McGinley, Tommy

Born on September 29, 1935, Tommy had been apprenticed to Jeremy Tree but had no success on the Flat. He returned to Britain on two months holiday in November 1966 and had his first rides back at Kelso on December 13; leading early before pulling up three out on Saxine, and finishing fifth on Flatbush.

He was the regular rider of the 'Black Kangaroo' - as Crisp was nicknamed at the time - and rode him on ten occasions, winning on eight.

Tommy was shattered when he lost the ride on Crisp in the English Grand National, a decision which undoubtedly cost the horse - and owner, Sir Chester Manifold  - the race. Substitute rider Richard Pitman, having enjoyed a dream ride for more than four miles, felt the horse losing his smooth action and decided to wake him up with the stick.

It was a novice's mistake. As Pitman took his hands off the reins, Crisp immediately drifted further to the left, losing three lengths.

The race was lost.

Replacing Tommy with Pitman was inexplicable - Tommy's abilities were there for all to see.

Just a week before Crisp's first big win in Australia, the Hiskens Steeplechase (3700m) of 1969, Tommy had ridden him in a race at Caulfield, winning by thirty lengths.

Later, at Moonee Valley, they enjoyed their biggest wins together when taking consecutive Hiskens, a race considered the equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup: in 1969, carrying 70 kgs, Crisp won by 20 lengths. He followed that up in 1970, carrying an impossible 76kgs, with a 12 length victory. 

Before the 1969 Hiskens, Tommy had confidently told the press that Crisp was better than McEwan, a horse on which he had twice won the VCR Grand National Steeplechase (5000m), in 1966 & 1968.

By the end of the 1970 jumps season, Crisp had been weighted out of jumps racing in Australia and his connections decided to send him to the UK.

Before flying to Europe, Crisp and Tommy went to the US to contest the $100,000 Colonial Cup at Camden in South Carolina. They finished fifth, but this was understandable. Both horse & jockey had endured long delays in Atlanta. This, along with a limited time to prepare, took its toll on Crisp who was nowhere near peak fitness to contest the race.

In 1970, Crisp and Tommy carried a staggering 77.5kgs to victory in the VRC Footscray Steeple.

Then came the English Grand National of 1973.

Sir Chester had entrusted Crisp to Fred Winter; it was Winter who insisted that Pitman ride, a rare mistake by the great man. Winter knew that Tommy had already won over the Aintree fences, a fact which makes his decision even harder to understand.

Tommy, known by Australians as the 'Scottish cross-country jockey', had a lot of confidence in his own ability, and, without arrogance, conveyed that belief in his ability when talking with the owners and trainers he rode for.

He naturally enough considered Crisp to be the best horse he ever rode during a distinguished career as a jockey.

Apart from his two wins on McEwan, Tommy also won the Grand National Steeplechase on Royal Rennie (1965), Black Butt (1970) & Valgo (1971).

Foaled in 1963, Crisp was by Rose Argent -  a black type winner in the UK - out of the well-bred mare Wheat Germ.

Crisp last raced in November, 1973, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Crisp retired to become a foxhunter. He collapsed and died in 1981 whilst out hunting and was buried at the entrance of his then-owner's estate. A cherry tree, which blossoms every year around Grand National time, was planted over the grave.