Luke Morris (born 20 October 1988) is an English jockey who competes in

flat racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

Background

Morris comes from a racing background, his grandfather Joe Tate, uncle Jason Tate and cousin Ryan Tate all being jockeys. He was born in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

and moved to Newmarket as a child. He began riding out for Michael Bell while still at school. He completed a course at the British Racing School and became apprenticed to Bell.

Career

Morris rode his first winner in November 2005 and his first big race victory came on Juniper Girl in the

Northumberland Plate The Northumberland Plate is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of 2 miles and 56 yards (3,270 metres), and ...

in 2007. He gained his first Group race win on Gilt Edge Girl in the Group 3

Ballyogan Stakes The Ballyogan Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at The Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres), and it is scheduled to ...

Leopardstown Leopardstown () is a suburb of Dublin in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, within the traditional County Dublin, Ireland. Located at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, it is a residential suburb with institutional lands and a large racecourse. It is ...

in June 2010. In October 2010 Gilt Edge Girl gave Morris his first Group 1 victory when they won the

Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp The Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged two years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,000 metres (about 5 furlongs), ...

at Longchamp in Paris. In 2012 he became first jockey for Newmarket trainer Sir Mark Prescott. It was the Prescott trained Marsha who provided Morris with his first British Group 1 victory, when winning the

Nunthorpe Stakes The Nunthorpe Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged two years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 5 furlongs (1,006 metres), and it is sched ...

York York is a cathedral city with Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. It is the historic county town of Yorkshire. The city has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a ...

August 2017 in a

photo finish A photo finish occurs in a sporting race when multiple competitors cross the finishing line at nearly the same time. As the naked eye may not be able to determine which of the competitors crossed the line first, a photo or video taken at the finis ...

. Between April 2021 and October 2022, Morris rode the Prescott-trained Alpinista to eight consecutive victories, including the Group 2

Lancashire Oaks The Lancashire Oaks is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 175 yards (2 ...

in July 2021, and then six Group 1 races in Germany, France and Britain, culminating with a win in the 2022

Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, France, over a distance ...

. Morris has ridden more than 100 winners every season since 2011 and has been all weather champion jockey on three occasions.

Awards

In December 2022 Morris was awarded the Lester Piggott Honorary Award at the annual Lester Awards in recognition of his ride on Alpinista in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Major wins

Great Britain *

- (1) - ''Marsha (2017)'' *

Yorkshire Oaks The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 ...

- (1) '' Alpinista (2022)'' ---- France *

- (2) - ''Gilt Edge Girl (2010), Marsha (2016)'' *

- (1) - '' Alpinista (2022)'' *

Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud The Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Saint-Cloud over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is ...

- (1) - '' Alpinista (2022)'' ---- Germany *

Grosser Preis von Berlin The Großer Preis von Berlin, formerly known as the Deutschland-Preis, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Hoppegarten over a distance of 2,400 metres (a ...

- (1) - '' Alpinista (2021)'' *

Preis von Europa The Preis von Europa is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Cologne over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place ea ...

- (1) - '' Alpinista (2021)'' *

Grosser Preis von Bayern The Grosser Preis von Bayern is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich Racecourse over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year ...

- (1) - '' Alpinista (2021)''

References

Living people English jockeys Sportspeople from Oxford 1988 births {{England-horseracing-bio-stub