Danny Mellen
1936 - 1985
1936 - 1985
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Daniel Hunt Palmer Mellen was born on June 11, 1936, and was the son of the late ‘Pussy’ Mellen, an American who stroked the Oxford boat to victory in 1923.
Daniel Hunt Palmer Mellen was born on June 11, 1936, and was the son of the late ‘Pussy’ Mellen, an American who stroked the Oxford boat to victory in 1923.
Danny gained his first win as an amateur on the Jack O’Donoghue-trained 20-1 shot Silvahall at Fontwell on May 18, 1959.
Danny gained his first win as an amateur on the Jack O’Donoghue-trained 20-1 shot Silvahall at Fontwell on May 18, 1959.
He then joined Toby Balding, for whom he rode his second winner on the grey chaser Milk Shake at Wincanton on February 16, 1961, the first of two winners that season.
He then joined Toby Balding, for whom he rode his second winner on the grey chaser Milk Shake at Wincanton on February 16, 1961, the first of two winners that season.
He turned professional at the start of the 1961/62 season but endured a blank campaign with no winners. However, the following season he rode three winners from 26 rides.
He turned professional at the start of the 1961/62 season but endured a blank campaign with no winners. However, the following season he rode three winners from 26 rides.
In the autumn of 1963, aged 26, he struck up a useful partnership with the Pat
In the autumn of 1963, aged 26, he struck up a useful partnership with the Pat
Upton-trained hurdler Tommy the Greek, winning twice in a row at Fontwell and completing the hat-trick at Stratford.
Upton-trained hurdler Tommy the Greek, winning twice in a row at Fontwell and completing the hat-trick at Stratford.
There was an interesting story behind Tommy the Greek’s victories. His owner, Mr F Tyrwhitt-Drake, had won him for a £1 ticket in a charity raffle at Fontwell’s Chichester Festival meeting at the start of that season.
There was an interesting story behind Tommy the Greek’s victories. His owner, Mr F Tyrwhitt-Drake, had won him for a £1 ticket in a charity raffle at Fontwell’s Chichester Festival meeting at the start of that season.
That season, 1963/64, was easily Danny’s most successful with nine winners from 68 rides. They included a double at Wincanton on 4 April 1964 on Cool Debate and Yogi Bear.
That season, 1963/64, was easily Danny’s most successful with nine winners from 68 rides. They included a double at Wincanton on 4 April 1964 on Cool Debate and Yogi Bear.
Danny went on to ride a total of 16 winners during his career, the final one being Will Rogers at Newton Abbot on August 27, 1964. He retired at the end of that season and took over as assistant trainer to Tom Jones at Newmarket.
Danny went on to ride a total of 16 winners during his career, the final one being Will Rogers at Newton Abbot on August 27, 1964. He retired at the end of that season and took over as assistant trainer to Tom Jones at Newmarket.
He was quoted in the Sporting Life in November 1967 that he hoped to set up as a trainer but, sadly, that never materialised.
He was quoted in the Sporting Life in November 1967 that he hoped to set up as a trainer but, sadly, that never materialised.
Instead, he joined bookmaker William Hill as its Public Relations Officer. Graham Sharpe, himself a former William Hill Press Officer, got to know Danny during his (Graham's) early years with the company and recalls Danny as a "very flamboyant, devil-may-care, ladies' and betting man, a 'lovable rogue' type. He once took two Miss World finalists to Majorca for a weekend and claimed the costs back on expenses." Danny parted company with William Hill in the summer of 1977.
Instead, he joined bookmaker William Hill as its Public Relations Officer. Graham Sharpe, himself a former William Hill Press Officer, got to know Danny during his (Graham's) early years with the company and recalls Danny as a "very flamboyant, devil-may-care, ladies' and betting man, a 'lovable rogue' type. He once took two Miss World finalists to Majorca for a weekend and claimed the costs back on expenses." Danny parted company with William Hill in the summer of 1977.
He died suddenly and peacefully in his sleep on December 23, 1985, aged just 48. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Broxted, near Great Dunmow, Essex.
He died suddenly and peacefully in his sleep on December 23, 1985, aged just 48. He was buried at St Mary's Church, Broxted, near Great Dunmow, Essex.
Danny Mellen’s winners in chronological order were:
Danny Mellen’s winners in chronological order were:
1. Silvahall, Fontwell, 18 May 1959
1. Silvahall, Fontwell, 18 May 1959
2. Milk Shake, Wincanton, 16 February 1961
2. Milk Shake, Wincanton, 16 February 1961
3. Will Rogers, Devon & Exeter, 22 May 1961
3. Will Rogers, Devon & Exeter, 22 May 1961
4. Staggered, Cheltenham, 10 April 1963
4. Staggered, Cheltenham, 10 April 1963
5. Sunarise, Newton Abbot, 13 April 1963
5. Sunarise, Newton Abbot, 13 April 1963
6. Longway, Wincanton, 15 April 1963
6. Longway, Wincanton, 15 April 1963
7. Tommy the Greek, Fontwell, 3 September 1963
7. Tommy the Greek, Fontwell, 3 September 1963
8. Tommy the Greek, Fontwell, 17 September 1963
8. Tommy the Greek, Fontwell, 17 September 1963
9. Tommy the Greek, Stratford, 12 October 1963
9. Tommy the Greek, Stratford, 12 October 1963
10. Baymoss, Plumpton, 15 February 1964
10. Baymoss, Plumpton, 15 February 1964
11. Bucktail, Taunton, 14 March 1964
11. Bucktail, Taunton, 14 March 1964
12. Love’s Garden, Hereford, 30 March 1964
12. Love’s Garden, Hereford, 30 March 1964
13. Cool Debate, Taunton, 4 April 1964
13. Cool Debate, Taunton, 4 April 1964
14. Yogi Bear, Taunton, 4 April 1964
14. Yogi Bear, Taunton, 4 April 1964
15. Cool Debate, Wincanton, 23 April 1964
15. Cool Debate, Wincanton, 23 April 1964
16. Will Rogers, Newton Abbot, 27 August 1964
16. Will Rogers, Newton Abbot, 27 August 1964
