Career
Fred’s father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, Wiltshire who trained two Derby winners himself. Fred initially started training National Hunt racehorses for Lady de Bathe (Lillie Langtry) 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.
He was succeeded as trainer at Beckhampton by Noel Murless.
From 1932 until his retirement Darling"s stable jockey was Gordon Richards. He is commemorated by the Fred Darling Stakes, run at Newbury Racecourse.
Fred Darling was Champion Trainer six times - in 1926, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1942 and 1947. He trained the winners of 19 English Classic Races as follows;
2,000 Guineas (5)
Manna (1925), Cameronian (1931), Pasch (1938), Big Game (1942), Tudor Minstrel (1947)
1,000 Guineas (2)
Four Course (1931), Sun Chariot (1942)
Epsom Derby (7)
Captain Cuttle (1922), Manna (1925), Coronach (1926), Cameronian (1931), Bois Roussel (1938), Pont l"Eveque (1940), Owen Tudor (1941)
Epsom Oaks (2)
Commotion (1941), Sun Chariot (1942)
Saint Leger Stakes (3)
Hurry On (1916), Coronach (1926), Sun Chariot (1942).