Darby Munro

David Hugh "Darby" Munro (5 March 1913 – 3 April 1966) also known as "the Demon" or the "Brown Bomber" was an Aboriginal Australian jockey born in Caulfield. He was a three-time winner of the Melbourne Cup. He has been described as "arguably Australia’s greatest jockey".[1]

Darby Munro
Darby Munro, Randwick 1952
Personal information
Birth nameDavid Hugh Munro
Nickname(s)Brown Bomber, the Demon,
NationalityAustralian
Born(1913-03-05)5 March 1913
Caulfield, Victoria, Australia
Died3 April 1966(1966-04-03) (aged 53)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materMarist Brothers' College, Randwick
OccupationJockey
Peter Pan and Darby Munro, at Flemington.
Rogilla and Darby Munro at Flemington.
Russia and Darby Munro at Flemington.

Early life

He was educated at Marist Brothers' College, Randwick, and served his apprenticeship as a jockey with his brother John.[2] By another account, Munro was born on 23 March 1913 in Melbourne but grew up in Sydney, and was "discovered" by prominent Randwick trainer Jeremiah "Jerome" Carey (c. 1867 – 6 February 1952), and in 1925 or 1926 taken to Melbourne where he gained some experience riding Carey's horse Bicolor. This same article asserts that Darby got his jockey's ticket as his father's apprentice, but his first race was on Carey's Karuma in a Tattersall's Two-year-old Handicap on 21 May 1927, and was beaten by a horse named Rosso.[3]

Career

He trained with his father, Hugh Munro, from about age 10 and established himself as one of the best jockeys of the period.[4] Munro came into prominence in May 1927 when he won the Prospect Handicap on Release, beating his famous brother Jim on Quixotic. Later that same day he won the May Handicap on Spring Days. His services were soon in demand by such famous trainers as Jackson "Jack" Holt "the Wizard of Mordialloc" (c. 1880–1951), Bailey Payten (c. 1896 – 9 September 1948),[5] and Peter Riddle (c. 1885 – 29 June 1947).[6]

Style

Munro was noted for his vigorous riding, especially in a tight finish.[7] Unlike many other outstanding jockeys, he was not interested in golf, but kept himself fit by riding and swimming, an exercise he enjoyed, and never dieted to keep his weight down, though he did have a problem later on. Though daring and energetic, he seldom fell from his mount, and was never seriously injured.[7]

He was on several occasions invited to ride in England, but declined, preferring to remain in Australia.[8] He was renowned for his stony poker face, which may have contributed to the ambivalent attitude of the public towards him: cheering his wins and booing his failures. His many fans may have considered him Australia's greatest jockey, but no-one would have denied he was the most colourful.[7]

Ancestry

Darby never publicly revealed his Aboriginal heritage. The details of his heritage are unclear. However, Munro is a prominent Aboriginal surname, and other Aboriginal riders were convinced he was Aboriginal. Due to his complexion he was referred to as the 'Brown Bomber'. He was also given the nickname "the Coon", a racist epithet which other Aboriginal sportspersons also were called.[4]

Later years

He appeared in cameo as himself in the 1941 comedy film Racing Luck.

In February 1941 his licence was revoked for six months after a race at Ascot. He enlisted with the Second AIF in 1942 and served until 1944 when he was discharged as medically unfit. A ride on Vagabond at Caulfield resulted in a two-year disqualification.[9] His application for a permit to ride in England in 1953 was refused, but he made appearances in California and France that year.

Retirement and death

He retired in 1955. In later years he suffered from diabetes and in 1964 his left leg had to be amputated. He died from cerebral haemorrhage and his remains were buried in the Catholic section of Randwick cemetery.[2]

Legacy

Notable wins

Other notable mounts were Mosaic, Nuffield, Pantheon, Manrico, Mildura

References
  1. Max Presnell. "Champ or chump? Demon Darb's meat pie barb put to the test". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  2. Bede Nairn (1986). "Munro, David Hugh (Darby) (1913–1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  3. "Munro Out, Missed by Public". Truth. No. 2667. Sydney. 16 February 1941. p. 20. Retrieved 13 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Ramsland, John (2006). Remembering Aboriginal heroes : struggle, identity and the media. Christopher Gerald Mooney. Melbourne: Brolga Pub. ISBN 978-1-920785-85-7. OCLC 77549042.
  5. "Trainer dies in Sydney". The News. Vol. 51, no. 7, 832. Adelaide. 10 September 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Noted Racing Man Dies. Owner of Shannon". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 171. 30 June 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Darby Munro rides again". The Sun (Sydney). No. 2468. New South Wales, Australia. 6 August 1950. p. 14. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Darby Munro, Colorful Turf Personality". The Sun (Sydney). No. 1651. New South Wales, Australia. 18 November 1934. p. 47. Retrieved 13 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Vagabond Sequel". The Age. No. 29169. Victoria, Australia. 21 October 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Chestnut Champions in Randwick "Thriller"". Truth (Sydney newspaper). No. 2331. New South Wales, Australia. 9 September 1934. p. 2. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
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