Cormac Englishby
National Hunt jockey Cormac Don Bosca Englishby was born in Dunshauglin, Ireland, in March 1936. His riding career was a relatively short-lived affair. It basically comprised half a dozen rides and lasted around two months at the start of the 1962/63 season.
National Hunt jockey Cormac Don Bosca Englishby was born in Dunshauglin, Ireland, in March 1936. His riding career was a relatively short-lived affair. It basically comprised half a dozen rides and lasted around two months at the start of the 1962/63 season.
True, he had held a licence during the 1960/61 campaign, but he’d only had few rides, including when finishing last of seven finishers on selling hurdler Original Sin at Chepstow on Easter Monday.
True, he had held a licence during the 1960/61 campaign, but he’d only had few rides, including when finishing last of seven finishers on selling hurdler Original Sin at Chepstow on Easter Monday.
He began the 1962/63 season working for permit holder Dr Louis Glass, who trained a string of five horses at Balsall Common, near Coventry. They included one named Passion Flower, who provided Cormac with the sole success of his career when springing a 33/1 shock in a novice riders’ hurdle on the second day of the new campaign, August 6, 1962.
He began the 1962/63 season working for permit holder Dr Louis Glass, who trained a string of five horses at Balsall Common, near Coventry. They included one named Passion Flower, who provided Cormac with the sole success of his career when springing a 33/1 shock in a novice riders’ hurdle on the second day of the new campaign, August 6, 1962.
He had a second ride that day, finishing eighth of eleven on Hill Fire in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
He had a second ride that day, finishing eighth of eleven on Hill Fire in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
He rode Passion Flower on his next two outings, finishing unplaced in handicap hurdles at Stratford in September and Worcester in October. He also rode Hill Fire twice more, finishing unplaced in handicap hurdles at Ludlow, in September and again on October 17, trailing home last on the latter occasion, having dwelt at the start.
He rode Passion Flower on his next two outings, finishing unplaced in handicap hurdles at Stratford in September and Worcester in October. He also rode Hill Fire twice more, finishing unplaced in handicap hurdles at Ludlow, in September and again on October 17, trailing home last on the latter occasion, having dwelt at the start.
That one winner and those six rides were his sum total for the season before relinquishing his licence. While, Dr Louis Glass went on to become Lord Mayor of Birmingham, it appeared we’d heard the last of Cormac Englishby.
That one winner and those six rides were his sum total for the season before relinquishing his licence. While, Dr Louis Glass went on to become Lord Mayor of Birmingham, it appeared we’d heard the last of Cormac Englishby.
However, ten years later, he took out a licence for the 1972/73 National Hunt season. Again, though, he had very few rides, one of them being shown on television.
However, ten years later, he took out a licence for the 1972/73 National Hunt season. Again, though, he had very few rides, one of them being shown on television.
There were no further comebacks and he duly disappeared from the scene. Cormac Englishby is no more than a footnote in the world of National Hunt racing, albeit one with a winner to his name.
There were no further comebacks and he duly disappeared from the scene. Cormac Englishby is no more than a footnote in the world of National Hunt racing, albeit one with a winner to his name.