Frank Morris
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Frank Norman Morris was born on May 24, 1946 and rode his first winner when aged 18 on Upall Night in division one of the High Level Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on January 25, 1965. The horse was owned and trained by his father, Robert Morris, a Welshpool farmer. His next winner came on Young Tim, again for his permit trainer father, in a Chepstow handicap hurdle on February 27, 1965. Young Tim also gave Frank his third success when scoring at Ludlow on October 21, 1966.
National Hunt jockey Frank Norman Morris was born on May 24, 1946 and rode his first winner when aged 18 on Upall Night in division one of the High Level Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton on January 25, 1965. The horse was owned and trained by his father, Robert Morris, a Welshpool farmer. His next winner came on Young Tim, again for his permit trainer father, in a Chepstow handicap hurdle on February 27, 1965. Young Tim also gave Frank his third success when scoring at Ludlow on October 21, 1966.
Frank relinquished his licence in 1968, beginning a near 10-year hiatus before re-emerging in 1977 and riding his first winner since his return to the saddle on his father’s novice hurdler What A Prince at Bangor-on-Dee on October 15, 1977. What A Prince won again at Ludlow 11 days later and twice more in March 1978, including, at Hereford on March 4, the ITV-televised Knight, Frank & Rutley Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Final, worth over £2,000 to the winner.
Frank relinquished his licence in 1968, beginning a near 10-year hiatus before re-emerging in 1977 and riding his first winner since his return to the saddle on his father’s novice hurdler What A Prince at Bangor-on-Dee on October 15, 1977. What A Prince won again at Ludlow 11 days later and twice more in March 1978, including, at Hereford on March 4, the ITV-televised Knight, Frank & Rutley Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Final, worth over £2,000 to the winner.
That month of March 1978 was a good one for Frank, for apart from those two victorieson What A Prince he also won twice on handicap hurdler Maygo at Stratford and Worcester. Fob, trained by Arthur Birch at Rocester, near Uttoxeter, rounded off a good comeback season for Frank when winning a handicap hurdle at Southwell on the first day of May.
That month of March 1978 was a good one for Frank, for apart from those two victorieson What A Prince he also won twice on handicap hurdler Maygo at Stratford and Worcester. Fob, trained by Arthur Birch at Rocester, near Uttoxeter, rounded off a good comeback season for Frank when winning a handicap hurdle at Southwell on the first day of May.
What A Prince, Fob and Maygo collectively ran 28 times during the 1978/79 campaign but failed to win a race between them, resulting in Frank enduring a blank season. However, it was a different story in 79/80, for while What A Prince made the frame on eight of his 13 starts without winning, Fob and Maygo won two apiece.
What A Prince, Fob and Maygo collectively ran 28 times during the 1978/79 campaign but failed to win a race between them, resulting in Frank enduring a blank season. However, it was a different story in 79/80, for while What A Prince made the frame on eight of his 13 starts without winning, Fob and Maygo won two apiece.
Frank rode eight winners that season, beginning with two on John Tiernery’s hurdler Sorbonne at Newton Abbot in September and Devon & Exeter in October. Then Maygo scored at Haydock in November and Warwick in December.
Frank rode eight winners that season, beginning with two on John Tiernery’s hurdler Sorbonne at Newton Abbot in September and Devon & Exeter in October. Then Maygo scored at Haydock in November and Warwick in December.
It’s a devil of a long way from Welshpool in Powys to Fakenham in Norfolk, but that’s the journey Robert Morris – who by then had graduated from a permit to a full trainer’s licence – made on February 15, 1980 with novice hurdler Whisky Go Go who made the cross-country trip worthwhile in winning by three lengths. Nearer to home, Frank won again on Whisky Go Go at Worcester the following month.
It’s a devil of a long way from Welshpool in Powys to Fakenham in Norfolk, but that’s the journey Robert Morris – who by then had graduated from a permit to a full trainer’s licence – made on February 15, 1980 with novice hurdler Whisky Go Go who made the cross-country trip worthwhile in winning by three lengths. Nearer to home, Frank won again on Whisky Go Go at Worcester the following month.
Fob, having won at Warwick in February, went on to win the Motorways Plant Cup Handicap Hurdle, worth a decent £2,015 to the winner, at Stratford on March 6, 1980. That would be Frank’s final winner.
Fob, having won at Warwick in February, went on to win the Motorways Plant Cup Handicap Hurdle, worth a decent £2,015 to the winner, at Stratford on March 6, 1980. That would be Frank’s final winner.
What A Prince and Maygo had both gone to other trainers by the start of the 1980/81 season, while 7lb claimer Trevor Wall took over on Fob. Whisky Go Go failed to win, coming closest when second, beaten a length, in Uttoxeter’s Davidson Cup in April. Despite finishing an unlucky third in Catterick’s William Hill Handicap Hurdle in November, Whisky Go Go was again unable to get his head in front during the 1981/82 season.
What A Prince and Maygo had both gone to other trainers by the start of the 1980/81 season, while 7lb claimer Trevor Wall took over on Fob. Whisky Go Go failed to win, coming closest when second, beaten a length, in Uttoxeter’s Davidson Cup in April. Despite finishing an unlucky third in Catterick’s William Hill Handicap Hurdle in November, Whisky Go Go was again unable to get his head in front during the 1981/82 season.
Frank had his final ride on Whisky Go Go at Bangor-on-Dee on April 24, 1982 and then handed over his mount for others to ride. However, despite racing on for another seven years until March 1989, when aged 13, Whisky Go Go never won again.
Frank had his final ride on Whisky Go Go at Bangor-on-Dee on April 24, 1982 and then handed over his mount for others to ride. However, despite racing on for another seven years until March 1989, when aged 13, Whisky Go Go never won again.
Frank subsequently left for America, settled down in California and galloped horses at Santa Anita. He started his own horse clipping business, which became very successful. One year he clipped 550 horses within the space of six months. After living in California for 20 years, Frank eventually returned to his homeland in June 2011.
Frank subsequently left for America, settled down in California and galloped horses at Santa Anita. He started his own horse clipping business, which became very successful. One year he clipped 550 horses within the space of six months. After living in California for 20 years, Frank eventually returned to his homeland in June 2011.