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The Demon: The Life of George Fordham
The finest jockey rider on the English turf during the nineteenth century was George Fordhamlauded throughout the sport as the Demon.
Such was the judgment of his contemporaries from jockeys and trainers to owners and chroniclers. Yet history has not been kind to Fordham. Fate saw his career overshadowed by that of bitter rival Fred Archer, a jockey deemed his inferior but whose suicide invoked immortality.
The question if Archer is fit to be mentioned in the same breath as twentieth-century icons Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott, just how good a jockey does that make the unsung George Fordham?
Acclaimed turf historian Michael Tanner shines a light on the life of this remarkable jockey and places him at long last atop the pedestal he deserves.
Such was the judgment of his contemporaries from jockeys and trainers to owners and chroniclers. Yet history has not been kind to Fordham. Fate saw his career overshadowed by that of bitter rival Fred Archer, a jockey deemed his inferior but whose suicide invoked immortality.
The question if Archer is fit to be mentioned in the same breath as twentieth-century icons Gordon Richards and Lester Piggott, just how good a jockey does that make the unsung George Fordham?
Acclaimed turf historian Michael Tanner shines a light on the life of this remarkable jockey and places him at long last atop the pedestal he deserves.
424 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2017
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 29, 2017
This is a must-have for every history buff and horseracing fan. I always say I started to follow racing from the mid-1800s and this is one excellent reason why I feel that I have. Tanner simply embeds the reader in that period quite naturally, not just recording Fordham's life and times, but putting it all into context.
Fordham has always been one of my favourite jockeys, so it's been a long and worthwhile wait to finally be able to read his biography. The references are meticulously researched and there are so many relevant quotes from the day. I especially enjoyed the contemporary descriptions of horses and races, because the art of the day didn't always accurately portray a horse.
This makes the reader feel they were there and glad to be there, at that.
A masterpiece.
Fordham has always been one of my favourite jockeys, so it's been a long and worthwhile wait to finally be able to read his biography. The references are meticulously researched and there are so many relevant quotes from the day. I especially enjoyed the contemporary descriptions of horses and races, because the art of the day didn't always accurately portray a horse.
This makes the reader feel they were there and glad to be there, at that.
A masterpiece.
Displaying 1 of 1 review