Other meanings of John Hammond (racehorse trainer)
Biography
John Hammond (1855–1934) was a British racehorse trainer active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, best known for conditioning the dual Classic winner Isinglass and for his long association with the owner Harry McCalmont.
John Hammond was born in 1855 in Newmarket, Suffolk, into a family with deep roots in the turf. He began as a stable lad and rose to become a trainer, taking out a licence in the late 1870s. His early patrons included Lord Falmouth and the Duke of Westminster, for whom he prepared several winners before establishing his own yard at Bedford Lodge, Newmarket.
Hammond's reputation grew through the 1880s, and in 1890 he was appointed private trainer to the wealthy Irish landowner Harry McCalmont. This partnership would define his career, giving him access to some of the best-bred horses of the era.
Hammond's greatest success came with Isinglass, a bay colt by Isonomy out of Dead Lock, bred by McCalmont. In 1893, Isinglass won the Triple Crown—the 2000 Guineas, the Derby, and the St Leger—a feat that had not been achieved since 1886. Hammond's patient handling and the colt's exceptional stamina were widely praised.
Isinglass retired with 11 wins from 12 starts, earning £57,455, a record at the time. Hammond also trained other notable horses, including the sprinter Amphora and the stayer Ravensbury, but none matched Isinglass's brilliance.
After McCalmont's death in 1902, Hammond continued training for other owners, including the American financier August Belmont II, but his later years were less successful. He retired around 1910, having trained the winners of more than 1,000 races.
Hammond died in 1934 at his home in Newmarket. His legacy is preserved in the annals of racing history, particularly for his role in the career of one of the greatest horses of the 19th century. He was known for his quiet, methodical approach and his skill with young horses.
Beyond the Classics, Hammond trained the 1891 Cesarewitch winner, a horse named Coracle, and he was one of the first trainers to use a starting gate in morning work. He also served as a judge at local shows and was a respected figure in Newmarket society.
Hammond's training methods were considered ahead of his time; he emphasized long, slow gallops and careful feeding, and he kept detailed records of each horse's work. His stable jockey, Tommy Loates, rode Isinglass to all his victories, and the pair's partnership was a model of trainer-jockey cooperation.
This article is based on historical racing records and biographical accounts from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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