Five Leviathans Of England's Turf

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 27

Five Leviathans Of England's Turf

(Written for THE SUN b.

AMONG THOSE "layers” Who, through the magnitude of their transactions, have occupied a specially prominent position on the Turf, there is one quintet that has never been eclipsed. This was composed of Messrs Crockford, Davis, Gully, Ridsdale, and Swindell. They had points in common. Each was a man of integrity; each did a vast business; and each amassed a fortune. William Crockford, the first of the group, began life as a fishmonger, with a shop near Temple Bar. He soon dropped his fish business, and opened a gambling club in St. James’s Street. It was a highly successful venture; for the evening "bank” was never less than £IO,OOO, practically all of which went into the proprietor’s pocket. He thus made his debut on the Turf with the advantage of a large capital. This, added to luck and judgment, secured him an impregnable position in the “ring.” But perhaps his strongest point was his honesty; for he was never known to dispute a bet he had accepted; and, when he lost, he paid ready money.” There is a queer tale of Crockford and the Oaks of 1844. He had backed Princess for several thousand pounds. On the previous night he was seized with paralysis, and died in his chair. The next morning Princess won. As, however, death cancels bets, those who "stood in” with him, propped the corpse up in a window, and returning race-goers were deceived into thinking him still alive, but “looking rather odd,” as some of them said. “The Leviathan.” A very big figure to follow Crockford was that of Davis, to whom was first given the description of “the Leviathan.” He, too, began in a small way, laying odds to the humble sixpences and shillings of his fellow workmen in the carpenter's shop where he was employed. But the small sums mounted up; and from sixpences and shillings he soon advanced to sovereigns. His first hit was over the Two Thousand Guineas. In this event he backed the winner for himself, and also laid the odds against it for his clients.

Following up this "safety-first” system, and scrupulous about settling his losses promptly, Davis soon had a big connection. Also, and unlike the majority of his competitors, he •was distinguished for keeping a civil tongue in his head. “Punctual payment, with a pleasant courtesy of words,” was his motto, and he adhered to it rigidly. But another ot his assets was that he was always prepared to offer just a point better odds than anybody else. There Is no getting over the fact that Chance played a big part in the successful Turf career of Davis. As a very young man, he was employed to help In building the Subscription Rooms at Newmarket. This brought him Into close touch with jockeys and

stablemen and trainers, and he picked up information from them which he knew how to turn to profit. "It was a line thing,” he said, “for a small maa, as I was in those days, to be able to handle the stick at both ends.” He

>y HORACE WYNDHAM.)

also once dreamed (or said he did) the winner of the Derby. Still, although this turned out happily, he was wise enough to ignore all further visions, preferring his own judgment. No bookmaker ever had a more remarkable career than had John Gully. Beginning as a butcher, he developed first, Into a prize-fighter, then into a publican, then into a bookmaker, and then into a Member of Parliament. As a pugilist, he had an historic “mill” with Henry Pearce (the “Game Chicken”), champion of England. After 64 rounds Gully was nearly killed; but he had shown such pluck and promise that he was taken up by the great Tom Cribb and others of "the fancy.”

From the- prize-ring to the bettingring (with an interval of keeping a public house) was Gully’s next step. He prospered there tremendously and figured also as an owner. In 1832, in partnership with Robert Ridsdale, he won both the Derby and the St. Leger, thereby clearing £85.000. Later on, he won two more Derbys, as well as the Oaks and the Guineas. But he probably made most of his huge fortune by "working commissions” for important owners. His were the days of really heavy betting; and vast sums changed hands over every event on the card even at quite small meetings. John Gully’s extraordinary luck followed him when he left the Turf for politics, and he successfully contested Pontefract. He married twice, and, dying at the age of 80, left a quiverful ot 24 sons and daughters. Ups And Downs.

Robert Ridsdale. wbo was Gully's partner for several years, was ot similarly obscure origin. A Yorkshireman by birth, he began as a groom in the employment of the Earl of Durham. On giving up this work, he had the luck to fall in with the Hon. Edward Petre. a well-known owner. He soon acquired many valuable stable secrets, “and won so much cash from the bookmakers that lie was Invited by Gully to “go in” with him. While the partnership lasted, the pair of them made an immense sum. But the partnership did not last long. There was a quarrel over the division of the spoils, and Gully, losing his temper, assaulted Ridsdale with a hunting-crop. As a result, there was an action at York Assizes, and Gully had to pay £SOO damages. Notwithstanding all the money he had made, Ridsdale came to grief. His star set when he fell out with Gully, and although one year’s Derby and St. Leger brought him £70,000, he died in a ditch with three halfpence in his pocket. Frederick Swindell, the last of the "Leviathans” in this series, did not live up to his name. On the contrary, he showed that he was much better than it. Swindell's career followed the normal lines of all the big practitioners. Thus, he started by putting a humble shilling on a horse. But, as he seemed to know by instinct on which one to put his shillings, he soon found himself with enough cash in his pocket to become the landlord of a London public house where the customers combined drinking beer with “backing their fancy.” As Mine Host, he laid liberal odds, and wag careful to keep accurate accounts and to settle losses at once. Among his clients were a number of butlers and valets in the service of wealthy owners. From these, he secured a great deal of Information that was worth having. Before long, Swindell was so well thought of that he was entrusted to execute commissions for several of the big West-end “plungers.” He also "worked jobs” for owners who wished to remain in the background. One of his best patrons was Sir Joseph Hawley, who won the Derby of 1858 and several other “classics.” Fortune smiled on him, and he was soon at the top of the tree In his particular business. Dying, full of years, Frederick Swindell left a reputation for straight-dealing and a bank balance of £160,000 .Some people do contrive to make money on the Turf . . . But these people are much more often layers than backers! Authors’ Club, Whitehall.