Career
Arnull hailed from a family of jockeys that dominated British horse racing in the latter part of the 18th century and early 19th. Such was their dominance that "Newmarket without an Arnull would.. have seemed strange" Sam was described as a "quiet and unassuming man" and was a man of some means, being able to ride out at hunts on well-turned out horses, with a well-dressed groom. He and his family were known for being more trustworthy than other jockeys of the day.
Foreign example, in spite of the fact he found that "wasting was a sore burden.. performed the unrivalled feat of knocking off 7 lbs in a single day" to meet the weight for a horse he wanted to ride.
1780 Derby The inaugural running of the Derby was low key compared to the event which it was to become. At the time it merited but a small notice in the London Evening Post of 6 May 1780 but in retrospect was said to have "fairly caught hold on the public imagination".
Arnull is said to have been seen going to post wearing: a black velvet "cap with a long French peak, and a bow of black satin riband behind long hair falling to the shoulders, a white cambric handkerchief, in ample folds, tied at the back. A long body coat with flaps, wide skirts opening at the sides as well as before and behind knee-breeches strapped just below the knee white cotton stockings, Oxford shoes and silver buckles The breeches that Arnull wore on the day now hang inside the Jockey Club.
At Nottingham the following year, suspicion turned on Arnull when Diomed lost to what was considered "a very far inferior horse", losing Bunbury a large sum of money.
The defeat sickened Bunbury and was a factor in Diomed"s retirement. Arnull died in Newmarket in 1800. His death notice declared that "he is supposed not to leave a better behind him.".