Born on October 18, 1918, James (Jimmy) Brogan was a successful National Hunt jockey and trainer in his native Ireland. He came close to winning the 1948 Grand National on First of the Dandies, being beaten a length by Arthur Thompson on Sheila’s Cottage, having jumped the last fence with a clear lead, only to be caught and headed a hundred yards from home.
He did, though, win a dozen races in England in the years immediately following the war, including, in 1949, Cheltenham’s Gloucestershire Hurdle on French Wedding and Liverpool’s Topham Trophy on Cadamstown.
He twice finished third in the Irish Grand National, on African Collection in 1947 and Coupe in 1950. However, he had more success when turning to training, saddling Gold Legend to win the 1958 Irish Grand National in the hands of Johnny Lehane. He also won that year’s Galway Plate with Hopeful Colleen.
Jimmy Brogan collapsed and died after watching his horses work on his home gallops on the morning of February 23, 1965. He was 46. His amateur rider son Barry, later to become a leading jump jockey in Britain, was granted a temporary training licence and ran the stable for a couple of seasons until moving to Scotland to ride as first jockey for Ken Oliver.
Jimmy Brogan’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Yung-Yat, Taunton, October 12, 1946
2. Yung-Yat, Wincanton, November 16, 1946
3. Brokerstown, Wincanton, December 26, 1946
4. Charles Edward, Birmingham, November 25, 1947
5. Charles Edward, Cheltenham, December 31, 1947
6. First of the Dandies, Leicester, February 10, 1948
7. First of the Dandies, Wolverhampton, March 9, 1948
8. Almaviva, Fontwell Park, May 17, 1948
9. Armoured Knight, Cheltenham, October 15, 1948
10. Armoured Knight, Kempton Park, February 25, 1949
11. French Wedding, Cheltenham, March 8, 1949
12. Cadamstown, Liverpool, March 23, 1949
