Sam Chifney

Background

He was the younger son of a prominent 18th century jockey, also called Samuel Chifney. Samuel Chifney was born in 1786.

Education

At 13, Chifney was apprenticed to Frank Smallman, his maternal uncle.

Career

In terms of talent, he reportedly outshone all his peers, but "he owned a self-destruct button and had a fatal tendency to press it". He stood at 5 feet 6 inches tall and struggled with weight. He was once referred to as "the long, thin, lazy lad".

He had a strong friendship with fellow jockey Jem Robinson, and Robinson modelled his riding style on Chifney.

From the age of 6, he was out on Newmarket gallops twice a day, riding the Prince of Wales" Kit Karr under the tuition of his father. The father taught the son the slack rein style he himself used, known as "the Chifney rush".

Smallman trained in Hertfordshire for the Earl of Oxford and once it became clear how successful the Smallman-Chifney pairing was, the Prince of Wales took on Smallman as his trainer. Chifney became the Prince"s retained jockey at a fee of £8 per annum.

He first rode for the Prince of Wales at the Stockbridge meeting in 1802.

Chifney arrived as a major jockey in Newmarket"s Claret Stakes in the spring of 1805. On board Pavilion for Lord Darlington, he beat the previous year"s Derby, Oaks and Saint Leger winners partnered by Bill Arnull, Bill Clift and Frank Buckle

Twice he took the Derby on Sam, a horse called after himself, in 1818, and on Sailor in 1820. The One Thousand Guineas also fell to him in 1843, when he rode Extempore, being at the time fifty-seven years old.

The two brothers also had a small stud of their own, but this led them into difficulties, and the horses had to be sold in June 1834.

Great Britain

1,000 Guineas - Extempore (1843)

2,000 Guineas - Cwrw (1812)

Epsom Oaks - (5) - Briseis (1807), Sorcery (1811), Landscape (1816), Shoveler (1819), Wings (1825)

Epsom Derby - (2) - Sam (1818), Sailor (1820).

Achievements

• This failing meant "his talent was not converted into the kind of concrete achievement that stands the test of time". He was five times winner of the Oaks, on Briseis in 1807, on Sorcery in 1811, on Landscape in 1816, on Shoveller in 1819, and on Wings in 1823.

Personality

He was too lazy to waste, which it is reported he thought "akin to Chinese water torture".