John Enright
John Joseph Enright was born in County Galway on February 7, 1947. He served a five-year apprenticeship with the colourful Irish trainer Chally Chute at the Curragh from January 1961 to 1966. He rode his first winner on Mrs Ann Biddle’s three-year-old filly Missa, who carried just 6st 7lb to victory in the September Sprint Handicap at the Curragh on September 20, 1962.
John Joseph Enright was born in County Galway on February 7, 1947. He served a five-year apprenticeship with the colourful Irish trainer Chally Chute at the Curragh from January 1961 to 1966. He rode his first winner on Mrs Ann Biddle’s three-year-old filly Missa, who carried just 6st 7lb to victory in the September Sprint Handicap at the Curragh on September 20, 1962.
He went on to ride 12 winners on the Flat plus four over jumps in Ireland before making the journey to England in 1967 to ride for Bishop Auckland trainer Arthur Stephenson. He had his first Grand National ride on Stephenson’s Kirtle-Lad in 1968, falling at the 26th fence.
He went on to ride 12 winners on the Flat plus four over jumps in Ireland before making the journey to England in 1967 to ride for Bishop Auckland trainer Arthur Stephenson. He had his first Grand National ride on Stephenson’s Kirtle-Lad in 1968, falling at the 26th fence.
John rode 32 winners in the 1969/70 season, rounded off by a four-timer, all for Stephenson, at a Newcastle evening meeting on May 30, 1970. The quartet comprised Supermaster, who beat his stable companion Pawnbroker in the Longstone Handicap Chase; Kingzog in the Inner Farne Handicap Hurdle; Battledore in the Crumstone Handicap Chase; and Hilbirio in division two of the Cambo Novices’ Hurdle. All four started warm favourites, at evens, 11-10, 13-8 and evens respectively.
John rode 32 winners in the 1969/70 season, rounded off by a four-timer, all for Stephenson, at a Newcastle evening meeting on May 30, 1970. The quartet comprised Supermaster, who beat his stable companion Pawnbroker in the Longstone Handicap Chase; Kingzog in the Inner Farne Handicap Hurdle; Battledore in the Crumstone Handicap Chase; and Hilbirio in division two of the Cambo Novices’ Hurdle. All four started warm favourites, at evens, 11-10, 13-8 and evens respectively.
He achieved a career-best tally of 42 wins for the 1970/71 season, including Irish Rain in Newcastle’s John Eustace Smith Trophy, Rigton Prince in the Topham Trophy and Fanackapan in the Welsh Champion Chase. He rode Battledore in that season’s Grand National but was badly hampered when five horses came down at the first and was tailed off when refusing three fences later.
He achieved a career-best tally of 42 wins for the 1970/71 season, including Irish Rain in Newcastle’s John Eustace Smith Trophy, Rigton Prince in the Topham Trophy and Fanackapan in the Welsh Champion Chase. He rode Battledore in that season’s Grand National but was badly hampered when five horses came down at the first and was tailed off when refusing three fences later.
The following season he rode a total of 38 winners, the highlights including his victories on Fanackapan in Newcastle’s Northumbria Handicap Chase and Celtic Gold in Wetherby’s Castleford Chase. He had his third (and last) Grand National ride on Rigton Prince in 1972, pulling up before the 23rd fence after being prominent on the first circuit.
The following season he rode a total of 38 winners, the highlights including his victories on Fanackapan in Newcastle’s Northumbria Handicap Chase and Celtic Gold in Wetherby’s Castleford Chase. He had his third (and last) Grand National ride on Rigton Prince in 1972, pulling up before the 23rd fence after being prominent on the first circuit.
John was going well the next season with 13 winners on the board including the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster in January. He rode what proved to be his last on Master Val at Catterick on March 7, 1973. Three days later his career was ended in a freak schooling incident after racing at Sedgefield. A clod of mud struck him in the face, resulting in him losing the sight in his right eye.
John was going well the next season with 13 winners on the board including the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Doncaster in January. He rode what proved to be his last on Master Val at Catterick on March 7, 1973. Three days later his career was ended in a freak schooling incident after racing at Sedgefield. A clod of mud struck him in the face, resulting in him losing the sight in his right eye.
He was forced to retire, having ridden a total of 153 winners (137 in Britain, 16 in Ireland). He worked for a time in a shoe factory in Middleham, Yorkshire, before returning to Ireland where he pre-trained and sold horses.
He was forced to retire, having ridden a total of 153 winners (137 in Britain, 16 in Ireland). He worked for a time in a shoe factory in Middleham, Yorkshire, before returning to Ireland where he pre-trained and sold horses.
Described an exceptional horseman by several of his weighing room colleagues, John Enright died on October 1, 2021, aged 74. He was survived by his wife Janis, children John, Anthony, Angela and Kathryn and many grandchildren.
Described an exceptional horseman by several of his weighing room colleagues, John Enright died on October 1, 2021, aged 74. He was survived by his wife Janis, children John, Anthony, Angela and Kathryn and many grandchildren.
His elder brother Thomas (born 1945) and younger brother Gerard (born 1951) were both jockeys and rode winners on the Flat and over jumps.
His elder brother Thomas (born 1945) and younger brother Gerard (born 1951) were both jockeys and rode winners on the Flat and over jumps.
John Enright’s big winners were:
John Enright’s big winners were:
1970: John Eustace Smith Trophy Chase on Irish Rain
1970: John Eustace Smith Trophy Chase on Irish Rain
1970: Sundew Chase – Supermaster
1970: Sundew Chase – Supermaster
1971: Topham Trophy Chase on Rigton Prince
1971: Topham Trophy Chase on Rigton Prince
1971: Welsh Champion Chase on Fanackapan
1971: Welsh Champion Chase on Fanackapan
1971: Northumbria Handicap Chase on Fanackapan
1971: Northumbria Handicap Chase on Fanackapan
1971: Castleford Chase on Celtic Gold
1971: Castleford Chase on Celtic Gold
1972: Wetherby Handicap Chase – Ballysagert
1972: Wetherby Handicap Chase – Ballysagert
1973: William Hill Handicap Hurdle – French Legend
1973: William Hill Handicap Hurdle – French Legend