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Born in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, Gerry (Ger) Dowd played a big part in Jim Dreaper’s stable in the second half of the 1970s and guided Brown Lad to a historic third Irish Grand National victory in 1978. He came in for the ride as regular jockey Tommy Carberry was claimed to ride the 4-1 favourite Mighty’s Honour for his father-in-law Dan Moore.
Born in Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, Gerry (Ger) Dowd played a big part in Jim Dreaper’s stable in the second half of the 1970s and guided Brown Lad to a historic third Irish Grand National victory in 1978. He came in for the ride as regular jockey Tommy Carberry was claimed to ride the 4-1 favourite Mighty’s Honour for his father-in-law Dan Moore.
At the time, 22-year-old Ger had only ridden 11 winners over fences, however he was no stranger to riding winners on the biggest of stages. One of his first chase wins was gained on the Dreaper-trained National Lion in the novice riders’ race at the 1976 Punchestown festival. Another was on 20-1 outsider Hawker, also for Dreaper, at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National fixture in 1977.
At the time, 22-year-old Ger had only ridden 11 winners over fences, however he was no stranger to riding winners on the biggest of stages. One of his first chase wins was gained on the Dreaper-trained National Lion in the novice riders’ race at the 1976 Punchestown festival. Another was on 20-1 outsider Hawker, also for Dreaper, at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National fixture in 1977.
Furthermore, he’d ridden Anne, Duchess of Westminster’s Sub Rosa to win on his first start over fences at Navan in January 1978. They followed up at Thurles later that month, giving Ger the first leg of a double completed by another of the Duchess’s horses, Jock Scobie, in a handicap chase. Although he may have ridden less than a dozen winners over fences, he was not short of experience over them.
Furthermore, he’d ridden Anne, Duchess of Westminster’s Sub Rosa to win on his first start over fences at Navan in January 1978. They followed up at Thurles later that month, giving Ger the first leg of a double completed by another of the Duchess’s horses, Jock Scobie, in a handicap chase. Although he may have ridden less than a dozen winners over fences, he was not short of experience over them.
Favourite backers in that 1978 Irish Grand National knew their fate by the halfway stage, where the front-running Mighty’s Honour fell, bringing down two other fancied horses, Credit Card and Kintai. Four from home Sand Pit, ridden by Paddy Kiely, hit the front, pursued by Brown Lad, with victory looking certain to lie between them. All the way up the straight, the pendulum swung one way and then the other. At the post it was Brown Lad’s race by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite backers in that 1978 Irish Grand National knew their fate by the halfway stage, where the front-running Mighty’s Honour fell, bringing down two other fancied horses, Credit Card and Kintai. Four from home Sand Pit, ridden by Paddy Kiely, hit the front, pursued by Brown Lad, with victory looking certain to lie between them. All the way up the straight, the pendulum swung one way and then the other. At the post it was Brown Lad’s race by three-quarters of a length.
It was an unprecedented third Irish Grand National for Brown Lad, who had won the race in 1975 and 1976 but had missed the entire 1976/77 season due to injury, an occurrence that many believed had robbed him of his best chance to become the first horse to win the race three times.
It was an unprecedented third Irish Grand National for Brown Lad, who had won the race in 1975 and 1976 but had missed the entire 1976/77 season due to injury, an occurrence that many believed had robbed him of his best chance to become the first horse to win the race three times.
However, Brown Lad returned for the 1977/8 season, winning at Down Royal a few days before turning 12 and then failing by just a head to gain his second win in the Thyestes Chase. With that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup being abandoned due to snow, Brown Lad went straight to the Irish Grand National for his history-making bid. Despite having been denied a prep race in the Gold Cup, Brown Lad was sent off the 5-1 second favourite.
