Frank Morby
1934 - 2021
1934 - 2021
Born in Willenhall, Staffordshire, on April 12, 1934, Frank Morby was apprenticed from 1949 to George Colling at Newmarket for six years and first rode in public on Heirog at Yarmouth on September 12, 1950.
Born in Willenhall, Staffordshire, on April 12, 1934, Frank Morby was apprenticed from 1949 to George Colling at Newmarket for six years and first rode in public on Heirog at Yarmouth on September 12, 1950.
His first winner was Sleeping Warrior in an apprentices’ race at Nottingham on Monday, June 9, 1952, beating Edward Hide’s mount by half a length. He rode a second winner that season and, in 1953, three more, but it was to be an incredible 13 years before he visited the winner's enclosure again, in 1966.
His first winner was Sleeping Warrior in an apprentices’ race at Nottingham on Monday, June 9, 1952, beating Edward Hide’s mount by half a length. He rode a second winner that season and, in 1953, three more, but it was to be an incredible 13 years before he visited the winner's enclosure again, in 1966.
Between 1953 and 1966, Frank kept himself busy riding work for Bernard van Cutsem. He also took the occasional mount including Kalydon, Park Top’s sire.
Between 1953 and 1966, Frank kept himself busy riding work for Bernard van Cutsem. He also took the occasional mount including Kalydon, Park Top’s sire.
In 1966, he moved to Stockbridge, Hampshire, principally to rode for Vernon Cross at Chattis Hill, and it was there that his fortunes began to improve.
In 1966, he moved to Stockbridge, Hampshire, principally to rode for Vernon Cross at Chattis Hill, and it was there that his fortunes began to improve.
And so did the quality of his mounts.
And so did the quality of his mounts.
He gave Richard Hannon his first group winner when winning the 1972 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Crespinall, a 66/1 outsider. Four days later, April 24, he rode a treble at Warwick, two for Hannon and one for Newmarket trainer Pat Moore. Later that year, on November 13, 1972, he married Margaret Ann Henderson. They had two children, Vicky and Mark.
He gave Richard Hannon his first group winner when winning the 1972 Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom on Crespinall, a 66/1 outsider. Four days later, April 24, he rode a treble at Warwick, two for Hannon and one for Newmarket trainer Pat Moore. Later that year, on November 13, 1972, he married Margaret Ann Henderson. They had two children, Vicky and Mark.
Frank’s other Group winners were Himawari for Fulke Johnson Houghton in the 1974 Falmouth Stakes and Romper, for the same stable, in the 1975 Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. He also won the 1975 Liverpool Spring Cup on Kunpuu.
Frank’s other Group winners were Himawari for Fulke Johnson Houghton in the 1974 Falmouth Stakes and Romper, for the same stable, in the 1975 Blue Riband Trial at Epsom. He also won the 1975 Liverpool Spring Cup on Kunpuu.
Frank became second jockey to Peter Walwyn and, aged 41, rode 43 wins in 1975, numerically his best-ever season.
Frank became second jockey to Peter Walwyn and, aged 41, rode 43 wins in 1975, numerically his best-ever season.
In 1979, he was placed for the first and only time in a British classic when riding the Mark Smyly-trained Yanuka into third place behind One In A Million in the One Thousand Guineas.
In 1979, he was placed for the first and only time in a British classic when riding the Mark Smyly-trained Yanuka into third place behind One In A Million in the One Thousand Guineas.
On Monday, March 23, 1981, the then 47-year-old Frank left for Kenya. He planned to continue riding for a couple of seasons during which time he would also act as assistant trainer. He was so successful there that he wound up as Kenya’s champion jockey for the 1981/82 and 1982/83 seasons.
On Monday, March 23, 1981, the then 47-year-old Frank left for Kenya. He planned to continue riding for a couple of seasons during which time he would also act as assistant trainer. He was so successful there that he wound up as Kenya’s champion jockey for the 1981/82 and 1982/83 seasons.
His last winner was Boezinge in the Dick Poole Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Salisbury on Thursday, September 8, 1983. (The Dick Poole Stakes is now a Grade 3 contest but was not so at the time.) By then, Frank was a resident of Kenya, but, on a flying visit back to Britain, he accepted the mount on Boezinge from her trainer Mark Smyly.
His last winner was Boezinge in the Dick Poole Stakes for two-year-old fillies at Salisbury on Thursday, September 8, 1983. (The Dick Poole Stakes is now a Grade 3 contest but was not so at the time.) By then, Frank was a resident of Kenya, but, on a flying visit back to Britain, he accepted the mount on Boezinge from her trainer Mark Smyly.
