Derek Morris

Born on August 13, 1931, Derek William Morris was apprenticed to Reg Day and Bobby Jones.

He rode his first winner, Significant, at Folkestone on August 11 in 1947 and enjoyed his best season in 1960 with 36 winners.

Derek Morris scored his biggest victory in the 1956 Lincolnshire Handicap on 40-1 shot Three Star, an eight-year-old who had not won for five seasons. He put up one pound overweight at 6st 13lb. 

Morris's other notable winners were Sacarole (1959 Queen's Prize), Accompanist (1960 Portland Handicap), Safe Delivery (1961 Albemarle Handicap), Entanglement (1961 Ladbroke Gold Cup), Optimistic (1961 Newbury Autumn Cup) and Damredub (1962 Rosebery Handicap).

He should not be confused with another Flat jockey, Don Morris, who was killed in a car crash in 1966.

D.W. Morris retired in 1976. 

He was the son of Ernest Edward Morris, who rode his first winner when aged 14 at Gatwick, 1920.

Another Derrick Morris was the jockey who rode Mister Ed to victory in the 1993 Midlands Grand National.


Big winners

1956: Lincolnshire Handicap – Three Star II 

1958: Queen Anne Stakes – Teynham 

1959: Queen’s Prize – Sacarole 

1960: Welsh Stewards Cup – Mardis 

1960: Welsh Hunt Cup – Mardis 

1960: Portland Handicap – Accompanist 

1961: Newbury Autumn Cup – Optimistic  

1962: Rosebery Handicap – Damredub 

1962: Lockinge Stakes – Superstition 

1963: Midland Cesarewitch – Roxburgh 

1966: Old Newton Cup – Ballywit