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Francis Thomas (Frank) Dempsey was one of Australia’s greatest lightweight jockeys. He was widely respected and enjoyed many great victories in Australia. He also spent a successful season riding in England.
Francis Thomas (Frank) Dempsey was one of Australia’s greatest lightweight jockeys. He was widely respected and enjoyed many great victories in Australia. He also spent a successful season riding in England.
Frank Dempsey had his first ride as a 10-year-old apprentice to his father Tom Dempsey in 1909, and his last at the age of 40 on July 29, 1939. In his first season as a jockey in 1914/15, he rode 12 winners.
Frank Dempsey had his first ride as a 10-year-old apprentice to his father Tom Dempsey in 1909, and his last at the age of 40 on July 29, 1939. In his first season as a jockey in 1914/15, he rode 12 winners.
He won the Victorian Jockeys Premiership on five occasions (1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1924), twice as an apprentice, an accomplishment unheard of at the time. He had a long and successful association with the powerful stable of Jack Holt, the ‘Wizard of Mordialloc’ in the early 1920s. The pair became the most formidable combination in Victorian racing.
He won the Victorian Jockeys Premiership on five occasions (1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1924), twice as an apprentice, an accomplishment unheard of at the time. He had a long and successful association with the powerful stable of Jack Holt, the ‘Wizard of Mordialloc’ in the early 1920s. The pair became the most formidable combination in Victorian racing.
Although Frank failed win a Melbourne Cup, coming closest when finishing second on Manfred in 1925, he triumphed in a long list of classics and won the Caulfield Cup three times on Lavendo (1915), Bronzetti (1917) and 1920 Eurythmic (1920). He won 20 races on Eurythmic including, in addition to the Caulfield Cup, the Futurity Stakes and the Sydney Cup.
Although Frank failed win a Melbourne Cup, coming closest when finishing second on Manfred in 1925, he triumphed in a long list of classics and won the Caulfield Cup three times on Lavendo (1915), Bronzetti (1917) and 1920 Eurythmic (1920). He won 20 races on Eurythmic including, in addition to the Caulfield Cup, the Futurity Stakes and the Sydney Cup.
His other notable successes included the Victoria Derby-VRC Oaks double in 1923 with the outstanding filly Frances Tressady; the 1925 WS Cox Plate on Manfred; the 1917 Epsom Handicap on Satin Bird, and the 1924 Doncaster Handicap on Whittier. He won the VRC Oaks four times.
His other notable successes included the Victoria Derby-VRC Oaks double in 1923 with the outstanding filly Frances Tressady; the 1925 WS Cox Plate on Manfred; the 1917 Epsom Handicap on Satin Bird, and the 1924 Doncaster Handicap on Whittier. He won the VRC Oaks four times.
Frank rode in Britain in both 1925 and 1926. His first visit was a relatively brief one lasting just a few weeks, recording his first British victory on Hong-Kong at Epsom’s Derby meeting, and achieving his most important success on Zambo in the Royal Standard Stakes at Manchester on June 3, 1925. He also won that year's Newbury Spring Cup on Paddy.
Frank rode in Britain in both 1925 and 1926. His first visit was a relatively brief one lasting just a few weeks, recording his first British victory on Hong-Kong at Epsom’s Derby meeting, and achieving his most important success on Zambo in the Royal Standard Stakes at Manchester on June 3, 1925. He also won that year's Newbury Spring Cup on Paddy.
However, Frank’s second visit in 1926 saw him stay until the end of the season and ride more than 40 winners, beginning again at Epsom’s Derby meeting on Silver Muse in the Epsom Town Handicap, following that with victory on Paddy in the next day’s Durdans Handicap. He rode in the Derby itself on 66-1 outsider Comedy King but finished out of the first nine behind Coronach.
However, Frank’s second visit in 1926 saw him stay until the end of the season and ride more than 40 winners, beginning again at Epsom’s Derby meeting on Silver Muse in the Epsom Town Handicap, following that with victory on Paddy in the next day’s Durdans Handicap. He rode in the Derby itself on 66-1 outsider Comedy King but finished out of the first nine behind Coronach.
He won Haydock’s Great Central Handicap on Inca for the ‘Wizard of Manton’ Alec Taylor. Other notable successes included the Waterbeach Handicap at Newmarket’s July Meeting on the Jack Jarvis-trained Her Excellency; and Ayr’s Land of Burns Nursery Handicap on Lemin for Sparsholt trainer Norman Scobie. He rode 28-1 chance Southbourne in the St Leger but tailed in last of the twelve runners.
He won Haydock’s Great Central Handicap on Inca for the ‘Wizard of Manton’ Alec Taylor. Other notable successes included the Waterbeach Handicap at Newmarket’s July Meeting on the Jack Jarvis-trained Her Excellency; and Ayr’s Land of Burns Nursery Handicap on Lemin for Sparsholt trainer Norman Scobie. He rode 28-1 chance Southbourne in the St Leger but tailed in last of the twelve runners.
Frank rode five winners at Haydock’s two-day October meeting, landing a first day treble and a second day double, highlighted by Bayford’s success in the Haydock Park Autumn Handicap.
Frank rode five winners at Haydock’s two-day October meeting, landing a first day treble and a second day double, highlighted by Bayford’s success in the Haydock Park Autumn Handicap.
At Windsor on November 4, he rode a horse named Razor, trained at Epsom by Walter Nightingall, to win the Castle Selling Handicap. No official starting prices were returned at Windsor that day due to the Tattersalls bookmakers electing to boycott the meeting. They were striking in protest at the introduction of the doomed betting tax imposed by Winston Churchill on November 1.
At Windsor on November 4, he rode a horse named Razor, trained at Epsom by Walter Nightingall, to win the Castle Selling Handicap. No official starting prices were returned at Windsor that day due to the Tattersalls bookmakers electing to boycott the meeting. They were striking in protest at the introduction of the doomed betting tax imposed by Winston Churchill on November 1.
Frank rode his last British winner on Grey Hill, trained by Norman Scobie, in the Friary Nursery Plate at Derby on November 19, 1926. That was also his final ride in England.
Frank rode his last British winner on Grey Hill, trained by Norman Scobie, in the Friary Nursery Plate at Derby on November 19, 1926. That was also his final ride in England.
Returning to Australia, he went on to ride for another 13 years, finally announcing his retirement in 1939, whilst still a relatively young man by some standards associated with jockeys, but nonetheless after a career that extended for 30 years.
Returning to Australia, he went on to ride for another 13 years, finally announcing his retirement in 1939, whilst still a relatively young man by some standards associated with jockeys, but nonetheless after a career that extended for 30 years.
He remained involved in the sport of racing, serving as a starter for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club (VATC) and the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
He remained involved in the sport of racing, serving as a starter for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club (VATC) and the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
Frank Dempsey died in 1977. He was posthumously inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Frank Dempsey died in 1977. He was posthumously inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2008.
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