Career
Forth rose to prominence in the horseracing world late in life. There is no record of him having any major race victories as a young man, either as jockey or trainer. He therefore asked Crockford to change his bet, and the bookmaker consented, considering neither to have a chance.
Forth later became embroiled in a Derby scandal when Leander, owned by a German horse-dealer friend of his, broke its leg and died running in the 1844 Derby.
Accusations were made that Leander was a four-year-old and therefore ineligible for the race (the Derby being a race for three-year-olds). To settle the matter, the horse was disinterred to check its mouth, as a way of telling its correct age.
On exhumation, however, the horse"s lower jaw was found to be missing, Forth having removed it earlier to protect his friend. Both Forth"s Derby winners were owned by G. William Gratwicke of Angmering, Sussex, heir to a fortune.
Gratwicke had Frederick buried on his estate, under what is now the 18th green of Ham Manor golf course.
, The Merry Monarch (1845).