Dermot Daly
Dermot Daly
Dermot Daly
1908-1974
1908-1974
Amateur rider Major Dermot Ralph Daly was born on 4 August 1908, the son of Major Denis St. George Daly. He won the first two post-war renewals of Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase on Prattler and Maltese Wanderer.
Amateur rider Major Dermot Ralph Daly was born on 4 August 1908, the son of Major Denis St. George Daly. He won the first two post-war renewals of Cheltenham’s National Hunt Chase on Prattler and Maltese Wanderer.
Major Daly had been a prisoner of war and was a comparative veteran rider by the time jump racing resumed. Prattler, too, was getting on in years, being eleven years old at the time of his greatest triumph under Major Daly in the 1946 National Hunt Chase, for which he started at 33-1. The horse had cost his owner, Ernest Manners, a mere £25.
Major Daly had been a prisoner of war and was a comparative veteran rider by the time jump racing resumed. Prattler, too, was getting on in years, being eleven years old at the time of his greatest triumph under Major Daly in the 1946 National Hunt Chase, for which he started at 33-1. The horse had cost his owner, Ernest Manners, a mere £25.
Former Grand National-winning jockey-turned-trainer Even Williams had given 36 guineas for Prattler as a yearling on behalf of Mr D. Masters, who sold a half share to the Hon. Mrs Aubrey Hastings, owner of Wroughton Stables. When war came, Masters gave the other half to Mrs Hastings, but she was unable to keep the horse because of feeding and labour shortage and sold him to Manners, a Wroughton farmer, for £25.
Former Grand National-winning jockey-turned-trainer Even Williams had given 36 guineas for Prattler as a yearling on behalf of Mr D. Masters, who sold a half share to the Hon. Mrs Aubrey Hastings, owner of Wroughton Stables. When war came, Masters gave the other half to Mrs Hastings, but she was unable to keep the horse because of feeding and labour shortage and sold him to Manners, a Wroughton farmer, for £25.
Following their Cheltenham triumph, Major Daly and Prattler finished second at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture, then won a three-mile chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday on odds of 7-4 on.
Following their Cheltenham triumph, Major Daly and Prattler finished second at the annual Beaufort Hunt fixture, then won a three-mile chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday on odds of 7-4 on.
Due to the severe winter of 1947, no racing took place between 21 January and 15 March, hence Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting was postponed to the following month, a three-day affair commencing on Saturday, 12 April. That first day saw the National Hunt Chase preceded by the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.
Due to the severe winter of 1947, no racing took place between 21 January and 15 March, hence Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting was postponed to the following month, a three-day affair commencing on Saturday, 12 April. That first day saw the National Hunt Chase preceded by the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.
Major Daly duly gained his second National Hunt Chase victory at that delayed 1947 meeting on the eight-year-old brown gelding Maltese Wanderer. Having virtually refused to race in his sole race as a two-year-old, Maltese Wanderer had reappeared at Cottenham in February 1946 at the first point-to-point since the war. He finished second that day and then ran third in Cheltenham’s United Hunts’ Challenge Cup. Although the National Hunt Chase was run over four miles, Maltese Wanderer was sired by Maltravers, a sprinter.
Major Daly duly gained his second National Hunt Chase victory at that delayed 1947 meeting on the eight-year-old brown gelding Maltese Wanderer. Having virtually refused to race in his sole race as a two-year-old, Maltese Wanderer had reappeared at Cottenham in February 1946 at the first point-to-point since the war. He finished second that day and then ran third in Cheltenham’s United Hunts’ Challenge Cup. Although the National Hunt Chase was run over four miles, Maltese Wanderer was sired by Maltravers, a sprinter.
Major Dermot Daly died on 8 March 1974, aged 65.
Major Dermot Daly died on 8 March 1974, aged 65.
Major Dermot Daly & Maltese Wanderer, 1947.
Major Dermot Daly & Maltese Wanderer, 1947.
1947
1947
Dermot Daly in 1955
Dermot Daly in 1955