Tim Duggan
National Hunt jockey Timothy Duggan was born in Ireland and served his apprenticeship with Michael Dawson on the Curragh before crossing the Irish Sea. He rode 87 winners over jumps in Britain and enjoyed a brief spell as a leading northern-based jockey before suffering a career-ending injury in 1935.
National Hunt jockey Timothy Duggan was born in Ireland and served his apprenticeship with Michael Dawson on the Curragh before crossing the Irish Sea. He rode 87 winners over jumps in Britain and enjoyed a brief spell as a leading northern-based jockey before suffering a career-ending injury in 1935.
He finished unplaced on his first mount in public, Hawkdene, in the Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Nottingham on October 30, 1923. However, he did not have to wait long before visiting the winner’s enclosure for the first time, landing the Four-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Derby on Young Heroine, trained at Wroughton by Aubrey Hastings.
He finished unplaced on his first mount in public, Hawkdene, in the Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Nottingham on October 30, 1923. However, he did not have to wait long before visiting the winner’s enclosure for the first time, landing the Four-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Derby on Young Heroine, trained at Wroughton by Aubrey Hastings.
He struggled along through the remainder of the 1920s as a journeyman jockey, never riding more than three winners in a season, until joining forces with leading Scottish trainer Stewart Wight in 1932. Wight, who trained at Grantshouse in the Scottish Borders, had taken out a licence in 1924, having served with the Lothian and Borders Horse in World War One. He had ridden as an amateur from 1919 to 1924 and then for one year as a professional.
He struggled along through the remainder of the 1920s as a journeyman jockey, never riding more than three winners in a season, until joining forces with leading Scottish trainer Stewart Wight in 1932. Wight, who trained at Grantshouse in the Scottish Borders, had taken out a licence in 1924, having served with the Lothian and Borders Horse in World War One. He had ridden as an amateur from 1919 to 1924 and then for one year as a professional.
Wight’s horses were a dominant force at the Scottish National Hunt courses and those in Northumberland and Durham. With that level of support, Tim Duggan’s winning totals increased rapidly, recording no less than 16 doubles over the course of three seasons. He was leading jockey at Hexham and Kelso with 20 wins at each.
Wight’s horses were a dominant force at the Scottish National Hunt courses and those in Northumberland and Durham. With that level of support, Tim Duggan’s winning totals increased rapidly, recording no less than 16 doubles over the course of three seasons. He was leading jockey at Hexham and Kelso with 20 wins at each.
Having ridden 17 winners during the 1932/33 campaign, he rode 28 in 1933/34. They included doubles on both days of the two-day meetings at Hexham and Kelso in October 1933, repeating the feat at their respective two meetings in May 1934.
Having ridden 17 winners during the 1932/33 campaign, he rode 28 in 1933/34. They included doubles on both days of the two-day meetings at Hexham and Kelso in October 1933, repeating the feat at their respective two meetings in May 1934.
Tim had one ride in the Grand National but it didn’t last long, falling at the very first fence on 66-1 outsider Flambent in 1934.
Tim had one ride in the Grand National but it didn’t last long, falling at the very first fence on 66-1 outsider Flambent in 1934.
He was on the way to recording another career-best score in the 1934/35 campaign, having again recorded doubles on both days of Kelso’s October meeting. He was ahead of schedule, having ridden 23 winners, the most recent of them on Donna Mia in the Egerton Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on February 23, 1935.
He was on the way to recording another career-best score in the 1934/35 campaign, having again recorded doubles on both days of Kelso’s October meeting. He was ahead of schedule, having ridden 23 winners, the most recent of them on Donna Mia in the Egerton Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on February 23, 1935.
However, the following month, March 30, 1935, he took a bad fall from a horse named Heron Wood in the Eden Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield which ended his career just when it was at its peak.
However, the following month, March 30, 1935, he took a bad fall from a horse named Heron Wood in the Eden Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield which ended his career just when it was at its peak.
His race-riding career at an end, Tim returned to Ireland, where he died in July 1948, aged 46. His funeral took place at Clashmore, Co. Waterford.
His race-riding career at an end, Tim returned to Ireland, where he died in July 1948, aged 46. His funeral took place at Clashmore, Co. Waterford.
