Frank Wootton
Frank Wootton was born on Thursday, 14 December 1893 at Glebe, New South Wales. Reputedly, Frank - and his brother Stanley - had miserable childhoods: so intent was their father (Richard) that they should both become jockeys, he denied them proper meals.
Frank Wootton was born on Thursday, 14 December 1893 at Glebe, New South Wales. Reputedly, Frank - and his brother Stanley - had miserable childhoods: so intent was their father (Richard) that they should both become jockeys, he denied them proper meals.
At the age of just nine, Frank was made to ride track work at Randwick racecourse and considered (by his father) ready to race for real. However, the minimum age for a jockey was 14, so the family (and a string of horses) moved to Transvaal, South Africa, where there was no such age limit. Richard trained at Germanston racecourse where Frank, as a precocious nine-year-old in 1903, rode his first winner on his father’s horse, Centurion, in the Johannesburg Goldfields Cup. There were no celebrations at home that evening – Richard Wootton had collected his son from school at lunchtime so that he could get him to the racecourse without his wife Kate finding out. She was violently opposed to Frank becoming a jockey. (Kate died in 1909, giving birth to a fifth child.)
At the age of just nine, Frank was made to ride track work at Randwick racecourse and considered (by his father) ready to race for real. However, the minimum age for a jockey was 14, so the family (and a string of horses) moved to Transvaal, South Africa, where there was no such age limit. Richard trained at Germanston racecourse where Frank, as a precocious nine-year-old in 1903, rode his first winner on his father’s horse, Centurion, in the Johannesburg Goldfields Cup. There were no celebrations at home that evening – Richard Wootton had collected his son from school at lunchtime so that he could get him to the racecourse without his wife Kate finding out. She was violently opposed to Frank becoming a jockey. (Kate died in 1909, giving birth to a fifth child.)
In 1906, frustrated by the wait for Frank’s licence, Richard moved his family once again, this time to England, and brought with him a kangaroo and an emu. He acquired stables at Treadwell House, Epsom, and, by 1913, had become champion English trainer.
In 1906, frustrated by the wait for Frank’s licence, Richard moved his family once again, this time to England, and brought with him a kangaroo and an emu. He acquired stables at Treadwell House, Epsom, and, by 1913, had become champion English trainer.
Frank rode his first winner in England on Retrieve at Folkestone on August 23rd, 1906. In 1908, Frank was offered a £30,000 per year retaining fee to move to France and ride for French owner M.E.Veilpicard. His father forbade him to take it saying it was ‘too large a retaining fee for one so young’. Frank remained in England and became an immediate success. He went on to become the first Australian to win the English jockey’s championship – in 1909 with 165 winners: he kept the title for another three years. He rode Shogun for his father in the suffragette Derby of 1913 , almost being brought down.
Frank rode his first winner in England on Retrieve at Folkestone on August 23rd, 1906. In 1908, Frank was offered a £30,000 per year retaining fee to move to France and ride for French owner M.E.Veilpicard. His father forbade him to take it saying it was ‘too large a retaining fee for one so young’. Frank remained in England and became an immediate success. He went on to become the first Australian to win the English jockey’s championship – in 1909 with 165 winners: he kept the title for another three years. He rode Shogun for his father in the suffragette Derby of 1913 , almost being brought down.
At the start of the war, Frank (who, in August 1913, had ridden eight consecutive winners) was struggling with increasing weight, and - having ridden 882 horses to victory - his career was all but over.
At the start of the war, Frank (who, in August 1913, had ridden eight consecutive winners) was struggling with increasing weight, and - having ridden 882 horses to victory - his career was all but over.
He enlisted in the army, served in Palestine and Mesopotamia and was mentioned in dispatches (his brother Stanley won the Military Cross during the Battle of the Somme). After the war, he tried his hand as a National Hunt jockey and, in four seasons, rode over 160 winners. Riding for his brother Stanley, Frank won the 1921 Imperial Cup at Sandown on Noce d’Argent.
He enlisted in the army, served in Palestine and Mesopotamia and was mentioned in dispatches (his brother Stanley won the Military Cross during the Battle of the Somme). After the war, he tried his hand as a National Hunt jockey and, in four seasons, rode over 160 winners. Riding for his brother Stanley, Frank won the 1921 Imperial Cup at Sandown on Noce d’Argent.
In 1931, he concentrated on training National Hunt horses and sent out over 100 winners before finally returning to Sydney in 1933.
In 1931, he concentrated on training National Hunt horses and sent out over 100 winners before finally returning to Sydney in 1933.
He was never in the best of health – his father’s strict food regime when Frank was a child had not helped – and he began drinking. On Saturday, 6th April 1940, he was convicted of drunkenness and thrown into Long Bay jail where, later that day, he suffered a fatal attack.
He was never in the best of health – his father’s strict food regime when Frank was a child had not helped – and he began drinking. On Saturday, 6th April 1940, he was convicted of drunkenness and thrown into Long Bay jail where, later that day, he suffered a fatal attack.
Frank played a good game of bridge and also excelled at cribbage.
Frank played a good game of bridge and also excelled at cribbage.
He was also a motorbike enthusiast. On Tuesday evening, August 27th 1912, he lost control of his bike owing to the failure of the steering gear, and was thrown heavily. He was examined back at his home, Treadwell House, where it was found that he had sustained a simple fracture of the collar-bone.
He was also a motorbike enthusiast. On Tuesday evening, August 27th 1912, he lost control of his bike owing to the failure of the steering gear, and was thrown heavily. He was examined back at his home, Treadwell House, where it was found that he had sustained a simple fracture of the collar-bone.
