100 years on: Remembering Kingsclere legend and Newbury Racecourse founder John Porter
Today (Monday) marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Kingsclere legend John Porter – the most successful racehorse trainer in Victorian times and the founder of Newbury Racecourse.
The death of Mr Porter, who spent much of his life living in Kingsclere, warranted a full page tribute in the February 23, 1922 edition of the Newbury Weekly News, including a message from King George V, who spoke of his sadness having known Mr Porter “for so many years”.
Mr Porter, born March 2, 1838, in Rugeley, Staffordshire, became a key figure within both Kingsclere and Newbury, establishing himself as a “leading spirit” of the Hampshire village.
He had left school at 14, ignoring his father’s wishes to study law – instead filling his summer holiday assisting a local trainer, before becoming a lightweight jockey in Sussex.
Fast forward 10 years, Mr Porter – described by the NWN as “a man of pleasing personality” whose “success had not spoiled him” – was taken on by Sir Joseph Hawley as trainer for his 12 horses at Cannon Heath, just south of Kingsclere, bringing with him his newly married wife Emily Jane.
The conditions at Cannon Heath were poor, and it was Sir Joseph Hawley that had Park House Stables built in the shelter of Cottington’s Hill four years later, incorporating some of Mr Porter’s ideas.
Soon the winners came, ‘Blue Gown’ winning the Derby in 1868 and many more followed.
In 1875, upon Mr Hawley’s death, Mr Porter was able to purchase the estate for £4,000 – half of what it had originally cost to build – and after a few lean years the investment started to pay off, with the stables attracting many well-to-do owners entrusting their horses to Mr Porter to train.
The 1880s were particularly successful, with the 1st Duke of Westminster and the Prince of Wales as clients.
Ormonde was the most successful horse he trained, winning the three great races – the 2,000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger – in 1886.
The same year saw the opening of Kingsclere’s Albert Hall at 25 Swan Street, which was largely instigated by John Porter – and is now used by the Kingsclere Performing Arts College.
In all, Mr Porter trained seven Derby winners, the last being in 1899 with ‘Flying Fox’, grandsire of ‘Ormonde’. Each time there were grand celebrations in the village, and even the inmates of the workhouse treated to a feast.
Mr Porter retired from training around 1905, having set up Kingsclere Racing Stables Ltd with two of his patrons, who employed William Waugh to continue training.
He initially moved to Stratton Farm, which he renamed ‘Strattons’ just west of Kingsclere, to set up a stud.
However, Mr Porter was also immersed in a much grander project which he had been thinking of for some time – to build a racecourse at Newbury.
The racecourse subsequently opened in September 1905.
Mr Porter later moved to a house in Donnington around 1908, which he renamed ‘Ormonde House’ after his favourite racehorse – and which eventually became part of the old Newbury College.
Newbury Racecourse was managed by Mr Porter right up until his sudden death on February 21, 1922 – when he collapsed unexpectedly.
His passing was widely reported in newspapers around the world, such was his legendary status.
The NWN reported that “the town and neighbourhood has lost its best-known personality” who had done “as much as any man to maintain the reputation of the Turf”.
For his funeral on February 24, he was brought back to Kingsclere to be buried with his first wife Emily, in the Porter tomb in the grounds of St Mary’s Church – which remains there to this day.
The NWN reported that “crowds gathered in the streets long before the time for the passing of the procession, and when it made its way up Northbrook Street and Cheap Street, throngs of people stood in sympathetic silence with heads bared in honour of a good townsman and one who made the name of Newbury known throughout the country.”
Mr Porter had eight children with Emily – four sons and four daughters – and all his daughters were married in St Mary’s.
He married Isabel Pilsbury in London in 1903 following Emily’s death in May 1902.
For more on Mr Porter’s story, Gareth Martin of the Kingsclere Local History Association will be holding a mini exhibition at St Mary’s Church on the weekend of March 12 and 13.
Mr Martin, who is also writing a booklet on Mr Porter’s life and legacy, will host the event from 12pm to 5pm on Saturday and 12.30pm to 5pm on Sunday.
For more information, email GarethAlanMartin@gmail.com.
