'My only regret is I didn't discover him ten years earlier' - Mark Johnston leads tributes to retiring Franny Norton

Mark Johnston has hailed his “great association” with Franny Norton after the rider announced his decision to retire from the saddle at the end of Chester’s meeting on Saturday.

Norton has been a permanent fixture at the Middleham stable for more than a decade and has ridden almost 500 domestic winners for Johnston and his son Charlie.

His nine Group-race winners for the Johnstons included Permian and Thunderous in the Dante, Rose Of Kildare in the Musidora and Sir Ron Priestley in the Princess of Wales’s, Jockey Club and March Stakes.

Johnston said: “Franny has had an absolutely fantastic career and my only regret is I didn’t discover him ten years earlier. We did to some extent, as we used him from his very early days as a lightweight – as many people did – but it’s been a great association in particular since when we started using him on a very regular basis.

“I’m sorry he is retiring, but like with most things with Franny, it will have been very well thought out. He has been a great part of the team and an intelligent, quick-witted character.

“There was no bullshit about him as a jockey. I wasn't one for instructions and tactics and he wasn’t one for excuses.”

Norton described Johnston as “unbelievably loyal” and the former trainer responded: “Loyalty works both ways. That’s how it’s always worked with us with jockeys. We would be loyal to those who are loyal to us and Franny was certainly that.”

Joe Fanning: a weighing-room colleague of Franny Norton's for many years

Joe Fanning has more often than not been riding at different meetings from Norton but they spoke daily about the Johnston horses and count each other as good friends.

Fanning said: “Franny is a good lad and we’ve known each other since we were apprentices. I’ve got on well with him all those years and he’s been a good friend.

“He’s very competitive and very genuine and he gets on well with everyone with great humour.

“Franny is a great little rider and has always been very fit. He loves Chester and never really missed a meeting. He rode there so much that he really became accustomed to it and enjoyed it. He just clicked with the place.”

Mick Quinn: used Franny Norton regularly during his training days

Mick Quinn used no jockey more than Norton in his 24-year training career, with 52 winners from 554 rides and a Listed success with Angus Newz at Chester in 2008.

Quinn said: “Franny would give you good feedback and wouldn’t pull any punches with his analysis. Sometimes trainers don’t want to hear a jockey be as forthright as that but I respected him for it as you knew where you stood.

“He's a credit to his profession and is a good friend. He looked after himself so well and had a great career. There is no better place for him to finish – he revels in it around Chester.”

Niall Hannity has been Norton’s agent for the last six years and believes his professionalism and work ethic lends itself to coaching the next generation of riders.

Hannity said: “I’ve never had a cross word with Franny; he just lets you get on with it and his work ethic is unbelievable.

“He’s very grounded and I really think the BHA should look to get him on the jockey coaching team. He sets the perfect example for a young rider and would instil the right morals and attitude.

“We’ve been working towards finishing at this meeting and he’s very popular at Chester, so hopefully we can get him some good rides. He rides the track more than the horse and he doesn’t panic.”

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