Darby Munro Hugh Munro (trainer)

rogilla, , darby munro @ flemington



peter pan , darby munro, @ flemington



nuffield @ randwick

david hugh darby demon brown bomber munro (5 march 1913 – 3 april 1966) born in caulfield. educated @ marist brothers college, randwick, , served apprenticeship jockey brother john. account, munro born on 23 march 1913 in melbourne grew in sydney, , discovered prominent randwick trainer jeremiah jerome carey (c. 1867 – 6 february 1952), , in 1925 or 1926 taken melbourne gained experience riding carey s horse bicolor. same article asserts darby got jockey s ticket father s apprentice, first race on carey s karuma in tattersall s two-year-old handicap on 21 may 1927, , beaten horse named rosso. munro came prominence in may 1927 when won prospect handicap on release, beating famous brother jim on quixotic. later same day won may handicap on spring days. services in demand such famous trainers jackson jack holt wizard of mordialloc (c. 1880–1951), bailey payten (c. 1896 – 9 september 1948), , peter riddle (c. 1885 – 29 june 1947).

some notable wins were:

adrian knox stakes: session (1941)
all aged stakes: katanga (1944); san domenico (1952)
anniversary handicap: feminist (1941)
biraganbil handicap: katanga (1940)
a.j.c. challenge stakes: venetian lady (1930)
chelmsford stakes: rogilla (1933) , (1934), beating peter pan, ridden jim munro.
chipping norton stakes: reading (1940); katanga (1944) , (1945)
colin stephen quality handicap spring stakes: rogilla (1933) , (1934); beau vite (1941); katanga (1942) , (1943)
a.j.c. derby/australian derby: hall mark (1933); allunga (dead heat 1935); nuffield (1938); reading (1939); , main topic (1942)
v.r.c. derby: hall mark (1933); hydrogen (1951)
doncaster handicap: venetian lady (1930), first important win; mildura (1940)
duke of gloucester cup: peter pan
easter plate: session (1940)
epsom handicap: modulation (1944); , shannon (1946), carrying 9 st. 9 lb. (61 kg)
january handicap: feminist (1941)
george main stakes: shannon (1946) , (1947)
kings cup (later known queen elizabeth stakes (atc)): rogilla (1934); allunga (1937); old rowley (1938); mosaic (1940); katanga (1944); russia (1947); aristocrat (1952)
melbourne cup: peter pan (1934); sirius (1944); russia (1946). riders better melbourne cup record bobby lewis , harry white, 4 wins each.
melbourne stakes (from 1937 known lks mackinnon stakes): rogilla (1933); peter pan (1934); beau vite (1941)
paddington handicap: tuckerbox (1941)
phillip handicap: rylstone (1941)
st leger: reading (1940); hydrogen (1952)
a.j.c. sires produce stakes: dark sky (1934); reading (1939)
sydney cup: mosaic (1940); abspear (1943); veiled threat (1944)
valicare handicap: astrid (1941)
victoria derby: hall-mark (1933); nuffield (1938); reading (1939); beau gem (1947); hydrogen (1951)
vrc st leger: reading (1940)
warwick stakes: rogilla (1935); allunga (1937); beaulivre (1940); katanga (1943); removal (1945) , tarien (1954)
widden handicap: beau port (1941)
w s cox plate: rogilla (1933); young idea (1937); mosaic (1939); beau vite (1941); hydrogen (1952)

other notable mounts mosaic, nuffield, pantheon, manrico, mildura.

munro noted vigorous riding, in tight finish. unlike many other outstanding jockeys, not interested in golf, kept him self fit riding , swimming, exercise enjoyed, , never dieted keep weight down, though did have problem later on. though daring , energetic, seldom fell mount, , never injured.

he on several occasions invited ride in england, declined, preferring remain in australia. renowned stony poker face, may have contributed ambivalent attitude of public towards him: cheering wins , booing failures. many fans may have considered him australia s greatest jockey, no-one have denied colourful.

later years

he appeared in cameo himself in 1941 comedy film racing luck.

in february 1941 licence revoked 6 months after race @ ascot. enlisted second aif in 1942 , served until 1944 when discharged medically unfit. ride on vagabond @ caulfield resulted in two-year disqualification. application permit ride in england in 1953 refused, made appearances in california , france year. retired in 1955. in later years suffered diabetes , in 1964 left leg had amputated. died cerebral haemorrhage , remains buried in catholic section of randwick cemetery.

recognition


in 1981 caricature of darby munro tony rafty featured on australian stamp issued australian post.
his name in 2001 entered in australian racing hall of fame.




^ bede nairn (1986). munro, david hugh (darby) (1913–1966) . australian dictionary of biography. national centre of biography, australian national university. retrieved 12 september 2017. 
^ munro out, missed public . truth (sydney newspaper) (2667). new south wales, australia. 16 february 1941. p. 20. retrieved 13 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ trainer dies in sydney . news. 51, (7,832). south australia. 10 september 1948. p. 6. retrieved 14 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ noted racing man dies. owner of shannon . sydney morning herald (34,171). new south wales, australia. 30 june 1947. p. 1. retrieved 14 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ chestnut champions in randwick thriller . truth (sydney newspaper) (2331). new south wales, australia. 9 september 1934. p. 2. retrieved 14 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ darby munro rides again . sun (sydney) (2468). new south wales, australia. 6 august 1950. p. 14. retrieved 14 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ darby munro, colorful turf personality . sun (sydney) (1651). new south wales, australia. 18 november 1934. p. 47. retrieved 13 september 2017 – via national library of australia. 
^ vagabond sequel . age (29169). victoria, australia. 21 october 1948. p. 8. retrieved 14 september 2017 – via national library of australia.