Frank Reys facts for kids

Frank Reys (born around 1931, died 1984) was an Aboriginal Australian jockey. He made history in 1973 by winning the famous Melbourne Cup race. He rode a horse named Gala Supreme to victory. As of 2022, he is still the only Indigenous Australian jockey to have won this major event.

Frank Reys started his racing career in Northern Queensland. He rode in many places, including Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. He won his very first race in 1948 when he was just 16 years old. Throughout his career, he had an amazing 1,330 winning rides. This was especially impressive because there were fewer races back then. His Melbourne Cup win in 1973 was one of his last big victories. He ended his career in 1976 with another win, showing his lasting talent.

Frank's Background

Frank Reys' father was from the Philippines, and his mother was an Aboriginal woman from the Dyirbal people in Northern Queensland. However, during his racing career, many people only knew him as Filipino. At that time, there was a lot of unfair treatment based on race. Many believed that if he had openly talked about his Aboriginal background, it might have made things harder for him.

His daughter, Shelley Reys, once explained: "My father was one of fourteen children. It was a different time back then. Indigenous heritage was not valued as it is today. People were treated unfairly just because of their race or skin colour." She added that her dad was proud of both his Aboriginal and Filipino heritage.

Some people have debated if Frank Reys was truly the first Aboriginal jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. They sometimes mention John Cutts (who rode in 1861) or Peter St. Albans (who rode in 1876). However, records show that neither of these jockeys was Aboriginal, even though some stories claim they were.

Growing Up and Early Riding

Frank Reys was born around 1931. He was one of 14 children, with 8 boys and 6 girls. His father came to North Queensland from the Philippines before Frank was born. He worked as a labourer and cook on farms near Cairns. Frank was the first of nine children born to his Aboriginal mother.

Frank and his brothers loved horses. They would catch wild horses, called brumbies, and train them. Then they would race each other. Frank was the best rider and won most of these races. One of his brothers also rode successfully in amateur events. Frank loved riding so much that he started riding in gymkhanas and pony races in Cairns before becoming a professional jockey.

In June 1949, when he was a teenager, Frank became an apprentice jockey. He trained with Alfred Baker in Cairns. Later, he trained with Gordon . During his apprenticeship, Frank won about 45 races. He started at Cannon Park Racecourse in Cairns and other local meetings. He won his first official race on a horse named Cruedon at Gordonvale. In 1950, he got his first win in Brisbane on a horse called Baysure.

A Jockey's Career

After his apprenticeship, Frank Reys traveled widely. He became one of the few jockeys to win over 1,000 races. One impressive day was in Queensland, where he rode four winners in one afternoon at Cunnamulla. He even won the Cunnamulla Cup three times.

In 1955, Reys moved to Sydney. He won the Warwick Farm Autumn Handicap on a horse named Beaupa. He also rode three winners in one afternoon at Kembla Grange, near Wollongong. Around 1961, Reys moved from Sydney to Melbourne. He had great success there, both in the city and at smaller races in Victoria.

Some of his best moments in Victoria included:

• November 25, 1961: Frank had his best day of riding in Victoria. He won five races in one afternoon at Moe.
• 1962: Reys won the Oaks Stakes at Flemington on a horse named Arctic Star.
• June 15, 1963: He rode four winners at Moonee Valley.
• April 13, 1968: Reys rode four winners at Caulfield Racecourse.
• November 1968: He won the important Bendigo and Ballarat Cups. On November 22, he rode four winners at Ballarat.
• January 1969: Reys won the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on Crewman.

Overcoming Injuries

In January 1969, Frank Reys suffered a serious injury. A fall involving four horses at Geelong left him with a broken pelvis. He had to stay in the hospital for three months. After he returned to riding, a magazine noted that he rode "with considerable success" at mid-week races.

His family faced financial difficulties because he missed so much racing due to injuries. He continued to face challenges. In August 1973, after recovering from another injury, Reys was in a car accident on his way to a race. Despite the crash, he got out of the wrecked car and still rode Tauto to victory at Moonee Valley that afternoon.

The 1973 Melbourne Cup Win

Trainer Ray Hutchins supported Frank Reys even after Frank had a tough two years. During this time, Frank had broken a shoulder, fractured his pelvis twice, and broken a cheekbone and an ankle. Because of all his injuries, he was nicknamed "Autumn Leaves." Despite this, Hutchins trusted Reys to ride the horse Gala Supreme in the 1973 Caulfield Cup, where they finished second. Hutchins had planned for Gala Supreme to win the Melbourne Cup, and after the Caulfield Cup, he prepared the horse for the big race.

On Tuesday, November 6, 1973, Frank Reys made history. He became the first Aboriginal jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Gala Supreme, carrying 7 stone 10 pounds (about 49 kg), won the race at odds of 9-1. The race time was 3 minutes, 19.15 seconds. After their Melbourne Cup victory, Reys and Gala Supreme also won the Herbert Power Handicap. At 41 years old, Frank Reys was the oldest jockey in the 1973 Melbourne Cup.

Gala Supreme had drawn the very outside starting gate, barrier 24. This was the only thing worrying Reys. Trainer Hutchins later said that he and Reys talked many times about how to ride the race. Hutchins eventually left the decision to Reys. Reys told him he would have Gala Supreme "one off the fence in 5th or 6th position" as they went out of the straight.

Coming from the outside, Reys rode exactly as he had planned. He kept Gala Supreme one horse-width from the rail, not far behind the leaders, after the first lap. As the horses turned for home, Reys found himself surrounded by other horses. But 200 meters from the finish line, Reys found a small gap. The favorite horse had moved slightly off its straight path, creating an opening. It was a very close win, but Gala Supreme surged forward to victory. Hutchins later said, "he went and did it – it was the perfect ride – he rode the race of his life for me."

After his win, Frank Reys gave a speech. He said, "I thank my God, my prayers and my family for their encouragement. This is such a wonderful day. I kept picking myself off the ground and hoping I would win a Melbourne Cup. It’s something every Australian jockey dreams about. I still can’t believe it." Three of his brothers – Fred, Tony, and Eric – were in the crowd to see his amazing comeback. In 1976, three years after his Melbourne Cup win, Frank Reys announced his retirement from riding after winning a race for his Melbourne Cup trainer, Ray Hutchins.

Later Life and Legacy

Frank Reys passed away from cancer in 1984, at the age of 53.

Frank Reys is the father of Shelley Reys. Shelley has become a very important person in Australia. She was a director of Reconciliation Australia and a strong supporter of Aboriginal rights. She speaks out about improving education, health, and job opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In 2004, Shelley suggested a way to include Indigenous culture in the Australia Day celebrations. Because of her ideas, Australia Day 2005 officially started with a sunrise ceremony at Uluru. In 2012, Shelley Reys was honored with the Officer of the Order of Australia award for her great work. In 2013, she was named one of "100 Women of Influence" by a major Australian newspaper.