When Frankie Fitzsimons claimed his final winner

When Frankie Fitzsimons claimed his final winner

3 March 2021

THE East Down point-to-point meeting of 1990, which took place on March 10 at David Corbett’s estate at Tyrella, brought the curtain down for Frankie Fitzsimons.

The popular Downpatrick jockey decided to call time on his long and successful career in the saddle after winning the opening race, the Alan Dunlop confined hunt race on his own horse, Killinick Robyn.

Frankie always said to me that when he made the decision to retire, I would be the first reporter to know. True to his word, he informed me right away, saying if Peter Scudamore could do it, so could he.

The race saw 11 of the 17 entries go to post, with Frankie making the early running. With three fences to go, the leader was Dave Anthony, ridden by John Bright, with Brian Hamilton chasing on John Turley’s Friendless Friend. 

Anthony then crashed out and Hamilton was unseated from Fearless Friend, leaving Frankie on Killinick Robyn to win from Darragh Cross owner Judith O’Grady’s Another Partner, ridden by James Lamb, with Raymond Martin’s Kasperova and Paul Parkin third.

The best horses that Frankie rode over the years were Jim Glover’s Hope’s Choice, trained by his father and namesake, Frankie Sr.

Frankie Sr also owned and trained young Frankie’s first winner under rules, Bright Trick, in a Hunter’s Chase at Downpatrick in 1969.

One of his most notable winners was Joe Rea’s Palo. Trained by Peter McCreery, it was the result of a big gamble the day that Frankie rode it to success at Navan.

His reward that day from Joe, renowned as Downpatrick’s “busy draper”, was a new suit. I believe he still wears it on special occasions.

The following week at Johnnie Grant’s Ramble Inn at Ballykilbeg, Frankie threw a big party for all his friends in the sport. I was lucky enough to be invited and it was a great night. Former amateur and top local funny man Terence McKeag was acting as MC. Frankie took to the stage to play the guitar and sing.

Thankfully, Frankie has not been lost to the sport as he is now an officer at point-to-points, as well as being the inspector of courses. He is also a qualified steward at meetings north and south.

Also at Tyrella in 1990 there was a local winner in the two-winner race with Moving Statue, trained at Banbridge by Leo Young and ridden by Alfie Evans winning for Dromara owner David Hanna.

The six-year old geldings race saw Ian Buchanan ride his own Some Day Soon to success and the Douglas and Cromie Maiden race was won by Mrs Stuart Catherwood’s Bavard Boy, ridden by Paddy Graffin.

In the open race, Pyral, owned and trained by Moira’s Therese O’Neill, and ridden by Graeme Martin proved to be too good for the hot favourite Mill Park Bay, ridden by Pat Kelly.

At the Warwick meeting on Friday, Downpatrick jockey Caoilin Quinn recorded his first success for an outside stable when he won the racingtv.com Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle on the 13/8 favourite Eaton Miller, trained by R Potter.

Despite the fact that the race was for conditional jockeys, Caoilin was again listed on the card as a Mr. He had been a professional at this stage since early-January.

This is something that does not make sense as, at present, amateur riders are unable to compete and sadly will not be able to do so at the Cheltenham Festival.

They have always been a big feature of the action there, with so many Irish riders involved. Top riders like Patrick Mullins, Derek O’Connor, Noel McParlan, Jamie Codd, and Barry O’Neil are as effective as any professional.

They are working with horses every day of the week, so it is a big disappointment for them and many others.

Congratulations to Cumbria- based Downpatrick jockey Danny McMenamin on riding his 75th career winner. He led 25/1 shot Archie Brown at the recent Market Rasen meeting.

At present, Danny leads the conditional jockeys title race on 30 winners. He is five ahead of Cork-born Bryan Carver. He started off in pony racing and is based with Nicky Richards, as was Anthony Dobbin.