Mornington Cannon
Encyclopedia
Herbert Mornington Cannon (1873–1962), commonly referred to as Morny Cannon, was a six-time leading jockey in the United Kingdom
in the 1890s. He holds the records for the most wins by a jockey at the Craven Stakes
, Coronation Stakes
and Prince of Wales's Stakes
. His most famous mount was Flying Fox
who won the British Triple Crown
in 1899. He was the son of English jockey
Tom Cannon (1846–1917).
, the same day that his father Tom Cannon won the 1873 City and Suburban Handicap riding a colt named Mornington. Cannon derived his middle name from his father's mount and went by the nickname
"Morny" for much of his racing career.
His mother was Catherine Day, a daughter of English horse trainer John Barham Day. Cannon had two brothers who were also jockeys: Walter Kempton (1879–1951) and Tom Cannon, Jr (1872–1945). His sister Margaret married Ernest Piggott, who was the grandfather of champion jockey Lester Piggott
.
. By 1900 Cannon had won 1,542 races. His most famous mount was Flying Fox
with which he captured the 1899 St. Leger Stakes
, 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
, securing the Triple Crown. During his career, he was noted as having good hands for piloting 2-year-old horses. He retired from racing in 1908.
had an intense dislike of the jockey. Cannon had ridden the horse in the Boscawen Stakes in 1900, achieving a narrow win over Paigle in a finish that required a generous application of whip on Diamond Jubilee. The horse never again allowed Cannon to ride him, rolling on top of the jockey on one occasion. Diamond Jubilee was instead ridden by newcomer Herbert Jones
during his Triple Crown campaign.
and Hove
for many years until his death in 1962 at the age of 89.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the 1890s. He holds the records for the most wins by a jockey at the Craven Stakes
Craven Stakes
The Craven Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event serves as a trial for the first...
, Coronation Stakes
Coronation Stakes
The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
and Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. His most famous mount was Flying Fox
Flying Fox (horse)
Flying Fox was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1899 English Triple Crown Races and was the leading sire in France three times.-Breeding:...
who won the British Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
in 1899. He was the son of English jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
Tom Cannon (1846–1917).
Early life
Herbert Mornington Cannon was born on May 21 in Houghton, HampshireHoughton, Hampshire
Houghton is a small village and civil parish in the Test Valley district of Hampshire, England. The village is situated alongside the River Test. Its nearest town is Stockbridge, which lies approximately 1.8 miles north-east from the village. The village is mostly strung out along the single road...
, the same day that his father Tom Cannon won the 1873 City and Suburban Handicap riding a colt named Mornington. Cannon derived his middle name from his father's mount and went by the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Morny" for much of his racing career.
His mother was Catherine Day, a daughter of English horse trainer John Barham Day. Cannon had two brothers who were also jockeys: Walter Kempton (1879–1951) and Tom Cannon, Jr (1872–1945). His sister Margaret married Ernest Piggott, who was the grandfather of champion jockey Lester Piggott
Lester Piggott
Lester Keith Piggott is a retired English professional jockey, popularly known as "The Long Fellow". With 4,493 career wins, including nine Epsom Derby victories, he is one of the most well-known English flat racing jockeys of all time....
.
Racing career
Cannon's first race win occurred shortly before his fourteenth birthday in 1887, at a race held in SalisburySalisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
. By 1900 Cannon had won 1,542 races. His most famous mount was Flying Fox
Flying Fox (horse)
Flying Fox was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1899 English Triple Crown Races and was the leading sire in France three times.-Breeding:...
with which he captured the 1899 St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
, 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, securing the Triple Crown. During his career, he was noted as having good hands for piloting 2-year-old horses. He retired from racing in 1908.
Diamond Jubilee
Cannon would have ridden another Triple Crown winner in 1900, but Diamond JubileeDiamond Jubilee (horse)
Diamond Jubilee was a British-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse who won the British Triple Crown in 1900.He was a full brother to the 1896 Derby winner, Persimmon and was foaled in the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. He was exported to Argentina in 1906 and died there in...
had an intense dislike of the jockey. Cannon had ridden the horse in the Boscawen Stakes in 1900, achieving a narrow win over Paigle in a finish that required a generous application of whip on Diamond Jubilee. The horse never again allowed Cannon to ride him, rolling on top of the jockey on one occasion. Diamond Jubilee was instead ridden by newcomer Herbert Jones
Herbert Jones (jockey)
Herbert Ebsworth Jones was a leading British Thoroughbred horse racing jockey.He often rode horses for King Edward VII. In 1900, he won the British Triple Crown when he rode Diamond Jubilee to victory in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Epsom Derby and St. Leger Stakes. He remains only one of only...
during his Triple Crown campaign.
Retirement
Cannon retired from racing and lived in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
and Hove
Hove
Hove is a town on the south coast of England, immediately to the west of its larger neighbour Brighton, with which it forms the unitary authority Brighton and Hove. It forms a single conurbation together with Brighton and some smaller towns and villages running along the coast...
for many years until his death in 1962 at the age of 89.