Frank Morby rode a total of 264 winners in Britain and was undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes of English racing. A first-class horseman and a beautiful work rider, he had been a colossal help to a number of trainers, including Mick Channon, Richard Hannon, Peter Walwyn, Bernard van Cutsem and Mark Smyly.
Frank Morby rode a total of 264 winners in Britain and was undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes of English racing. A first-class horseman and a beautiful work rider, he had been a colossal help to a number of trainers, including Mick Channon, Richard Hannon, Peter Walwyn, Bernard van Cutsem and Mark Smyly.
Frank Morby spent his retirement in Kenya where he died on Friday, May 7, 2021, aged 87.
Frank Morby spent his retirement in Kenya where he died on Friday, May 7, 2021, aged 87.
Paying tribute, his long-time friend Mick Channon told the Racing Post: “Frank introduced me to Newmarket – I don’t know if that was a good or a bad thing – and we go back to the days of Vernon Cross, with Elsy (David Elsworth) driving the horsebox and Richard Hannon there too.
Paying tribute, his long-time friend Mick Channon told the Racing Post: “Frank introduced me to Newmarket – I don’t know if that was a good or a bad thing – and we go back to the days of Vernon Cross, with Elsy (David Elsworth) driving the horsebox and Richard Hannon there too.
“I was a 16 or 17-year-old apprentice with Southampton at the time, just breaking into the first team, and him and Elsy would come to the games, I used to get them tickets. He was a great man and a great little jockey, a great horseman.
“I was a 16 or 17-year-old apprentice with Southampton at the time, just breaking into the first team, and him and Elsy would come to the games, I used to get them tickets. He was a great man and a great little jockey, a great horseman.
“He took me up to Newmarket when Bernard van Cutsem was training the favourite, Deceis, for the Irish Guineas. They worked on the Limekilns and he had two good sprinters, with one taking him the first four furlongs and the other jumping in at halfway.
“He took me up to Newmarket when Bernard van Cutsem was training the favourite, Deceis, for the Irish Guineas. They worked on the Limekilns and he had two good sprinters, with one taking him the first four furlongs and the other jumping in at halfway.
“That stood me in good stead in my early days because when we had Piccolo, I only had 16 or 17 horses. I had nothing to work with him so I used to do the same with selling platers.”
“That stood me in good stead in my early days because when we had Piccolo, I only had 16 or 17 horses. I had nothing to work with him so I used to do the same with selling platers.”
Channon added: “He was a very close friend and my thoughts are with his children Vicky and Mark. I’m just pleased that I knew him.”
Channon added: “He was a very close friend and my thoughts are with his children Vicky and Mark. I’m just pleased that I knew him.”
Richard Hannon Snr recalled, again to the Racing Post: “Frank worked for me for quite a long time and he rode me quite a lot of winners too. He would be here most mornings. He was a good jockey and he rode well. He was a lovely feller and very outgoing. He was a great sprinter too, he could run.”
Richard Hannon Snr recalled, again to the Racing Post: “Frank worked for me for quite a long time and he rode me quite a lot of winners too. He would be here most mornings. He was a good jockey and he rode well. He was a lovely feller and very outgoing. He was a great sprinter too, he could run.”
Jimmy Lindley was a weighing room contemporary and remembered Frank as a “great horseman”. He said: “He was always so helpful and whenever you went out to ride a horse he had ridden before he would always give you a hand, whereas others wouldn’t have told you a thing.
Jimmy Lindley was a weighing room contemporary and remembered Frank as a “great horseman”. He said: “He was always so helpful and whenever you went out to ride a horse he had ridden before he would always give you a hand, whereas others wouldn’t have told you a thing.
“He was always the first person, if you had an accident, to come to the hospital and have a look at you. He was a very genuine, hard-working jockey who never asked any favours and always gave his best.
“He was always the first person, if you had an accident, to come to the hospital and have a look at you. He was a very genuine, hard-working jockey who never asked any favours and always gave his best.
“He was a great help to Peter (Walwyn) and to other trainers he rode for. At home he’d suss out a horse quicker than most people in terms of what distance they needed, which track would suit them. He was a genuine jockey/horseman, he didn’t just hang on with his heels and get lucky!”
“He was a great help to Peter (Walwyn) and to other trainers he rode for. At home he’d suss out a horse quicker than most people in terms of what distance they needed, which track would suit them. He was a genuine jockey/horseman, he didn’t just hang on with his heels and get lucky!”
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
1972: Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Crespinall
1972: Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Crespinall
1974: Falmouth Stakes – Himawari
1974: Falmouth Stakes – Himawari
1975: Blue Riband Trial – Romper
1975: Blue Riband Trial – Romper
1975: Liverpool Spring Cup – Kunpuu.
1975: Liverpool Spring Cup – Kunpuu.