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One of nine children, John Durkan was born in Ireland in February 1967, the son of Bill Durkan who helped to set up a construction empire but always had a deep love of horses. Indeed, Bill ran a racing stable near his farm with Ferdy Murphy installed to oversee the training operation in the mid-1970s. Easily their most famous horse was the mare Anaglogs Daughter, winner of the 1980 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
One of nine children, John Durkan was born in Ireland in February 1967, the son of Bill Durkan who helped to set up a construction empire but always had a deep love of horses. Indeed, Bill ran a racing stable near his farm with Ferdy Murphy installed to oversee the training operation in the mid-1970s. Easily their most famous horse was the mare Anaglogs Daughter, winner of the 1980 Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
John was raised on the family farm in Glencullen, on the slopes of Two Rock Mountain, south Dublin. Riding came easy to him and he was a very good pony rider and showjumper. Such was his prowess that Ferdy Murphy had no qualms about letting him ride the Durkan family’s best horses including Anaglogs Daughter. As a teenager, he rode the mare in her work and in schooling.
John was raised on the family farm in Glencullen, on the slopes of Two Rock Mountain, south Dublin. Riding came easy to him and he was a very good pony rider and showjumper. Such was his prowess that Ferdy Murphy had no qualms about letting him ride the Durkan family’s best horses including Anaglogs Daughter. As a teenager, he rode the mare in her work and in schooling.
After riding winners as an amateur in Ireland, John moved to Britain in 1988, aged 19 and joined Charlie Brooks in Lambourn as pupil assistant. After three years with Brooks he moved to Oliver Sherwood in 1991, where Jamie Osborne was then stable jockey. Sherwood’s string included Berude Not To, whom John rode to win a pair of bumpers in 1994.
After riding winners as an amateur in Ireland, John moved to Britain in 1988, aged 19 and joined Charlie Brooks in Lambourn as pupil assistant. After three years with Brooks he moved to Oliver Sherwood in 1991, where Jamie Osborne was then stable jockey. Sherwood’s string included Berude Not To, whom John rode to win a pair of bumpers in 1994.
In those days, bumpers were the preserve of amateur and conditional jockeys and John was much in demand. He rode 93 winners all told. He also rode Royle Speedmaster in the void 1993 Grand National, his sole attempt at the Aintree marathon.
In those days, bumpers were the preserve of amateur and conditional jockeys and John was much in demand. He rode 93 winners all told. He also rode Royle Speedmaster in the void 1993 Grand National, his sole attempt at the Aintree marathon.
After six years in Lambourn, John moved to Newmarket in June 1994 to become assistant trainer to John Gosden. He continued to take the occasional mount in public and, on July 6, 1995, he rode the Queen’s Shaft Of Light to win an amateur riders’ handicap on the Flat at Salisbury.
After six years in Lambourn, John moved to Newmarket in June 1994 to become assistant trainer to John Gosden. He continued to take the occasional mount in public and, on July 6, 1995, he rode the Queen’s Shaft Of Light to win an amateur riders’ handicap on the Flat at Salisbury.
After two seasons with Gosden, John decided to take out his own trainers’ licence. Having secured Green Lodge Stables in Newmarket from Tom Jones, who had just retired, he set about finding suitable horses.
After two seasons with Gosden, John decided to take out his own trainers’ licence. Having secured Green Lodge Stables in Newmarket from Tom Jones, who had just retired, he set about finding suitable horses.
Among the first he acquired was Istabraq. He’d ridden him on the home gallops when trained by John Gosden. Bred and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, Istabraq was a three-parts brother to Secreto, winner of the 1984 Derby. When the four-year-old came up for sale at Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sales in July 1996, John bought him for 38,000gns on behalf of JP McManus, assuring his new owner that this was a potential champion hurdler.
Among the first he acquired was Istabraq. He’d ridden him on the home gallops when trained by John Gosden. Bred and owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, Istabraq was a three-parts brother to Secreto, winner of the 1984 Derby. When the four-year-old came up for sale at Tattersalls Horses-in-Training sales in July 1996, John bought him for 38,000gns on behalf of JP McManus, assuring his new owner that this was a potential champion hurdler.
