Robert Sherwood

Robert William Sherwood (1835–1894) was a British jockey and racehorse trainer who won The Derby in both capacities (with Wild Dayrell in 1855 as a jockey, and St. Gatien in a dead heat in 1884 as a trainer).

Riding career

Sherwood was born in Epsom in 1835, to trainer Ralph, who would go on to train the 1838 Derby winner Amato. He was one of six children.

Early career success came in 1853, when he won a French Oaks/Derby double on Jouvence, which was trained by his father. He then won the 1855 Derby on Wild Dayrell. The horse had been bred, owned and trained by people with no racing experience, and thus was not highly regarded. However, after being sent to professional trainer, John Rickaby, the horse began to shine, and ten days before the Derby, Sherwood rode him in a trial which he won comfortably. As word spread, the stable became subject to several attempts at sabotage and bribery, but these were staved off. In the race itself, Wild Dayrell, won easily by a length.

A photograph of the horse was taken in 1856 and is the earliest known photo of a Derby winner.

Training career

In 1863, Robert, together with his brother Tom, moved to Hong Kong for several years to ride and train for the merchant Robert Jardine and others,