Charlie Maidment - Jockey's Tale

Charles Maidment was one of this country’s finest jockeys. Dorset born & bred, Charlie was born in Sixpenny Handley in 1845 and lived for several years in Blandford before he married.

With 76 wins each, he shared the Jockey’s Championship with William Gray in 1870 and then with George Fordham the following year with 86 each. In 1871, he won the One Thousand Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger on Hannah. The following year he won the Derby on Cremorne and the St Leger on Wenlock. After his 1872 Derby win, he suffered a short illness. This it is reckoned to have been due to the aniline dye in his silk jockey’s jacket.

Sadly, Charlie Maidment was not good at managing his money. Despite amassing a fortune from his winnings he squandered it and in 1875 was listed in the Cambridge Bankruptcy Court. Owners then tended to shun him until he rode Kisber to win the 1876 Derby at Epsom.

He married Mary Vickery Percy and they had four daughters. However, she had health issues. The Bury & Norwich Post reported her death in 1874 at Park-Villa, Park Lane, Newmarket, at the age of just 29, due to epilepsy.

Charlie Maidment had not learnt from his previous experiences and continued to waste his earnings. This meant that he was forced to continue working long into his old age exercising horses from Newmarket stables. He died in the town in December 1926 at the age of 81 years.

In the National Gallery, there is a photographic portrait of Dorset born jockey, Charlie Maidment.

(Source: Jockeypedia)

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