The jockey who won a race despite being dead

In the weird and wonderful history of horse racing, Frank Hayes holds a unique place. On June 4, 1923 at New York’s Belmont Park, the 35-year-old won the only race of his career on the horse Sweet Kiss.

Frank Hayes was born in 1888 into an Irish-American family in Brooklyn New York. From a young age he knew his life was destined to be spent with horses. He lived in downtown Brooklyn with his elderly mother and sister but was rarely at home. He dedicated all his time and energy into horse racing, but frustratingly he never made it as a first rate jockey.

Frank Hayes was employed as a stable hand for horse breeder James K.L. Frayling who saw potential in the Brooklynite as a trainer of thoroughbreds.

Hayes wanted to ride his four legged pupils past the winning post rather than watch them from behind a pair of binoculars. When a victorious jockey would come into the winning enclosure after a race to a joyous reception, Hayes, the mastermind behind the victory, quietly cooled down the horse and led the beast back to his stable while the jockey took the plaudits.

On June 4 1923, Hayes saw an opportunity to ride one of the horses he had been training for a race in Belmont Park. The bay mare ‘Sweet Kiss’ was the horse of Miss A.M. Frayling and she wanted to see her horse ride out in the New York track on June 4th. However, she was finding it hard to get a jockey at short notice.

Hayes offered to ride but she declined, stating his weight would hamper his chances of even finishing in the top five, but Hayes persisted and eventually after much persuasion Miss Frayling agreed to let him ride Sweet Kiss.

Immediately, Hayes set in motion an extreme weight loss campaign in order to meet weight requirements for the race. In just a matter of days he slimmed down from 142 pounds to 130.

When race day came, his counterparts would later recall how excited he was to finally debut as a jockey at 35 years of age. When the horses and riders gathered at the starting post, Hayes turned to his fellow jockeys and remarked: “today’s a good day to make history.” Then the starter waved the flag to begin the race and history indeed was made.

With the steeplechase in full swing, the order of the day was starting to play out as the favourite, Gimmie led the charge. Once the two mile course and its 12 jumps were almost fully cleared, Hayes and Sweet Kiss suddenly took the lead on the final turn.

The seven-year-old mare was leading by just a head and the spectators rose to their feet as the 20/1 shot beat Gimmie. Hayes was slumped forward on the horse as they passed the winning posts and many thought he had been whispering into the mares ears.

But after Hayes crossed the finish line, he tumbled from the saddle. Reports at the time said track doctor John A. Voorhees rushed over to examine Hayes but pronounced him dead immediately and said he had suffered a heart attack.

It was suggested that the fatal heart attack may have been brought on by Hayes’ extreme efforts to meet the weight requirements, possibly followed by the excitement of riding to the front of the pack.

The story was considered unbelievable. The result went without contest and as a mark of respect to Frank Hayes, Belmont’s jockey club declared him the winner.

Three days later Hayes was buried in the silks he wore on his first and only winner. The history he spoke about making had indeed transpired and he became the only man to ever win a race despite being dead.

As for the mare Sweet Kiss, she instantly gained a new name: Sweet Kiss of Death. Miss Frayling found it hard to get jockeys to ride her, no doubt due to superstition, so the mare was retired albeit with an impeccable record: unbeaten. One race. One win.