Frederick Darling (1884–1953) was a British

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

racehorse trainer who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby winners. Darling's father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, near

Avebury Avebury () is a Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles, around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, in southwest England. One of the best known prehistoric sites in Britain, it contains the largest megalithic stone circle in ...

in Wiltshire, who trained two Derby winners himself. Fred initially started training

National Hunt In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: ...

racehorses for Lady de Bathe at Kentford near Newmarket, and then went to train in Germany. He returned to Britain in 1913 to take over the Beckhampton stables when his father retired, and continued to train there until his own retirement in 1947. In 1928 he bought Billy Higgs' stud at Blackland or Blacklands, a few miles west of Beckhampton. Darling was succeeded as trainer at Beckhampton by

Noel Murless Sir Charles Francis Noel Murless (24 March 19109 May 1987) was an English racehorse trainer who one of the most successful of the twentieth century. Murless began his career as a trainer in 1935 at Hambleton Lodge in Yorkshire before moving to H ...

. Amongst his most successful horses were

Hurry On Hurry On (7 May 1913 – 1936) was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire that revived the Matchem sire line.Leicester, Sir Charles, "Bloodstock Breeding", J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969 English trainer Fred Darling called Hurry ...

, the unbeaten St. Leger winner of 1916; Sun Chariot who won three British Classic Races in 1942; and

Tudor Minstrel Tudor Minstrel (1944–1971) was a British-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from the spring of 1946 until September 1947 he ran ten times and won eight races. He was unbeaten in four races in 1946, a year in wh ...

, the 2,000 Guineas winner of 1947. From 1932 until his retirement Darling's stable jockey was Gordon Richards. He is commemorated by the

Fred Darling Stakes The Fred Darling Stakes is a Group races, Group 3 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old Filly, fillies. It is run over a distance of 7 furl ...

, run at

Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat ...

. Fred Darling was Champion Trainer six times: in 1926, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1947. As well as a trainer, he was a breeder of thoroughbreds and bred

Pinza Pinza (1950–1977) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted just over a year– from July 1952 until July 1953– he ran seven times and won five races. He was the best British colt of his generation in 1953, ...

, who won the Derby in 1953. He trained the winners of 19 English Classic Races, as follows; 2,000 Guineas (5) *

Manna Manna ( he, מָן, mān, ; ar, اَلْمَنُّ; sometimes or archaically spelled mana) is, according to the Bible, an edible substance which God provided for the Israelites during their travels in the desert during the 40-year period follow ...

(1925), Cameronian (1931), Pasch (1938), Big Game (1942),

(1947)

1,000 Guineas 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) *

Four Course Four Course (1928 – 1932) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of the best two-year-old fillies of her generation in England when she won three of her four races, namely the July Stakes, Richmond Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes. I ...

(1931), Sun Chariot (1942) Epsom Derby (7) * Captain Cuttle (1922),

(1925),

Coronach A coronach (also written coranich, corrinoch, coranach, cronach, etc.) is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of the Goll, being the third part of a round of keening, the traditional improvised singing at a death, wake or funeral in the Highlands of S ...

(1926), Cameronian (1931),

Bois Roussel Bois Roussel (1935–1955) was a French-bred Thoroughbred champion horse racing, racehorse and a leading broodmare sire (horse), sire. He won the 1938 Epsom Derby on his second racecourse appearance. Background He was named for Haras du Bois-Rou ...

(1938), Pont l'Eveque (1940),

Owen Tudor Sir Owen Tudor (, 2 February 1461) was a Welsh courtier and the second husband of Queen Catherine of Valois (1401–1437), widow of King Henry V of England. He was the grandfather of Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty. Background Owe ...

(1941)

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) * Commotion (1941), Sun Chariot (1942)

St. Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a ...

(3) *

(1916),

(1926), Sun Chariot (1942)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darling, Fred British racehorse trainers British racehorse owners and breeders Owners of Epsom Derby winners 1884 births 1953 deaths