Moloney, Jack

Jack Moloney’s riding career spanned some 35 years. He was the veteran of the weighing room, being in his mid-50s when finally hanging up his boots and saddle. He could reflect on a career in which he had ridden over 200 winners and gained a number of big race triumphs, while having finished second three times in the biggest of them all, the Grand National. Christened John Moloney but always known as Jack, he was born at Limerick on November 5, 1898. He was a successful jockey in Ireland, winning back-to-back Irish Grand Nationals in 1922 and 1923 before coming to England.

He had not been in England long when he fractured his skull in a bad fall from a horse named Commander Smith at Uttoxeter on March 3, 1924. He eventually recovered and registered his first big race victory on Gregalach (right) in the 1927 Stanley Chase at Liverpool.

Gregalach went on to win the 1929 Grand National, but Jack was not aboard that day. Instead he finished second on Easter Hero, who carried 12st 7lb and was hindered by having twisted one of his plates into the shape of a letter S during the race. Jack was never to win the great race, finishing second twice more, on Gregalach himself in 1931 and on Delaneige behind the great Golden Miller in 1934. He also finished fourth on Delaneige in 1933 and fifth on Delachance in 1938. 

Jack enjoyed plenty of success over the Aintree fences, winning both the Stanley Chase and the Grand Sefton twice, but he was destined never to win a Grand National.

He resumed his career after the war and also held a trainer’s licence for a time. He rode his last winner on Straight Over, whom he also trained, at the West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham) fixture on Whit Monday, May 14, 1951. He continued to ride until 1953 but had no more winners.

He retired to Newmarket where he found himself in great demand as a work-rider.

Jack Moloney died following a road accident on November 28, 1969, aged 71.

His big race victories included:

Irish Grand National: Halston (1922) and Be Careful (1923)