Tuesday 31 March 2020

Darby Munro


Remember we told you about the famous racehorse Peter Pan .Bred by Rodney Rouse  Dangar 

Peter Pan won his 1934 Melbourne Cup carrying Darby Munro at 9 st 10 lb on his back and from an outside draw on a heavy track, hence his long odds of 14/1. In 1932, he also won the VRC Derby and the MacKinnon Stakes.
Peter Pan stood at Rodney R. Dangar’s country property Baroona, Whittingham, Singleton, New South Wales where he exclusively covered his owner’s mares. His stud career was cut short when he broke his leg in 1941 and was destroyed. Peter Pan is buried at Baroona, Whittingham, Singleton, New South Wales.
But this famous jockey we also met before . Ray told us about him.
The brother of Thomas Dunn (my G Grandfather, of your blog) emigrated to Melbourne, Australia and his son won the Melbourne cup (Fred Dunn - 1901) as did both sons of his daughter Susannah (James Munro in 1926 and Darby Munro, Aussies greatest jockey immortalised on a stamp, three times)

Peter Pan and Darby Munro, at Flemington
No doubt the dire straits of his family also caused younger brother David William (just one when his father died) to ship to Melbourne Australia, where one son, Frederick John - painted on his winning 1901 mount) and two sons of daughter Susannah Catherine




 all became famous jockeys and won the renowned Melbourne Cup (and one of them ("Darby" Munro to be declared Australia's Greatest Jockey and be commemorated on a 1922 stamp).

No comments: