Frank Wynne
Frank Wynne
1857-1885
1857-1885
Francis (Frank) Wynne was one of the leading Flat jockeys in Ireland during the 1870s and early 1880s and won the Irish Derby three times in four years. Born in 1857, he was the son of Denis Wynne, the Rossmore Lodge trainer. Denis (known as Denny) had won the 1847 Grand National on Matthew. Fifteen years later his elder son, Joseph (Joe) Wynne was killed in the same race when his mount collided in mid-air.
Francis (Frank) Wynne was one of the leading Flat jockeys in Ireland during the 1870s and early 1880s and won the Irish Derby three times in four years. Born in 1857, he was the son of Denis Wynne, the Rossmore Lodge trainer. Denis (known as Denny) had won the 1847 Grand National on Matthew. Fifteen years later his elder son, Joseph (Joe) Wynne was killed in the same race when his mount collided in mid-air.
Frank began his racing career at Christopher St George’s Rathbridge Cottage stable and had his first ride at the Curragh in September 1870 at the age of thirteen, when weighing just four stone. Like his brother before him, Frank became champion jockey in Ireland on more than one occasion.
Frank began his racing career at Christopher St George’s Rathbridge Cottage stable and had his first ride at the Curragh in September 1870 at the age of thirteen, when weighing just four stone. Like his brother before him, Frank became champion jockey in Ireland on more than one occasion.
He won the Irish Derby for the first time in 1877 on 5-1 chance Redskin, trained by Dan Broderick at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh. He won it again the following year on the filly Madame Dubarry, having wasted hard to take full advantage of all her allowances – she carried just 7st 7lb. He finished fifth in the 1879 Irish Derby on The Squaw but won it for a third and final time in 1880 on King of the Bees, trained, like his first Derby winner, by Dan Broderick. He finished second in both the next two renewals, on Greenfield in 1881 and Theorist in 1882.
He won the Irish Derby for the first time in 1877 on 5-1 chance Redskin, trained by Dan Broderick at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh. He won it again the following year on the filly Madame Dubarry, having wasted hard to take full advantage of all her allowances – she carried just 7st 7lb. He finished fifth in the 1879 Irish Derby on The Squaw but won it for a third and final time in 1880 on King of the Bees, trained, like his first Derby winner, by Dan Broderick. He finished second in both the next two renewals, on Greenfield in 1881 and Theorist in 1882.
Rising weight eventually forced Frank to follow in his father’s footsteps and ride over jumps, but it was a brief transition, for he died on December 4, 1885, aged just 28.
Rising weight eventually forced Frank to follow in his father’s footsteps and ride over jumps, but it was a brief transition, for he died on December 4, 1885, aged just 28.
