Vincent Francis
Vincent Francis
Vincent Francis
1889 - 1969
1889 - 1969
National Hunt jockey George Vincent Francis, who rode under his second Christian name, was born on May 12, 1889. He was the father of champion jockey and best-selling author Dick Francis.
National Hunt jockey George Vincent Francis, who rode under his second Christian name, was born on May 12, 1889. He was the father of champion jockey and best-selling author Dick Francis.
In 1908, when still a teenager, he decided to make horses his living in preference to farming like the rest of his family. He went to Lawrenny Castle, near Tenby, to ride for Colonel Freddy Lort Phillips, who had for some time run one of the best National Hunt stables in Britain. The then-champion jockey, Frank ‘Tich’ Mason was retained by the yard and rode all the best horses. Nonetheless, Vincent still managed to ride eleven winners in the years leading up to the outbreak of the First World War.
In 1908, when still a teenager, he decided to make horses his living in preference to farming like the rest of his family. He went to Lawrenny Castle, near Tenby, to ride for Colonel Freddy Lort Phillips, who had for some time run one of the best National Hunt stables in Britain. The then-champion jockey, Frank ‘Tich’ Mason was retained by the yard and rode all the best horses. Nonetheless, Vincent still managed to ride eleven winners in the years leading up to the outbreak of the First World War.
To beat one reigning champion jockey to win your first race would be an achievement in itself, but to beat a reigning champion and a future one too would be remarkable. But that was what Vincent Francis achieved when, as the outsider of three, Old Silver won the Lawrenny Novices’ Chase at Tenby on January 22, 1908. Beaten ten lengths on the runner-up, Capacity, was ‘Tich’ Mason, and a distant third was General Killian, the mount of Ivor Anthony.
To beat one reigning champion jockey to win your first race would be an achievement in itself, but to beat a reigning champion and a future one too would be remarkable. But that was what Vincent Francis achieved when, as the outsider of three, Old Silver won the Lawrenny Novices’ Chase at Tenby on January 22, 1908. Beaten ten lengths on the runner-up, Capacity, was ‘Tich’ Mason, and a distant third was General Killian, the mount of Ivor Anthony.
He then had to wait until November for his second win of the year, when Hackmount took the High Sheriff’s Steeplechase at Newport by half a length. This time he had two future champion jockeys behind him in Jack Anthony and Bert Gordon.
He then had to wait until November for his second win of the year, when Hackmount took the High Sheriff’s Steeplechase at Newport by half a length. This time he had two future champion jockeys behind him in Jack Anthony and Bert Gordon.
Vincent won three races in 1909, beating a total of just five opponents. He rode a winner on both days of the two-day Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting in January, beginning with victory over two rivals in landing the Harkforward Selling Chase on the eight-year-old Denmark. In the following race he finished second on Peter, who then turned up the next day to take on Egerton’s Pride, ridden by Ivor Anthony, in a match for the Tally-ho Handicap Chase. Although Egerton’s Pride was the 3-1 on favourite, it was Peter who triumphed by three lengths.
Vincent won three races in 1909, beating a total of just five opponents. He rode a winner on both days of the two-day Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting in January, beginning with victory over two rivals in landing the Harkforward Selling Chase on the eight-year-old Denmark. In the following race he finished second on Peter, who then turned up the next day to take on Egerton’s Pride, ridden by Ivor Anthony, in a match for the Tally-ho Handicap Chase. Although Egerton’s Pride was the 3-1 on favourite, it was Peter who triumphed by three lengths.
His only other win that year, at Tenby on January 21, was a case of déjà vu. Twelve months on from his first success on Old Silver there, he took on two rivals for the Tenby Steeplechase. Up against him again were ‘Tich’ Mason and Ivor Anthony, although both were on different horses this time. Once more, Old Silver was the outsider of three, but again he scored, beating Mason on Denmark by a length, with Anthony on Orion three lengths further back.
His only other win that year, at Tenby on January 21, was a case of déjà vu. Twelve months on from his first success on Old Silver there, he took on two rivals for the Tenby Steeplechase. Up against him again were ‘Tich’ Mason and Ivor Anthony, although both were on different horses this time. Once more, Old Silver was the outsider of three, but again he scored, beating Mason on Denmark by a length, with Anthony on Orion three lengths further back.
Despite having won three races within the first three weeks of 1909, it was almost a year before he had another. Hackmount ended the drought when obliging at the Carmarthenshire Hunt fixture on January 13, 1910. It was the start of a productive year for Hackmount, who won ten races altogether, although Vincent was only onboard for one of them, when taking the Exchange Selling Handicap Chase at Cardiff on March 29. The day before at the same course, he had ridden what would be his only other winner that year when the Eileen Oge won the Novices’ Steeplechase, being the only one to complete the course without falling, although Jack Anthony remounted the Lieutenant to finish second.