However, Brown Lad returned for the 1977/8 season, winning at Down Royal a few days before turning 12 and then failing by just a head to gain his second win in the Thyestes Chase. With that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup being abandoned due to snow, Brown Lad went straight to the Irish Grand National for his history-making bid. Despite having been denied a prep race in the Gold Cup, Brown Lad was sent off the 5-1 second favourite.
By winning Ireland’s biggest steeplechase for a third time, Brown Lad provided a fourth success in the race in five years for owner Mrs Peter Burrell and trainer Jim Dreaper, whose father Tom had won it eight years running between 1959 and 1966, remarkably with eight different horses. Nor was Brown Lad finished for the season. Just 16 days later and reunited with Tommy Carberry, he finished second to Midnight Court in the rearranged Cheltenham Gold Cup.
By winning Ireland’s biggest steeplechase for a third time, Brown Lad provided a fourth success in the race in five years for owner Mrs Peter Burrell and trainer Jim Dreaper, whose father Tom had won it eight years running between 1959 and 1966, remarkably with eight different horses. Nor was Brown Lad finished for the season. Just 16 days later and reunited with Tommy Carberry, he finished second to Midnight Court in the rearranged Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The following season saw Ger back at Fairyhouse, where he rode Sub Rosa to win the valuable Benson and Hedges Handicap Chase on December 2, following up at Navan a fortnight later. He rode Sub Rosa in the 1980 Irish Grand National, completing the course in arrears, last of the 14 finishers.
The following season saw Ger back at Fairyhouse, where he rode Sub Rosa to win the valuable Benson and Hedges Handicap Chase on December 2, following up at Navan a fortnight later. He rode Sub Rosa in the 1980 Irish Grand National, completing the course in arrears, last of the 14 finishers.
In addition to riding horses, Ger was also a talented Gaelic footballer, having played minor football for Dunshaughlin and for Meath in 1972. In 1976 he was part of the Meath Under 21 side and was part of the Dunshaughlin team who won the Intermediate Championship in 1977.
In addition to riding horses, Ger was also a talented Gaelic footballer, having played minor football for Dunshaughlin and for Meath in 1972. In 1976 he was part of the Meath Under 21 side and was part of the Dunshaughlin team who won the Intermediate Championship in 1977.
Along with his brother Val, he played for Dunshaughlin from the 1970s to the 1990s. Following his marriage to Bernadette Carey he settled in Ashbourne and joined the local club for a couple of years, but he ended his career in the black and amber colours of his home town Dunshaughlin. He played in the Junior B championship final of 1992 on a team managed by his brother Val, but was back on the intermediate side in subsequent years, playing in the semi-finals of 1993 and 1994. Ger was club captain in 1979 and again in 1992.
Along with his brother Val, he played for Dunshaughlin from the 1970s to the 1990s. Following his marriage to Bernadette Carey he settled in Ashbourne and joined the local club for a couple of years, but he ended his career in the black and amber colours of his home town Dunshaughlin. He played in the Junior B championship final of 1992 on a team managed by his brother Val, but was back on the intermediate side in subsequent years, playing in the semi-finals of 1993 and 1994. Ger was club captain in 1979 and again in 1992.
His sons Ian and David followed in his footsteps with Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Ian captaining them to Intermediate success in 2007, while Val’s sons, Graham, Clive and Trevor, all played for Dunshaughlin.
His sons Ian and David followed in his footsteps with Donaghmore-Ashbourne, Ian captaining them to Intermediate success in 2007, while Val’s sons, Graham, Clive and Trevor, all played for Dunshaughlin.
For all his success in Gaelic football, Ger never lost touch completely with racing, riding out regularly at the stables of trainers Alan Delaney and Paul Stafford.
For all his success in Gaelic football, Ger never lost touch completely with racing, riding out regularly at the stables of trainers Alan Delaney and Paul Stafford.
Ger Dowd died in April 2021 at the age of 65.
Ger Dowd died in April 2021 at the age of 65.
Gerry being led in on Brown Lad, Irish Grand National 1978.
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