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Photos courtesy Chris Pitt
Located between Belfast and Lisburn, Dunmurry was the birthplace of Sam McComb. Born on July 3, 1929, he had, as a young child, a passion for football. 'I never dreamt of becoming a jockey,' he said years later.
His father ran a dairy farm in Belfast. Sam hated the job, but loved the horses. Small and consequently routinely bullied by the bigger kids, he ran away from home and found work at the stables of Cecil Brabazon at The Curragh.
He then served a five year apprenticeship with Frank Boland at County Mayo.
His first winner for Boland came at Ballinrobe on 13 April, 1948, on the filly Lonely Polly.
Sam then decided to try his luck in England, often ruing the fact that he had not done so earlier. He found work with Kinnersley trainer Fred Rimell who provided him with his first winner in Britain, Punchestown Star at Cheltenham in 1952.
When the Upper Lambourn trainer Harry Whiteman contacted Rimell seeking a decent 7 lb claimer, Sam's name was put forward and he found himself riding Gold Hyacinth, on whom he struck up a winning relationship, scoring nine times.
Sam also struck up a winning relationship with Audrey, one of Whiteman's two daughters. They announced their engagement on Grand National Day, 1954.
Sam's exploits in the National are worth the retelling.
Riding Lancehead in a hurdle race at Liverpool (1953) on the eve of the great race, he was thrown at the fourth last, sustaining concussion and broken ribs. Nowadays, it would be unthinkable nor allowed to attempt to ride the next day, especially in the hardest race in the world but, suitably strapped up, Sam faced the starter on Punchestown Star. At the second fence after Valentine's, a loose horse barged into him, sending him flying into the wing of the fence.
Sam McComb on the blinkered Punchestown Star (left) jumps a fence with Grand Truce (Derek Leslie, centre,
and Roman Fire (Michael Scudamore) in the Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham on 15 April, 1953
Photo courtesy Chris Pitt
The following season, riding the same horse, he was still out of luck when pulling up three out.
In January, 1959, he achieved his biggest success over fences when winning Manchester's Victory Chase on Clanyon. The following month, he had his last ride in England (Clanyon at Lingfield on February 14) and decided to try his luck in Canada.
It was in - he went on to ride over 500 winners before retiring at the end of 1968.
Speaking in May, 2013, he revealed that one of the many injuries he'd suffered during his career was the loss of an eye.
'It's all part of the job,' said the 84-year-old.
Aged 88, Sam passed away in his sleep on May 15, 2018.
The following photographs have kindlybeen sent to me by his daughter.
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A short video of Sam is available here
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