Despite having won three races within the first three weeks of 1909, it was almost a year before he had another. Hackmount ended the drought when obliging at the Carmarthenshire Hunt fixture on January 13, 1910. It was the start of a productive year for Hackmount, who won ten races altogether, although Vincent was only onboard for one of them, when taking the Exchange Selling Handicap Chase at Cardiff on March 29. The day before at the same course, he had ridden what would be his only other winner that year when the Eileen Oge won the Novices’ Steeplechase, being the only one to complete the course without falling, although Jack Anthony remounted the Lieutenant to finish second.
An even longer period elapsed before Vincent next visited the winner’s enclosure, which was at Ludlow on February 28, 1912, when Sweet Hackness took the Novices’ Hurdle by two lengths. His only other win that year came at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting when Succubus took the Bushbury Maiden Hurdle.
An even longer period elapsed before Vincent next visited the winner’s enclosure, which was at Ludlow on February 28, 1912, when Sweet Hackness took the Novices’ Hurdle by two lengths. His only other win that year came at Wolverhampton’s Christmas meeting when Succubus took the Bushbury Maiden Hurdle.
Succubus was also Vincent’s final winner when landing the Coronation Hurdle at Tenby on January 16, 1913. The runner-up that day was Flicker, ridden by none other than Ivor Anthony. Vincent’s final ride was at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting on April 17, 1914, when finishing second on Cuacoa in the Maesyprior Open Steeplechase. Perhaps Ivor Anthony was not sorry to see him go.
Succubus was also Vincent’s final winner when landing the Coronation Hurdle at Tenby on January 16, 1913. The runner-up that day was Flicker, ridden by none other than Ivor Anthony. Vincent’s final ride was at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting on April 17, 1914, when finishing second on Cuacoa in the Maesyprior Open Steeplechase. Perhaps Ivor Anthony was not sorry to see him go.
As with so many jockeys of that era, his career was compromised by the Great War. He joined up for its duration.
As with so many jockeys of that era, his career was compromised by the Great War. He joined up for its duration.
After the war, he worked for Bishop’s, a fashionable hunting stable, until the yard burnt down a few years later. After that, he worked for Horace Smith’s Riding School in Cadogan Place, London, where members of the Royal family were among his pupils and patrons.
After the war, he worked for Bishop’s, a fashionable hunting stable, until the yard burnt down a few years later. After that, he worked for Horace Smith’s Riding School in Cadogan Place, London, where members of the Royal family were among his pupils and patrons.
Smith and Francis eventually set up a stable for hunters, with Horace giving Vincent a free hand on the purchasing side. Vincent bought young horses, trained and resold them, and the stable soon built up a reputation for having some of the best hunters in England. The business proved so successful that within two years they had outgrown their small yard and moved to bigger premises at Holyport, near Maidenhead.
Smith and Francis eventually set up a stable for hunters, with Horace giving Vincent a free hand on the purchasing side. Vincent bought young horses, trained and resold them, and the stable soon built up a reputation for having some of the best hunters in England. The business proved so successful that within two years they had outgrown their small yard and moved to bigger premises at Holyport, near Maidenhead.
Vincent Francis died at Paignton on June 23, 1969, aged 80, leaving £13,800.
Vincent Francis died at Paignton on June 23, 1969, aged 80, leaving £13,800.
His wins were, in chronological order:
His wins were, in chronological order:
1. Old Silver, Tenby, January 22, 1908
1. Old Silver, Tenby, January 22, 1908
2. Hackmount, Newport, November 13, 1908
2. Hackmount, Newport, November 13, 1908
3. Denmark, Carmarthenshire Hunt, January 14, 1909
3. Denmark, Carmarthenshire Hunt, January 14, 1909
4. Peter, Carmarthen Hunt, January 15, 1909
4. Peter, Carmarthen Hunt, January 15, 1909
5. Old Silver, Tenby, January 21, 1909
5. Old Silver, Tenby, January 21, 1909
6. Hackmount, Carmarthenshire Hunt, January 13, 1910
6. Hackmount, Carmarthenshire Hunt, January 13, 1910
7. Eileen Oge, Cardiff, March 28, 1910
7. Eileen Oge, Cardiff, March 28, 1910
8. Hackmount, Cardiff, March 29, 1910
8. Hackmount, Cardiff, March 29, 1910
9. Sweet Hackness, Ludlow, February 28, 1912
9. Sweet Hackness, Ludlow, February 28, 1912
10. Succubus, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1912
10. Succubus, Wolverhampton, December 27, 1912
11. Succubus, Tenby, January 16, 1913
11. Succubus, Tenby, January 16, 1913