John Singleton, (1776 – 1802) was an
English horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...
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 ...
of the late 18th and early 19th century. He was actually the third John Singleton from the same family to achieve prominence in racing circles, following his
father John and his
great uncle John.
His father John married the daughter of the
groom
A bridegroom (often shortened to groom) is a man who is about to be married or who is newlywed.
When marrying, the bridegroom's future spouse (if female) is usually referred to as the bride. A bridegroom is typically attended by a best man an ...
at his master
Lord Rockingham's stud. Singleton was the product of this marriage and was born in France. He was being lined up to go into a medical career, under the tutelage of his maternal uncle who was a surgeon in
Sheffield. Instead, he ran away to
Newmarket to the stables of the
Duke of Bedford.
For Bedford, Singleton rode to victory in three
British Classic Races
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 own ...
- the 1791
Oaks on Portia (aged just, the 1793
Oaks on Caelia and, his most famous victory, the 1797
Derby on an unnamed
colt by Fidget. Back in his family's native
Yorkshire he also won the 1802
St. Leger
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 d ...
on
Orville for
Lord Fitzwilliam, who had inherited the estates of his uncle, Lord Rockingham, the man who had provided Singleton's father and great uncle with so many of their victories, and also employed his maternal grandfather as stud groom.
Singleton died two months later at the age of 26, "highly respected, esteemed and lamented" by the
Newmarket racing community.
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 ...
- ''
Colt by Fidget (1797)''
*
Epsom Oaks - ''
Portia
Portia may refer to:
Biology
* ''Portia'' (spider), a genus of jumping spiders
*'' Anaea troglodyta'' or Portia, a brush-footed butterfly
*Portia tree, a plant native to Polynesia
Medication
A form of birth control made of ethinylestradiol/lev ...
(1791)'', ''
Caelia
Caelia (or Celia) is a Fairy Queen in Richard Johnson's romance ''Tom a Lincoln''. Caelia is the ruler of an island called "Fairy Land," populated by women who have slain their warmongering men. She begs Tom and his companions to stay on the islan ...
(1793)''
*
St Leger - ''
Orville (1802)''
References
Bibliography
*
*
1776 births
1802 deaths
English jockeys
{{England-horseracing-bio-stub