Jerry Fitzgerald

Born in County Cork, Ireland, National Hunt jockey Jerry Fitzgerald enjoyed a fair measure of success in the saddle during the 1930s and 1940 before being killed in a fall in a hurdle race at Leopardstown in May 1948.

Though based in Ireland, he made occasional trips to England during the 1930s and rode a total of seven winners. His first was on Vic Fitzroy, owned by Sir Alfred McAlpine and trained by Elton Barthropp, in the Newton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on December 3, 1932.

It was not until November 6, 1934 that Jerry had a second British success, this being on Silver Linnet, owned and trained by Bob Gore, who won the Staines Handicap Chase at Hawthorn Hill. Hawthorn Hill was also the venue for his next winner, when Layman took the Monday Selling Hurdle on March 4, 1935. Jerry then recorded a double for Bob Gore at Plumpton on April 20, courtesy of French Bean in the Uckfield Selling Handicap Hurdle and Yellow Bridge in the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle. The latter supplied Jerry with his final success of that 1934/35 season by taking the Pulborough Hurdle at Fontwell Park on Whit Monday, June 10.

The last of Jerry’s seven British winners was Jungle Song, also trained by Bob Gore, who romped home in the Plumpton Handicap Chase at that course on Easter Saturday, April 11, 1936. From thereon, Jerry focused solely on Irish racing.

Among his winners on home soil was Outfit for trainer Tom Taaffe in the Totalisator Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park in June 1939. He also did well on a horse named Radio Wave, winning the Fairyhouse Chase at that course’s Irish Grand National meeting on Easter Monday 1940 and the Dunboyne Handicap Chase at the corresponding fixture in 1942. He registered another significant victory on Chattis Hill in the Irish National Hunt Handicap Chase at Claremorris in 1941.

While National Hunt racing in Britain was suspended between March 1942 and January 1945, the sport continued in Ireland. In 1944 Jerry Fitzgerald won the Bishopscourt Cup Chase at Punchestown on Sunny Roe. That same year, he gained his most high profile success aboard 20-1 outsider Cockasnook in the Galway Handicap Hurdle.

In 1945, he rode Whelan to win two good races at Baldoyle, namely the Baldoyle Handicap Chase in February and the Metropolitan Handicap Chase in July. He recorded a third Baldoyle win that year in the March Handicap Chase on Desert Star.

Jerry finished third in the 1946 Irish Grand National on African Collection. In October that year he rode a horse named Ballyfoyle to win at Tralee and Limerick in October, the latter occasion, the Garryowen Handicap Chase, being the second leg of a double initiated by All Shell in the Ardee Handicap Hurdle. The following month he rode two winners at the Listowel festival meeting, taking the Listowel Chase on Ballyfoyle and the Rathkeale Handicap Chase on Offaly Prince.

In April 1947, he won the Sallins Open Handicap Chase at Punchestown on Coloden Lough. He finished that year with a score of 11 wins, 18 seconds and 17 thirds from 145 mounts.

Back in the familiar surroundings of Fairyhouse on Easter Monday 1948, Jerry won the Dunboyne Handicap Chase for a second time, this one on All Business. However, that would turn out to be his last.

On May 15, 1948 Jerry rode 20-1 outsider Salaam in the £202 Blackrock Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown, the only race over jumps on an otherwise all Flat card. Salaam fell heavily at the last flight and Jerry suffered fatal injuries. He was 39. It was an ironic twist of fate.

A trainer named Bernard Thorpe had two runners in the race and had no jockeys booked. Jerry and Aubrey Brabazon were offered the rides and tossed a coin to see who would ride the more fancied one. Aubrey won the toss and rode Corporal Trim while Jerry took the mount on Salaam, with tragic consequences. Corporal Tim was brought down by Salaam and rolled over the stricken jockey.

Aubrey Brabazon, writing in his autobiography ‘Racing Through My Mind’, recalled Jerry’s wit. When still young and looking for spare rides, Aubrey had accepted one in a novice chase at Dundalk. Jerry had ridden the horse last time out so Aubrey asked him how he jumped.

“Well Aubrey,” Jerry replied with a straight face, “she jumped the plain fences well for me, but I’m not sure about the open ditch. All I can remember is a nurse saying ‘sit up and drink this!’”