Jem Chapple

Jem Chapple
Occupation	Jockey
Born	1801/1802 Exeter, Devon
Died	10 June 1858
Resting place	Eriswell, Suffolk
Major racing wins
Major races Epsom Derby (1833, 1838) Epsom Oaks (1833)
Significant horses
Amato, Dangerous, Vespa

James "Jem" Chapple (1801/1802 - 10 June 1858) was a British Classic-winning jockey. A "first-class and thoroughly English jockey" he won the Derby-Oaks double in 1833, and a further Derby in 1838.

He was born in Exeter, Devon in 1801 or 1802, but learnt his trade at Frank Neale's stable in Newmarket. He lived in Beccles and Waveney, and apart from some time spent in Northleach, Gloucestershire - rode almost exclusively at Newmarket. On his riding, it is said he worked "like a galley slave".

His greatest success came in 1833, when he won both the Derby and Oaks, riding Dangerous and 50/1 outsider Vespa respectively. The former win was not without controversy, however, as it is reported that Dangerous was a four-year-old, and thus ineligible for the Derby (a race for three-year-olds). He was also lame at the start, Chapple stating that he would not have given a pint of porter for his chance. He would go on to win a legitimate Derby in 1838 on the brown colt, Amato. This was to be the only time the horse raced, as he was injured soon after winning and retired.

After this, having won enough to fit his profession around his leisure time, Chapple rarely rode except for Sir Gilbert Heathcote, Amato's owner. Late in his career, however, he made a significant return to the track ("as fresh as paint") when winning the 1850 Autumn Double - the Cesarewitch on Mr Payne’s Glauca and the Cambridgeshire on Mr. Gratwicke’s Landgrave.

...
Wikipedia