About Henry Custance
Lived 1842 – 1908 (aged 66). Henry Custance was a British jockey.
Henry Custance (27 February 1842 - 19 April 1908) was a British jockey who won the Derby three times in the 1860s and 1870s.
Riding career
Henry was born in Peterborough on 27 February 1842, the son of postman Samuel Custance and his wife Elizabeth Carpenter.
He began riding in pony races at Ramsey, Cambridgeshire at the age of 13, and won a contest for a saddle, when he weighed only four stone. He was unsuccessful finding employment in Newmarket, so moved to Epsom to become apprentice to Ned Smith. There he had, in his own words, "a jolly though rather a rough time".
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Important facts
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Henry Custance's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Henry Custance?
English jockey
When was Henry Custance born?
Henry Custance was born on 17 January 1842 in Peterborough.
When did Henry Custance die?
Henry Custance died on 17 January 1908 in Leicester.
What was Henry Custance's occupation?
Henry Custance was a jockey.
What nationality was Henry Custance?
Henry Custance was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Henry Custance. https://biography.guide/henry-custance/
MLA: "Henry Custance." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/henry-custance/.
Chicago: "Henry Custance." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/henry-custance/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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