Frank Wootton

Francis Leonard Wootton (14 December 1893 – 6 April 1940), known as "Frank" or "Frankie", and sometimes referred to as "The Wonderboy", was an Australian horse racing jockey who had great success as a teenager in the Edwardian era when he was British champion for four successive years.

Early life He was born in Australia, the eldest son of Richard Wootton, a "tall, dark-visaged, hard-bitten Australian".

Richard was sure Frank was ready to race ride from the age of 9, but Australian Jockey Club rules prohibited it. Thus, the Wootton family, together with another young prospective jockey, Bill "Midge" McLachlan,

Returning from the war, Wootton turned to National Hunt racing, where the requirement to meet low weights is less. It has been said that he did not make a success of this

Death Ultimately, he became a trainer, sending out over 100 winners from his father's former yard. He returned to Australia in 1933, but he continued to be ill, attributed to his race falls and to the wasting regime of his riding years. He began to drink and on 6 April 1940, was convicted of drunkenness. Later that day, whilst in jail, he had an epileptic seizure and died. He was buried in a Catholic ceremony in Botany Cemetery.

Major wins Great Britain

Classics Oaks – Perola (1909) St. Leger – Swynford (1910)

Selected other races Eclipse – Swynford (1911) Cesarewitch – Verney (1910)

Career statistics

Total winners by season

South Africa 1903: 1+ 1904: Not known 1905: Not known 1906: 16