Nat Flatman's grave, All Saints Church, Newmarket 1810 - 1860
Nat Flatman, Elnathan "Nat" Flatman (1810-1860) British Champion flat racing jockey Flatman was known as an inelegant rider who lacked the "horsemanship and flashes of genius" of his contemporary Frank Butler. Instead, his success was attributed to his dependability or, put another way, to "a steady course of good riding and good conduct, extending over many years, rather than to any more characteristic qualities of jockeyship."He was not a whip jockey. He "earned a reputation for honesty and talent combined, excelled by none of his compeers. "Elsewhere, it is said that he rode scrupulously to orders and could not be induced to bet. Some other accounts dispute this, saying he occasionally bet like all jockeys, but was careful and shrewd. It is said that even though he rode many trials of horses, he would never afterwards reveal how they had performed. He was, in fact, "One of the most honourable and meritorious men of his class ever encountered." "He was a pleasant, cheerful fellow, a thoroughly good sportsman, and charitable withal." The dead heat between his horse Gibraltar and Crucifix in the 1839 Criterion Stakes has been described as "the race ... whereby his fame was established". However, his Doncaster Cup defeat of The Flying Dutchman on Voltigeur is often called his greatest triumph. It was the only time Flying Dutchman was beaten. Other races that have been put forward as highlights of his career are the 1834 Goodwood Cup on Glencoe and the 1846 Ascot Gold Cup on Alarm. Flatman himself regarded Alarm as the best horse he rode. See Wikipedia for further details.
Size: 3845px × 5580px
Location: All Saints Church, Newmarket, Suffolk, England. UK
Photo credit: © Lovelylight / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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