Frank Lillford

Frank Lillford

Article by Alan Trout

Born around 1871, Frank Lillford had 14 wins over jumps between 1895 and 1908, the first of them coming at Lingfield Park on November 29, 1895, when Bumble Bee won the Over-night Selling Hurdle. It was the three-year-old’s first try over obstacles, the winning margin over Frank Parvin’s mount Stoughton being three lengths.  

From then until the end of the century Frank managed at least one win each year, although his best tally, in 1896, was only three. He had a few unsuccessful rides on the Flat, but he did have a mount in one major jumps race, when unplaced on Morningdew in the 1901 International Hurdle at Gatwick.

Frank’s final win came at Portsmouth Park on Easter Monday, April 20, 1908, when Foreman won the Portsea Selling Handicap Hurdle by a neck, beating Ormer, ridden by Paddy Cowley, who was then on his way to winning his only champion jockey title. 

Frank Lillford had his last rides in 1912. His winners were, in chronological order:

1. Bumble Bee, Lingfield Park, November 29, 1895 

2. Mysore, Hawthorn Hill, March 3, 1896

3. Lord Justice, Gatwick, December 9, 1896

4. Royal Charter II, Lingfield Park, December 18, 1896

5. Witch Of Endor, Kempton Park, February 6, 1897

6. Kaleidoscope, Gatwick, February 3, 1898

7. Midget II, Wye, February 27, 1899

8. Black Cat, Folkestone, February 12, 1901

9. Black Cat, Plumpton, January 10, 1902

10. Chinewood, Portsmouth Park, March 31, 1902

11. Bush Rose, Folkestone, December 19, 1904

12. Palermo II, Isle of Wight, April 25, 1907

13. Eagerness, Aldershot, November 25, 1907

14. Fireman, Portsmouth Park, April 20, 1908