John was the horse’s intended trainer. However, just three months after Istabraq passed through the auction ring, John was taken ill while attending Goffs sales. He was diagnosed with leukaemia.
John was the horse’s intended trainer. However, just three months after Istabraq passed through the auction ring, John was taken ill while attending Goffs sales. He was diagnosed with leukaemia.
With his career in abeyance, John recommended Istabraq should join Aidan O’Brien, who had just taken over as trainer at Ballydoyle. Even then, McManus always maintained the horse was “on loan to Aidan”. O’Brien himself declared he was “minding him for John”.
With his career in abeyance, John recommended Istabraq should join Aidan O’Brien, who had just taken over as trainer at Ballydoyle. Even then, McManus always maintained the horse was “on loan to Aidan”. O’Brien himself declared he was “minding him for John”.
However, John’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Initially treated in Dublin, he was moved to the Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York towards the end of 1996. He was back home for Christmas when he saw Istabraq cruise to victory in the 1st Choice Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. But he’d returned to New York by March when he listened to a commentary by telephone from his hospital bed of Istabraq winning the 1997 Royal SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
However, John’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Initially treated in Dublin, he was moved to the Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York towards the end of 1996. He was back home for Christmas when he saw Istabraq cruise to victory in the 1st Choice Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. But he’d returned to New York by March when he listened to a commentary by telephone from his hospital bed of Istabraq winning the 1997 Royal SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The following day he was taken to the operating theatre at Sloan-Kettering for a bone marrow transplant. The donor was his youngest brother, Aidan. By that time, John realised his aspirations to train the horse were likely to be unfulfilled.
The following day he was taken to the operating theatre at Sloan-Kettering for a bone marrow transplant. The donor was his youngest brother, Aidan. By that time, John realised his aspirations to train the horse were likely to be unfulfilled.
Istabraq followed that Cheltenham triumph by winning at the Punchestown festival, after which O’Brien gave him a summer’s break. After a bloodless victory at Tipperary in October, Istabraq was aimed at the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle the following month.
Istabraq followed that Cheltenham triumph by winning at the Punchestown festival, after which O’Brien gave him a summer’s break. After a bloodless victory at Tipperary in October, Istabraq was aimed at the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle the following month.
By then John had returned from New York to be among family and friends. Despite his frail state, he accompanied McManus to Fairyhouse and saw Istabraq win easily. It was the last time John would see Istabraq on the racecourse. There was no way back from his illness.
By then John had returned from New York to be among family and friends. Despite his frail state, he accompanied McManus to Fairyhouse and saw Istabraq win easily. It was the last time John would see Istabraq on the racecourse. There was no way back from his illness.
He died from leukaemia on January 22, 1998, aged 30. Four days later, Istabraq easily won the Irish Champion Hurdle. It was a sombre and poignant occasion. John’s widow, Carol, daughter of Timmy Hyde, owner of Camas Park Stud, collected the trophy. The man who should have been saddling Istabraq to victory had instead been laid to rest in the cemetery at Glencullen 24 hours earlier.
He died from leukaemia on January 22, 1998, aged 30. Four days later, Istabraq easily won the Irish Champion Hurdle. It was a sombre and poignant occasion. John’s widow, Carol, daughter of Timmy Hyde, owner of Camas Park Stud, collected the trophy. The man who should have been saddling Istabraq to victory had instead been laid to rest in the cemetery at Glencullen 24 hours earlier.
Istabraq went on to win his first Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham two months later, a race he would dominate for the next two years.
Istabraq went on to win his first Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham two months later, a race he would dominate for the next two years.
The year of John’s death saw the inauguration of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at the December meeting, while the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories at St James’s Hospital, Dublin, was opened by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in 2003 after a €2.7 million donation from the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust Fund.
The year of John’s death saw the inauguration of the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase at the December meeting, while the John Durkan Leukaemia Laboratories at St James’s Hospital, Dublin, was opened by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, in 2003 after a €2.7 million donation from the John Durkan Leukaemia Trust Fund.
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