Frank O'Neill
1886 – 1960
1886 – 1960
Frank O’Neill was born in Kansas and was exercising horses by the age of ten. He began his riding career at his father’s track in St Louis, winning his first race in 1901. In 1903 he began riding in New York, winning the Brooklyn with Irish Lad. He continued to ride very successfully until 1908 when anti-gambling lobbyists increased their activities and forced many courses to close.
Frank O’Neill was born in Kansas and was exercising horses by the age of ten. He began his riding career at his father’s track in St Louis, winning his first race in 1901. In 1903 he began riding in New York, winning the Brooklyn with Irish Lad. He continued to ride very successfully until 1908 when anti-gambling lobbyists increased their activities and forced many courses to close.
Faced with this assault on their livelihood, O’Neill – together with fellow jockeys Tod Sloan, Skeets Martin and others – left America to ride in Europe. This, at the time, became known in racing circles as The American Invasion.
Faced with this assault on their livelihood, O’Neill – together with fellow jockeys Tod Sloan, Skeets Martin and others – left America to ride in Europe. This, at the time, became known in racing circles as The American Invasion.
O’Neill rode with further great success in France and won eleven Champion Jockey titles between 1910 and 1922. His 162 winners in France in 1911 remained a French record for many years.
O’Neill rode with further great success in France and won eleven Champion Jockey titles between 1910 and 1922. His 162 winners in France in 1911 remained a French record for many years.
He took the occasional ride in England during this period and won the 1911 St Leger on Prince Palatine and, on the same horse, the 1912 Eclipse and the Ascot Gold Cup. He rode in England with more frequency after the war, winning the 1920 Derby on Spion Kop, a ride that had been rejected by the stable jockey. That year he was also principal jockey for William Duke’s stable in Saint Louise de Poissy, France.
He took the occasional ride in England during this period and won the 1911 St Leger on Prince Palatine and, on the same horse, the 1912 Eclipse and the Ascot Gold Cup. He rode in England with more frequency after the war, winning the 1920 Derby on Spion Kop, a ride that had been rejected by the stable jockey. That year he was also principal jockey for William Duke’s stable in Saint Louise de Poissy, France.
In 1924 he claimed another classic, the Oaks aboard Straitlace. On December 25, 1931 he won the Christmas Cup at St Moritz, where the racing took place on a frozen lake. A strong, honest rider, he considered Prince Palatine the best he rode.
In 1924 he claimed another classic, the Oaks aboard Straitlace. On December 25, 1931 he won the Christmas Cup at St Moritz, where the racing took place on a frozen lake. A strong, honest rider, he considered Prince Palatine the best he rode.
In November 1920, Frank was suspended by the St Cloud stewards until the end of the year for alleged foul riding.
In November 1920, Frank was suspended by the St Cloud stewards until the end of the year for alleged foul riding.
O’Neill opened a bar in Paris on his retirement from the saddle before returning to America in 1955. He died in New York in May,1960.
O’Neill opened a bar in Paris on his retirement from the saddle before returning to America in 1955. He died in New York in May,1960.
Frank O’Neill’s classic wins:
Frank O’Neill’s classic wins:
The Derby: Spion Cop (1920)
The Derby: Spion Cop (1920)
The Oaks: Straitlace (1924)
The Oaks: Straitlace (1924)
St Leger: Prince Palatine (1911)
St Leger: Prince Palatine (1911)