David Morris
Miner’s son David Morris was one of Newmarket’s best-known characters for nearly 50 years, first as a work rider and then as a trainer.
Miner’s son David Morris was one of Newmarket’s best-known characters for nearly 50 years, first as a work rider and then as a trainer.
Born in North Yorkshire, David’s diminutive height made him ideally cut out for a career as a jockey. He was apprenticed to Pat Rohan in 1966 and went on to win 11 races as a 7lb claimer, the first of which was 11-8 on favourite Fletch, trained by Rohan, in the Hornby Castle Apprentice Handicap at Catterick on 5 July 1966.
Born in North Yorkshire, David’s diminutive height made him ideally cut out for a career as a jockey. He was apprenticed to Pat Rohan in 1966 and went on to win 11 races as a 7lb claimer, the first of which was 11-8 on favourite Fletch, trained by Rohan, in the Hornby Castle Apprentice Handicap at Catterick on 5 July 1966.
On 6 September 1968 he won an apprentice handicap on three-year-old Coral Diver, owned by Bryan Jenks and then trained by Pat Rohan. Later that year the horse joined Fred Rimell, who trained him to win the 1969 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
On 6 September 1968 he won an apprentice handicap on three-year-old Coral Diver, owned by Bryan Jenks and then trained by Pat Rohan. Later that year the horse joined Fred Rimell, who trained him to win the 1969 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
David rode his last winner in 1970 before moving south. He spent most of the 1970s and 1980s at Warren Place where he was one of the main work riders at the time when Steve Cauthen, Paul Eddery and Willie Ryan were the retained jockeys.
David rode his last winner in 1970 before moving south. He spent most of the 1970s and 1980s at Warren Place where he was one of the main work riders at the time when Steve Cauthen, Paul Eddery and Willie Ryan were the retained jockeys.
In 1981 he fell victim to leukaemia. Following a course of treatment at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke Hospital he duly recovered. But 18 months later the disease struck again. At that stage Henry Cecil offered to pay for David to go to America for specialist treatment, but that proved unnecessary after a further course of chemotherapy at Cambridge. He returned to work at Cecil’s Warren House stables in 1984 and from thereon only required six-monthly check-ups.
In 1981 he fell victim to leukaemia. Following a course of treatment at Cambridge’s Addenbrooke Hospital he duly recovered. But 18 months later the disease struck again. At that stage Henry Cecil offered to pay for David to go to America for specialist treatment, but that proved unnecessary after a further course of chemotherapy at Cambridge. He returned to work at Cecil’s Warren House stables in 1984 and from thereon only required six-monthly check-ups.
He was nicknamed ‘swivel’ during his work-riding days, such was his interest in the other horses around him on the gallops. He used to look round a lot as he liked to know how everyone else was going.
He was nicknamed ‘swivel’ during his work-riding days, such was his interest in the other horses around him on the gallops. He used to look round a lot as he liked to know how everyone else was going.
In 1989, Dave started training at Stockbridge House stables off Newmarket High Street and held a licence for almost all of the next 17 years. He later moved to Hackness Villa Stables on Exeter Road, from where he achieved his greatest success when Bay Of Islands landed the 2000 Northumberland Plate under Kevin Darley.
In 1989, Dave started training at Stockbridge House stables off Newmarket High Street and held a licence for almost all of the next 17 years. He later moved to Hackness Villa Stables on Exeter Road, from where he achieved his greatest success when Bay Of Islands landed the 2000 Northumberland Plate under Kevin Darley.
Dave trained 168 winners before his retirement in 2015, before which he helped owner Phil Cunningham set up his successful Rebel Racing operation at Albert House Stables. He bowed out with a winner in their colours when Rebel Lightning won at Wolverhampton that year.
Dave trained 168 winners before his retirement in 2015, before which he helped owner Phil Cunningham set up his successful Rebel Racing operation at Albert House Stables. He bowed out with a winner in their colours when Rebel Lightning won at Wolverhampton that year.
Sadly, Dave later developed multiple cancers, including bladder and lung cancer, which eventually spread to his liver. He died at his home near Newmarket in March 2023, aged 74. He left a widow Linda, a son Ben and a daughter Nicola. He also left two sons, Paul and Andrew, from a previous marriage.
Sadly, Dave later developed multiple cancers, including bladder and lung cancer, which eventually spread to his liver. He died at his home near Newmarket in March 2023, aged 74. He left a widow Linda, a son Ben and a daughter Nicola. He also left two sons, Paul and Andrew, from a previous marriage.
