Pat Buckley

1943 - 2021

Pat Joseph Conleith Buckley, born near Naas on 14 July 1943, was the jockey who rode 66/1 shot Ayala to victory in the 1963 Grand National.

Despite its fancy price, connections had backed the horse to win a one million pound.

Pat said at the time: 'I was informed that a million pound was collected from Ayala winning the National that year, so imagine what that would be worth these days.

"Old Keith was a big-gambling trainer but it was still a lot of onus to put on a 19-year-old jockey as I was then.

"Carrickbeg led over the last, and was still a couple in front at the elbow, but I knew we had him in the final 50 yards.

"It was certainly different from the previous year when I had my first National ride on strongly-fancied Springbok who fell at the first!

"Keith told me in the paddock there was a big gamble going on but it didn't matter to me if it was 10 shillings or 10 million pounds as I would still have ridden the same way.

"I can't even say there were great celebrations after Ayala (below) won as the owner wasn't there and I went straight back to Middleham. I didn't drink in those days so it was all very low-key."

It all seemed so unlikely two weeks before the race, but that all changed when he was approached in the toilet, at Newbury Racecourse, by a man he did not know.

"This chap came in and asked me whether I had a ride," Pat said. "He asked me whether I could do 10 stone, which I could.

"Then he said I could ride his horse, so I told him I would have to ask my boss first, and he just said, 'Don't worry, I've already asked him'."

The mystery man was Keith Piggott, Ayala's trainer. Pat had never heard of the horse and his only time on him, before the race, was a quick training spin the next day.

At Aintree, Pat was involved in a four-way scrimmage with two fences to jump, but his mount stayed on well to deny Carrickbeg by three-quarters of a length.

"I was young, and I don't think I appreciated the occasion as much as I should have,"

"Mind you, I didn't have a lot of time, as I was at home by 7 pm and was riding out the next day."

Whereas Ayala was a surprise Grand National winner, Pat's success in the 1968 Scottish equivalent on Arcturus was more predictable. His partner was sent off at 4-1 before beating Ayr specialist Roborough by eight lengths.

Pat recalled: "Arcturus was one of five Scottish National winners for my guv'nor Captain Neville Crump and we were also fifth at Liverpool one year.

"I had 10 rides in the Scottish National and the only other time I got placed was when I was fourth on Canharis in 1974, the year Red Rum won shortly after his second Grand National."

After quitting the saddle in 1975, Pat moved to Dubai and became involved in the setting up of racing in the UAE. He was employed in various modes of officialdom from handicapper to stipendary steward. He said at the time: 'Seeing Dubai evolve has given me great satisfaction. Nad Al Sheba and all the facilities out here are the best in the world.'

Pat was taught to ride by Mrs O'Brien Butler whose ponies he rode in the show ring.

In 1957, aged 13, he joined Neville Crump's Middleham Warwick Lodge, Yorkshire and rode his first winner at Manchester in 1961. He then became second jockey behind Gerry Scott.

A series of injuries hastened his retirement in 1976, but not before he had won he Scottish Grand National on Arcturus. Pat also won two Whitbreads on the Crump-trained Hoodwinked.

He went on to train horses for the Sultan of Oman before becoming a racecourse administrator in Dubai.

Pat Buckley died in February 2021, aged 77.

Pat's Grand National record:

1962: Springbok, fell first (Pat was deputising for the injured Gerry Scott).

1963: Ayala WON

1966: Rough Tweed fell 3rd

1967: Limeking brought down 23rd

1968: Rutherfords 4th

1969: Arcturus 6th

1970: Permit brought down 3rd

1972: Just A Gamble fell 17th

1973: Canharis brought down The Chair

1974: San Feliu 9th

Biggest wins:

1962: Eider Chase - Ballydar

1963: Grand National - Ayala

1963: Whitbread Gold Cup - Hoodwinked

1964: Whitbread Gold Cup - Dormant

1964: Mildmay Memorial Chase - Dormant

1968: Scottish Grand National - Arcturus