Paddy Fitzgerald
1922 - 2015
1922 - 2015
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Irishman Paddy Fitzgerald is best remembered as the jockey who won the 1955 Welsh Grand National on 20/1 outsider Monaleen,
Irishman Paddy Fitzgerald is best remembered as the jockey who won the 1955 Welsh Grand National on 20/1 outsider Monaleen,
Paddy Fitzgerald, who went to the same school in Ireland as the legendary Vincent O’Brien, was born on May 21, 1922. He was apprenticed to Michael Collins at the Curragh but it was not until coming to Britain that he rode his first winner, Victory Moon in a Windsor selling chase on December 10, 1948. Victory Moon was trained by Peter Thrale at Epsom, which is where Paddy made his home. He won on Victory Moon again at Wye the following season, one of eight winners he rode that term.
Paddy Fitzgerald, who went to the same school in Ireland as the legendary Vincent O’Brien, was born on May 21, 1922. He was apprenticed to Michael Collins at the Curragh but it was not until coming to Britain that he rode his first winner, Victory Moon in a Windsor selling chase on December 10, 1948. Victory Moon was trained by Peter Thrale at Epsom, which is where Paddy made his home. He won on Victory Moon again at Wye the following season, one of eight winners he rode that term.
He rode eight more in the 1950/51 campaign including a pair of 3m 2f Wincanton handicap chases on Fulke Walwyn’s Texas Dan, in November and on Boxing Day. He rode Texas Dan in the 1951 Grand National – his only ride in the race – but was unluckily brought down in a 12-horse pile-up at the first fence.
He rode eight more in the 1950/51 campaign including a pair of 3m 2f Wincanton handicap chases on Fulke Walwyn’s Texas Dan, in November and on Boxing Day. He rode Texas Dan in the 1951 Grand National – his only ride in the race – but was unluckily brought down in a 12-horse pile-up at the first fence.
Monaleen’s 1955 Welsh Grand National victory was to prove the highlight of Paddy’s career.
Monaleen’s 1955 Welsh Grand National victory was to prove the highlight of Paddy’s career.
The horse was owned and trained by Herbert Thomson Smith at Braintree, in Essex, having been bought in Ireland after winning a race at Galway. But he had failed to win on his next 18 starts, hence his long odds.
The horse was owned and trained by Herbert Thomson Smith at Braintree, in Essex, having been bought in Ireland after winning a race at Galway. But he had failed to win on his next 18 starts, hence his long odds.
With his mount set to carry just 9st 7lb, Paddy jogged around Chepstow Racecourse the night before the race in order that he could make the weight. Monaleen was only in sixth place approaching the last fence but Paddy brought him through with a strong late run to beat subsequent Grand National winner Sundew (with Fred Winter up) by a length.
With his mount set to carry just 9st 7lb, Paddy jogged around Chepstow Racecourse the night before the race in order that he could make the weight. Monaleen was only in sixth place approaching the last fence but Paddy brought him through with a strong late run to beat subsequent Grand National winner Sundew (with Fred Winter up) by a length.
Paddy went on to ride a total of 34 winners, his best seasons numerically being eight in 1949/50 and 1950/51. While that may not seem many, he was unlucky in that he broke a leg three times during his career.
Paddy went on to ride a total of 34 winners, his best seasons numerically being eight in 1949/50 and 1950/51. While that may not seem many, he was unlucky in that he broke a leg three times during his career.
He rode his last two winners in the 1959/60 season, both on a novice hurdler named Young Rennie, trained at Epsom by Harold Wallington. The first was at Worcester on November 18, the second in the St Ivo Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1960. He retired not long afterwards. He continued to ride work on the Epsom gallops but quit when aged 54 after being badly shaken in a fall.
He rode his last two winners in the 1959/60 season, both on a novice hurdler named Young Rennie, trained at Epsom by Harold Wallington. The first was at Worcester on November 18, the second in the St Ivo Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon on Boxing Day 1960. He retired not long afterwards. He continued to ride work on the Epsom gallops but quit when aged 54 after being badly shaken in a fall.
Paddy Fitzgerald died in July 2015, aged 93.
Paddy Fitzgerald died in July 2015, aged 93.