Episode 308: Danny Frahm

It’s a big welcome to 75 year old Danny Frahm who was 64 years old when a race fall at Armidale  ended his remarkable career. He reflects on his longevity in the saddle and marvels at how well he’s come out of several serious accidents. He explains that for all the broken bones, he is remarkably free of arthritis. Danny explains that he twice sustained a broken neck, the first time at Gunnedah around 1993. During a long layoff he and wife Mireille ran a laundromat at Coffs Harbour. He also explains the loss of a kidney as a result of a race fall some years ago. The dedicated bush jockey talks of his early life in Bowen (QLD) and his initial apprenticeship to Harry Hatten in Brisbane. He talks of a transfer to Ron Conquest and the thrill of his first winning ride at Gympie. Danny looks back on his one and only ride on the legendary Queensland horse Prunda- a win at Eagle Farm. Prunda won 30 races. The veteran reflects on a two year hiatus from racing when his weight got out of hand, and a fresh start in Goondiwindi. He talks of his move to northern NSW and eight happy years based at Barraba. This is where he formed an association with a marvellous bush sprinter. Frahm explains that constant bush commitments kept him away from metropolitan tracks. He remembers his one and only city winner. He tells a good story about the mare in question. Danny looks back on his five individual trips to New Caledonia. Here he met with great success in the saddle, and met Mireille, his wife of 34 years. He pays fitting tributes to the two jockeys he most admired, and to his favourite country trainer. Dan recalls his surprise when he received a coveted award twenty years ago. He speaks openly of his battle with cancer and his current state of health. You rarely get to speak to a man who rode in races for half a century. Wonderful to catch up with a true country racing legend.