Alfred Day (3 November 1830 – 4 January 1868) was a British

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 ''c ...

winning

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or 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 to describe the individual ...

. He won seven classics between 1849 and 1859, including the

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 gai ...

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, and was nicknamed "King Alfred" for his success.

Career

Day was born into a famous racing family that included his father

John Barham Day John Barham Day (1793–1860) was a British jockey and trainer. For much of his career he was usually known simply as John Day; when his son of the same name rose to prominence, the older man was referred to as John Barham Day, John Day, S ...

and several jockey brothers. He was born on 3 November 1830 and baptised on 6 October 1833 at St Edith’s Church,

Monks Kirby Monks Kirby is a village and civil parish in north-eastern Warwickshire, England. The population of the parish is 445. Monks Kirby is located around one mile east of the Fosse Way, around 8 miles north-west of Rugby, seven miles north-east of ...

, a village in north-eastern

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...

. He was educated at

Winchester Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...

and, in the holidays, rode his father’s horses on Stockbridge Downs. He rode in the 1843

Cesarewitch The Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs (3,621 metres) ...

, aged just 12 and weighing 4st 7lbs, on a three-year-old called Shocking Mamma, but he first came to prominence at the age of 14, when he won the Goodwood Stakes on Mr Wreford's Flea, at a weight of 6 stone. Then, in 1847 and 1848, he won consecutive

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 (4,014 ...

s on

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, during the period when the race was known as the Emperor's Plate. He went on to ride for some of the most titled people in the land, including

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

and Lords

Clifden Clifden (, meaning "stepping stones") is a coastal town in County Galway, Ireland, in the region of Connemara, located on the Owenglin River where it flows into Clifden Bay. As the largest town in the region, it is often referred to as "the Cap ...

and

Palmerston Palmerston may refer to: People * Christie Palmerston (c. 1851–1897), Australian explorer * Several prominent people have borne the title of Viscount Palmerston ** Henry Temple, 1st Viscount Palmerston (c. 1673–1757), Irish nobleman and ...

. During his career, he was closely associated with the stables of his brothers

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

and

William William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...

and it was for them he won his classics. For John, he won four classics, and for William one. His first classic came for John in the 1850

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 (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

. Day was on 5/2 second favourite

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and held on for a neck win. He took another 2,000 Guineas in 1854 on The Hermit, again trained by his brother John, and owned by

John Gully John Gully (21 August 1783 – 9 March 1863) was an English champion prizefighter who became a racehorse owner and, from 1832 to 1837, a Member of Parliament. Early life Gully was born at Wick, near Bath, the son of an innkeeper who became ...

. Gully also owned

, on which he won the

. He was fortunate to win the 1856 Oaks on Mincepie – the runner-up, ridden by Robert Sly, should have won easily. He won his final classic, the 1859 2,000 Guineas, for his other brother William, on The Promised Land. The 1854 Ascot Gold Cup gave him one of the greatest races of his career, when he beat Kingston by a head on the famous West Australian. His final ride came at

Epsom Epsom is the principal town of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, about south of central London. The town is first recorded as ''Ebesham'' in the 10th century and its name probably derives from that of a Saxon landowner. The ...

on 17 April 1863 on a horse called Golden Dust that finished second. He died on 4 January 1868, aged 37.

Riding style and personality

Day was a "natural horseman" with "exceptionally fine judgement", and was perceived as a "more accomplished rider" than his brothers. George Lowe of the Sporting Life described him as "absolute perfection in seat and hands, and the way he dropped on an opponent in the last fifty yards could never be forgotten". Physically, he was "long in the leg, but very perfectly made." In common with other members of his family, he was not entirely trustworthy. In the 1859 Derby, he finished third on Trumpeter, beaten half a length and a neck by Musjid and Marionette, a horse he had a part share in. He was threatened with not being able to ride again until he disposed of this share. Alfred enjoyed riding to hounds on his favourite horse, Stonehenge.

Major wins

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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 (1,609 ...

- (2) - '' The Flea (1849)'', ''

Kate Kate name may refer to: People and fictional characters * Kate (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname * Gyula Káté (born 1982), Hungarian amateur boxer * Lauren Kate (born 1981), American autho ...

(1852)'' *

2,000 Guineas Stakes 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 (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

- (3) - ''

(1850)'', '' The Hermit (1854)'', '' The Promised Land (1859)'' *

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 (4,014 ...

- (3) - ''

(1847, 1848)'', '' West Australian (1854)'' *

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 o ...

- ''

(1854)'' *

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 yards (2, ...

- '' Mincepie (1856)''

References

Bibliography

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Alfred 1830 births 1868 deaths British jockeys