John Francis Barlow was born in Miles Platting, Manchester on August 25, 1928.
His father, a printer, worked at Kemsley House (later, Thomson House) in Withy Grove where the Sporting Chronicle was published.
Frank then became apprenticed to Henri Jelliss at Newmarket, living at Chatsworth, Hamilton Road, and, riding for trainer R.Warden for Lord Fitzwilliam, rode his first British winner on Under Canvas in the 1.45 at Newcastle on Friday, 3 October, 1947.
In 1950, his apprentice days behind him, he was retained by Whatcombe trainer Michael Blackmore, for whom he won at Worcester on Zucchero before finishing second on the same horse in the New Stakes at Royal Ascot.
During 1951-52, Frank rode for Atty Persse, winning the 1952 Royal Hunt Cup on Queen of Sheba. His luck ran out at Nottingham when, in June, 1953, he broke a leg when being unseated by Widow Lady before the start and was compelled to miss the rest of the season.
Compensation awaited - in 1954 he enjoyed his most successful season, riding 44 winners for Major Holiday. These include the Jubilee at Kempton on Chatsworth, Queen Mary Stakes on Bride Elect, the Coventry Stakes on Noble Chieftain, the Produce Stakes on Courageous and the Coronation Cup on Narrator.
His only classic win came in the 1956 Two Thousand Guineas on Gilles de Retz (50/1) trained by Mrs Helen Johnson Houghton at Blewbury, for whom he had ridden Pappagena to success in the 1955 Princess Margaret Stakes.
Frank won the 1960 Fern Hill on Jeanne Michelle, but was beginning to struggle with his weight. He retired at the close of the 1961 season and went into business at Newmarket.
Frank married Josephine Carole, the daughter of the National Hunt trainer Jack Haley. She gave him four sons, Mark, Louis, Jeremy & Timothy.
Carole's sisters, Odette and Janet, also married jockeys, Frankie Durr and John Egan respectively.
Frank died at Newmarket on January 18 1999 aged 70.
Classic winner
Two Thousand Guineas – Gilles de Retz
Other big wins
1950: Queen’s Prize – Sports Master
1952: Royal Hunt Cup – Queen of Sheba
1952: Guernsey Stud Produce Stakes – Chartair
1954: Great Jubilee Handicap – Chatsworth
1954: Shakespeare Stakes – Philos
1954: Coventry Stakes – Noble Chieftain
1954: Queen Mary Stakes – Bride Elect
1954: Union Stakes – Dumbarnie
1954: Champion Stakes – Narrator
1955: Coronation Cup – Narrator
1955: Manchester Cup – Chatsworth
1955: Shakespeare Stakes – Chatsworth