He was once fined for motorcycling through Epsom at 35 miles an hour and endangering the lives of pedestrians.
He was once fined for motorcycling through Epsom at 35 miles an hour and endangering the lives of pedestrians.
Frank’s father Richard was born on 31st March 1867 at Taree, New South Wales. He was the second of ten children of bootmaker William Wootton and his wife Jane (nee Rawson) from New York. William, whose own parents had been convicts, was a Taree hotelier: he also trained a few horses.
Frank’s father Richard was born on 31st March 1867 at Taree, New South Wales. He was the second of ten children of bootmaker William Wootton and his wife Jane (nee Rawson) from New York. William, whose own parents had been convicts, was a Taree hotelier: he also trained a few horses.
Richard began his career on local tracks and, at 19, won the Manning River Cup with Bay Fly. His training methods, the use of lightweight and apprenticed jockeys and careful placement of runners, attracted the likes of Sir Edward Hulton, who brought in superior horses. Beginning in 1906 with 14 winners, he topped the English Trainers’ table in 1913 with 66 winners.
Richard began his career on local tracks and, at 19, won the Manning River Cup with Bay Fly. His training methods, the use of lightweight and apprenticed jockeys and careful placement of runners, attracted the likes of Sir Edward Hulton, who brought in superior horses. Beginning in 1906 with 14 winners, he topped the English Trainers’ table in 1913 with 66 winners.
On 19th December 1893, he married 19-year-old Catherine at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. He remarried on February 2nd 1931 (Frances Young) at St Jude’s Church of England, Randwick.
On 19th December 1893, he married 19-year-old Catherine at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. He remarried on February 2nd 1931 (Frances Young) at St Jude’s Church of England, Randwick.
Richard died on 26th June 1946 at Randwick and was buried in the Anglican cemetery there. His wife and three daughters survived him, as did two sons and two daughters from his first marriage.
Richard died on 26th June 1946 at Randwick and was buried in the Anglican cemetery there. His wife and three daughters survived him, as did two sons and two daughters from his first marriage.
Frank’s brother Stanley did not enjoy a successful career as a jockey but became one of the wealthiest and most powerful turf figures in England. He made frequent visits back to Australia where he invested in stud properties. After an exceptionally successful season in1924 with 84 winners, Stanley bought Epsom’s Walton Downs for £35,000.
Frank’s brother Stanley did not enjoy a successful career as a jockey but became one of the wealthiest and most powerful turf figures in England. He made frequent visits back to Australia where he invested in stud properties. After an exceptionally successful season in1924 with 84 winners, Stanley bought Epsom’s Walton Downs for £35,000.
Stanley married Kathleen Griffiths on January 15th 1938 at St Joseph’s Church, Epsom. They separated during the war.
Stanley married Kathleen Griffiths on January 15th 1938 at St Joseph’s Church, Epsom. They separated during the war.
Stanley Wootton died on 21st March 1986 at Epsom and was buried in the local cemetery. In his will, he assigned Walton Downs to the Horseracing Levy Board to ensure their preservation as working grounds.
Stanley Wootton died on 21st March 1986 at Epsom and was buried in the local cemetery. In his will, he assigned Walton Downs to the Horseracing Levy Board to ensure their preservation as working grounds.
The difference at death between the two brothers was stark: Stanley, having made a vast fortune and Frank, who died a drunken pauper.
The difference at death between the two brothers was stark: Stanley, having made a vast fortune and Frank, who died a drunken pauper.
Frank Wootton’s classic wins:
Frank Wootton’s classic wins:
The Oaks: Perola (1909)
The Oaks: Perola (1909)
St Leger Swynford (1910)
St Leger Swynford (1910)
Best wins:
Best wins:
1906: Portland Handicap - Nero
1906: Portland Handicap - Nero
1907: Portland Handicap - Woolley
1907: Portland Handicap - Woolley
1907: Cesarewitch - Demure
1907: Cesarewitch - Demure
1908: Chester Cup - Glacis
1908: Chester Cup - Glacis
1909: Manchester November Handicap - Admiral Togo
1909: Manchester November Handicap - Admiral Togo
1910: Cesarewitch -Verney
1910: Cesarewitch -Verney
1911: Sussex Stakes - Stedfast
1911: Sussex Stakes - Stedfast
1911: Champagne Stakes - Lemberg
1911: Champagne Stakes - Lemberg
1911: Victoria Cup -Spanish Prince
1911: Victoria Cup -Spanish Prince
1911: Manchester Cup - Marajax
1911: Manchester Cup - Marajax
1911: Eclipse Stakes - Swynford
1911: Eclipse Stakes - Swynford
1911: Gimcrack Stakes - Lomond
1911: Gimcrack Stakes - Lomond
1912: Champagne Stakes - Stedfast
1912: Champagne Stakes - Stedfast
1912: July Cup - Spanish Prince
1912: July Cup - Spanish Prince
1913: Sussex Stakes - Sun Yat
1913: Sussex Stakes - Sun Yat
1913: July Cup - Spanish Prince
1913: July Cup - Spanish Prince
1913: Gimcrack Stakes - Stornaway
1913: Gimcrack Stakes - Stornaway
1921: Gloucester Hurdle - Milton
1921: Gloucester Hurdle - Milton
1923: Gloucester Hurdle - West Countryman
1923: Gloucester Hurdle - West Countryman
1924: Imperial Cup - Noce d'Argent
1924: Imperial Cup - Noce d'Argent
1924: Liverpool Hurdle - Stuff Gown
1924: Liverpool Hurdle - Stuff Gown