Dennis Fitzpatrick (1764–1806) was an Irish, five-times

British Classic The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their o ...

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 was the first Irish professional jockey to ride in England and competed in some of the most notable match races of the 19th century versus fellow jockey

Frank Buckle Francis Buckle (1766–1832), known to the British horse racing public as "The Governor", was an English jockey, who has been described as "the jockey non-pareil" of the opening quarter of the 19th century, and the man who "brought respectabi ...

Career

Fitzpatrick grew up in Ireland, where his father was a tenant farmer of

Lord Clermont Earl of Middleton was a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created 1 October 1656 for army officer John Middleton, together with the subsidiary title Lord Clermont and Fettercairn, also in the Peerage of Scotland. In 1674, he was succeed ...

, and began his riding career there. It was Lord Clermont who brought Fitzpatrick to ride in England, although he would achieve greater success for

Lord Egremont Earl of Egremont was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1749, along with the subsidiary title Baron of Cockermouth, in Cumberland, for Algernon Seymour, 7th Duke of Somerset, with remainder to his nephews Sir Charles ...

, for whom he won the 1805 Derby on Cardinal Beaufort, and three Oaks with

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(1788),

Platina Platina is a municipality ''( município)'' in the state of São Paulo in Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and ...

(1795) and

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(1800). His first victory in the race came on

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in 1787. He was also the favourite rider of Mr Cookson and George Watson. He was a noted rider of match races, in 1803 famously riding Gaoler to beat Derby winner Orlando, ridden by Frank Buckle, over the Rowley Mile. The pair were the two best mile horses of their day and the defeat was one of only two Orlando faced in twelve races. Another famous match versus Buckle took place at the Newmarket Craven meeting of 1799. Fitzpatrick on Diamond took on Hambletonian, ridden by Buckle, over four miles, one furlong and 138 yards of the Beacon Course, with every vacant room in the town booked up weeks in advance and an unprecedented amount of betting activity, estimated at 250,000 guineas. Diamond went down by half a neck to his opponent for the 3,000

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prize. He also met Buckle in a match between Timothy and Warter, Fitzpatrick riding the former in "one of the best races ever rode ic. For his own part, Buckle considered Fitzpatrick to be a superior jockey, who along with

Sam Chifney Sr. Samuel "Sam" Chifney (''c.'' 1753 – 8 January 1807), also known as Sam Chifney Sr., Sam Chifney the Elder or Old Sam Chifney to distinguish him from his son, was an English jockey. He was a pioneer of professional race-riding, developing a tra ...

was a "model of perfection". However, Fitzpatrick's career and life were cut short in their prime. Only one year after his Derby success, the wasting regime he undertook to control his riding weight brought on a cold that killed him.

Major wins

Great Britain *

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 ...

- '' Cardinal Beaufort (1805)'' * Epsom Oaks - (4) - ''

(1787)'', ''

(1788)'', ''

(1795)'', ''

(1800)''

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, Dennis 1764 births 1806 deaths Irish jockeys