Frank Grieve

Frank Grieve

1911-1976

Article by Alan Trout

Born in 1911, Frank Henry Grieve rode five winners under National Hunt rules in the late 1930s, starting with a two-length victory on Dusky Jack in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on February 23, 1937, beating the favourite Captain’s Choice, ridden by Fred Rimell.

Following an unplaced effort at Cheltenham on April 15, Dusky Jack struck again six days later when taking the Onibury Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow to give Frank his second win. 

Two more third places that season was all the partnership could manage, with Frank having to wait a year for his third winner, but again it was Dusky Jack who obliged by beating two rivals to take the Welsh Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on Easter Monday, April 18, 1938. 

There was another gap before Choucas, trained like Dusky Jack by his owner Wing-Commander William Read, won the Stewards’ Handicap Hurdle at Colwall Park on September 26, 1938, beating the favourite Bob Each Way, the mount of Jack Moloney, by five lengths. 

It was left to the dependable Dusky Jack to provide Frank with his fifth, and final, winner when taking the Three-Mile Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on March 1, 1939. Dusky Jack followed this with two second places from three runs, although Frank was only on board for the last of those when beaten half a length by Fra Nick, ridden by Fred Rimell, back at Ludlow on April 19. Dusky Jack never ran again and Frank did not renew his licence the following season. 

Frank Grieve died in 1976.