Francis Buckle

Francis Buckle, 1831 engraving by William Camden Edwards
Occupation	Jockey
Born	1766 Newmarket, Suffolk
Died	1832
Major racing wins
British Classic Race wins: 1,000 Guineas (1818, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1823, 1827) 2,000 Guineas (1810, 1820, 1821, 1822, 1827) Epsom Derby (1792, 1794, 1802, 1811, 1823) Epsom Oaks (1797, 1798, 1799, 1802, 1803, 1805, 1817, 1818, 1823) St Leger (1800, 1804)
Significant horses
Arab, Bellina, Bellissima, Champion, Corinne, Daedalus, Emilius, Hephestion, John Bull, Meteora, Neva, Nike, Pastille, Phantom, Pindarrie, Reginald, Rowena, Sancho, Scotia, Theophania, Turcoman, Tyrant, Whizgig, Zeal, Zinc

Francis Buckle (1766–1832), also known as Frank Buckle and known to the British horse racing public as "The Governor", was an English jockey, who has been described as "the jockey non-pareil" of the opening quarter of the 19th century, and the man who "brought respectability to race-riding". He won at least 27 British Classic Races during his career, a record which would not be beaten for over 150 years.

Buckle was born to a saddler in Newmarket. His parents died when he was 12, and he was brought up by an aunt. He started racing at the stables of Richard Vernon, making his first appearance in May 1783 at the age of 16. He rode a bay colt called Wolf, and met the scales weighing only 3 st 13 lbs (25 kg). His mentor was Sam Chifney, from who he learnt his customary riding style - holding his horse up for a late run.

His first win in one of the English Classics came in 1792, riding Lord Grosvenor's colt John Bull, who he thought was the best horse he ever rode. Grosvenor would provide Buckle with three more Classic winners - Daedalus in the 1794 Derby, Nike in the 1797 Oaks and Bellina in the 1799 Oaks.

After Grosvenor's death, Buckle formed a profitable partnership with the leading trainer of the time, Robert Robson. With Robson, and his main owners the 3rd and 4th Dukes of Grafton, Buckle won at least another eleven Classics, the unnamed jockey who rode the 1819 and 1825 1,000 Guineas winners also being assumed to be Buckle. In 1800, he won both the St. Leger Stakes and the Epsom Derby on Champion. In his career, Buckle rode 27 Classic wins, including 5 Derby winners, 9 Epsom Oaks and 2 St Legers. Besides Lord Grosvenor and the Dukes of Grafton, Buckle also rode for Sir Charles Bunbury and Colonel Mellish.