Jimmy Frost

Born in Devon on July 31, 1958, James Douglas Frost was only 13 when he became the youngest ever winner of a point-to-point (Doctor Fred, East Cornwall Point-to-Point, Lemalla).

His first ride under Rules came on Boxing Day 1973, when partnering Love Set at Wolverhampton.

On 19 February 1974, riding Mopsey at Taunton, he scored the first of his 510 under Rules.

Jimmy Frost lived on the family farm in the Dartmoor National Park and, as an amateur, confined himself to the Devon circuit.

He first came to the public's eye when, in November 1986, winning a long distance race at Sandown on Lucky Vane for Toby Balding. This was the first of many for that trainer in a seven-year partnership.

Jimmy was 30 when he made his debut in the Grand National. This was in 1989 on Little Polvier, a bay gelding purchased only six weeks earlier. He won by seven lengths on the twelve-year-old. Riding Torside for Martin Pipe in 1990, he pulled up at the sixth.

He pulled up again the following year, this time on Bumble's Folly, at the last.

In his last two National outings he was unseated at the 13 from Topsham Bay before finishing 9th on St Mellion Fairway.

Jimmy's other notable successes came on Morley Street (Aintree Hurdle, 1990 & 1991: Ascot Hurdle, 1990 & 1911: Breeders' Cup Hurdle, 1990 & 1991and the Champion Hurdle, 1991).

He also won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Forest Sun, 1990), Sun Alliance Novices Hurdle (Crystal Spirit, 1991), Swinton Hurdle (Spinning, 1993).

On March 5, 2002, Jimmy Frost rode Bohill Lad to victory at Exeter. It was his last win as a jockey and his first win as a trainer.

Jimmy married Nikki on 29 July 1986. On the morning of the wedding, Jimmy schooled a horse called Chain of Reasoning.


Jimmy Frost

Grand National winner: Little Polveir (1989)

Champion Hurdle winner: Morley Street (1991)


Other big winners:

1990: Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Forest Sun

1990: Aintree Hurdle – Morley Street

1990: Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase – Morley Street

1991: Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle – Crystal Spirit

1991: Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase – Morley Street

1993: Swinton Handicap Hurdle – Spinning