Custance joined the Russley stable in 1859, then under the management of Mathew Dawson and rode over forty winners.
5.
Henry Custance would have a mount in the Derby for twenty consecutive years.
6.
Henry Custance had won the 2,000 Guineas at odds-on, although Custance had been injured in a fall at Epsom, so R Thomas had taken the ride.
7.
Henry Custance went on to become only the third horse to win the Triple Crown with Custance again riding, when just holding on to win the St Leger.
8.
Henry Custance won the 1867 1,000 Guineas on Achievement and could have added another Derby winner that year as well.
9.
Henry Custance had agreed to ride Hermit but when the horse broke a blood vessel two days beforehand, Custance opted for a different horse.
10.
Henry Custance held a licence as deputy starter to the Jockey Club and was official starter to the Belgian Jockey Club.
11.
Henry Custance was starter at The Curragh on 19 October 1886 for Fred Archer's only ride there, only weeks before his death.
12.
Henry Custance published his autobiographical "Riding Recollections and Turf Stories" in 1894, with a dedication to a patron from his riding career, the Duke of Hamilton.
13.
Henry Custance married Mary, and died of a paralytic seizure at his home, 53 New Walk, Leicester on 19 April 1908.
14.
Henry Custance was bold and resolute, with good hands, and was a fine judge of pace.
15.
Henry Custance was close friends with fellow jockey George Fordham, and was best man at his wedding and godfather to his eldest son.