A ladies silk scarf commemorating the victory of Merry Hampton in the 1887 Derby

A ladies silk scarf commemorating the victory of Merry Hampton in the 1887 Derby,
with central portrait of Mr Abington's colt with John Watts up, surrounded by vignettes with printed details of winners since 1780, yellow border, approx. 84cm. square

Merry Hampton was John Watts's first Derby winner. The colt was trained at the Bedford Lodge Stables in Newmarket by Martin Gurry.

Lots 10 to 34 Memorabilia relating to the Royal Jockey John Watts (1861-1902) and the jockey Kempton Cannon (1879-1951). The connection between the two jockeys being that Watts's widow married Cannon. Provenance: by family descent.

John (Jack as he was usually known) was born on 9th May 1861 at Stockbridge, Hampshire. He became apprenticed to Tom Cannon at Danebury and rode his first winner, Aristocrat (dead-heat), at Salisbury on 25th May 1876. In 1878 Watts moved to Newmarket to work at trainer Richard Marsh’s Lordship Farm stables and from where he would enjoy a highly successful career in the saddle. He rode 20 Classic victories, comprising five wins in the Derby and St Leger, four victories in the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks and two successes in the 2,000 Guineas. Richard Marsh had many important patrons, including the Duke of Hamilton and Lord Rosebery, but none more so than the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). John Watts is perhaps best remembered for his partnership with the Prince of Wales’s colt Persimmon who won the Derby and St Leger in 1896 and many other important races including the Gold Cup at Ascot and the Eclipse Stakes. John Watts retired in 1900 to turn to training. It is said that years of serious wasting to make riding weights caught up with him and his health failed. He collapsed at Sandown Park races on 19th July 1902 and died 10 days later, aged 41. It is reported that his funeral in Newmarket was attended by ‘almost the entire town.’ He was buried in Newmarket cemetery. His two sons - John Evelyn & Harry Alexander (killed in action, WW1) both became jockeys. John won the 1902 Cambridgeshire on Ballantrae. In 1911 his John Watts's widow married the jockey Kempton Cannon, son of Tom of Danebury. Through the family inheritances memorabilia relating to Kempton Cannon forms part of the collection being offered at the auction. Kempton Cannon won three Classic races, the St Leger on Doricles in 1901, and the 2,000 Guineas and Derby double on St. Amant in 1904. Both horses were owned by Mr Leopold de Rothcshild.