Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 54 9 Dec 2020
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Commemorative Medals, Cock-fighting: The Cockpit, St. James's Park, London or Newmarket, Suffolk, oval brass pass or ticket, post-1759, named to the Prince of Wales's jockey, Samuel Chifney (c. 1753-1807), fighting cock stands proud to r., COCK PIT, rev. engraved "Saml Chifney", 38 x 28.5mm. (Withers 1525), very fine and an excessively rare named example
*ex A. H. Baldwin vault
The design of the pass or ticket appears as a central feature on the base line of Hogarth's famous print of "The Cock Fight", and the British Museum notes that a silver example has been recorded, named to Lord Milton. The location of the cockpit in the print has never been determined but over many years there have been arguments favouring Newmarket over Royal Cock Pit St. James's Park, London. Newmarket certainly had a cockpit in the High Street. A pass or ticket named to one of Newmarket's most famous jockeys of the late 18th century, such as this example, perhaps points towards it being the local Cockpit.
Samuel Chifney was a pioneer of professional race-riding, developing a trademark late surge to victory, known as the 'Chifney rush'. He was the retained jockey of George, Prince of Wales and during his career won the Derby in 1789 and the Oaks four times in 1782, 1783, 1789 and 1790. His career ended in 1790 when he rode the much-favoured Prince's horse Escape to last place in a race one day but winning the following day. He invented a bit, still used today, but never really recovered from the scandal and he was to die a debtor in the Fleet prison in London. His son, another Samuel (b. 1786), was also a jockey and is an alternative contender to be the ticket's owner.
(300-500 GBP)
*ex A. H. Baldwin vault
The design of the pass or ticket appears as a central feature on the base line of Hogarth's famous print of "The Cock Fight", and the British Museum notes that a silver example has been recorded, named to Lord Milton. The location of the cockpit in the print has never been determined but over many years there have been arguments favouring Newmarket over Royal Cock Pit St. James's Park, London. Newmarket certainly had a cockpit in the High Street. A pass or ticket named to one of Newmarket's most famous jockeys of the late 18th century, such as this example, perhaps points towards it being the local Cockpit.
Samuel Chifney was a pioneer of professional race-riding, developing a trademark late surge to victory, known as the 'Chifney rush'. He was the retained jockey of George, Prince of Wales and during his career won the Derby in 1789 and the Oaks four times in 1782, 1783, 1789 and 1790. His career ended in 1790 when he rode the much-favoured Prince's horse Escape to last place in a race one day but winning the following day. He invented a bit, still used today, but never really recovered from the scandal and he was to die a debtor in the Fleet prison in London. His son, another Samuel (b. 1786), was also a jockey and is an alternative contender to be the ticket's owner.
(300-500 GBP)