Tony Doyle

Tony Doyle was born in Ireland in 1912 and hailed from a famous Irish racing family. Christened Denis Anthony Doyle, he was one of five jockey brothers, all riding at the same time. 

Tony was just aged 14 when riding his first winner on Chesmint in an apprentices’ race at the Curragh on April 20, 1927. He often competed against his four jockey brothers.

Due to rising weight, he switched to riding over jumps and crossed the Irish Sea to England in 1934 to ride for Bobby Renton. He had his first ride in Britain when finishing unplaced on Star Bound, trained by Renton, at Warwick on February 6, 1934. He rode his first British winner the following month on March 10 when guiding outsider Regal Belle to victory by 10 lengths in the Marrick Stayers' Selling Handicap Steeplechase at Catterick.

He went on to become the leading northern National Hunt jockey and scored his most important success on Rope Trick in the 1947 Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham. He had one ride in the Grand National, on Limestone Edward – a horse on whom he had won five chases – in 1946, completing the course last of just six finishers in the 34-runner field. 

He took out a trainer’s licence in 1948 but continued riding (mostly on his own horses) for another four seasons. He trained 116 winners over more than 30 years at his Wetherby stables, retiring in December 1979 and handing over to his son John Conleth Michael Doyle (born in 1943).

Tony Doyle died on December 13, 1987, aged 75.