British rider Franny Norton has been included in the International Team for the 2019 World Sports Betting International Jockey Challenge supported by Sun International and Air Mauritius, at Turffontein on Saturday 16 November.
His inclusion comes after the withdrawal of Nooresh Juglall.
Franny Norton and fans
Norton (49) was born in Belle Vale on the outskirts of Liverpool.
Nobody in his family was into horseracing but he was tiny and after the constant refrain of ‘you’d make a good jockey’ he decided to give it ago.
An avid boxer in his youth, Norton was also picked to join the England boxing camp ahead of the Commonwealth Games. He also has a black belt in Judo.
But a call from leading trainer Mick Channon, offering the young Norton a ride at Sandown the next day, was enough to convince him that his future was on the track, not in the ring.
In 2011 he broke through the 1,000 British career victories barrier.
Last year Norton rode 112 winners, his best ever score in a single year.
He is married to Rachel with three children and is a massive fan of Liverpool Football Club.
The other members of the International Team are Rab Havlin (Scotland), Paul Hanagan, Martin Dwyer and Hayley Turner from England and Italy’s Andrea Atzeni.
