John Watts (jockey)

John Watts
John Watts caricatured in Vanity Fair, 1887
Occupation	Jockey
Born	1861 , United Kingdom
Died	1902 Esher
Major racing wins
British Classic Race wins: 2,000 Guineas (2) 1,000 Guineas (4) Epsom Oaks (4) Epsom Derby (5) St. Leger Stakes (5)
Significant horses
Persimmon, Merry Hampton, Ladas Sainfoin,

John "Jack" Watts was a British flat-race jockey. In a career that lasted from 1880 until 1900 he rode the winners of 19 Classics. He was noted for his quiet and unspectacular style and undemonstrative personality. On his retirement from riding he became a trainer but died two years later.

Jack Watts was born at in 1860. In his mid teens he was apprenticed to the trainer Tom Cannon at Danebury, and rode his first winner in 1876. In 1878 he moved to Newmarket and joined the successful stable of Richard Marsh. His association with Marsh would last throughout his career.

Marsh’s patrons included the King Edward VII and the Duke of Hamilton, providing Watts with a string of top class rides. His major winners for the Duke included Ossian (St Leger) and Miss Jummy (1000 Guineas, Oaks), while the Prince provided him with probably his best horse, the Derby winner Persimmon. Watts was less fortunate with the Prince’s second Derby winner, Diamond Jubilee, who loathed the jockey and tried to attack him before the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Watts subsequently gave up the ride on the temperamental colt.

Watts was also successful when riding for other owners and trainers including Mathew Dawson and John Porter for whom he rode the Derby winners Ladas and Sainfoin respectively.

By 1895 Watts was having serious weight problems and the constant “wasting” was affecting his health. He resolved to retire at the end of 1895, but was persuaded to reconsider by Marsh. Watts finally retired in 1900 and set himself up as a trainer at Newmarket, where his patrons included the King. He health was never good, however and he died after falling ill at a race meeting at Sandown in July 1902. He was forty-one years old. His funeral on 2 August was attended by "almost the entire town" of Newmarket.