John Richard Cox, known to everyone in racing as Bunny, was born in Dundalk on February 13, 1925. He was acknowledged as one of Ireland’s greatest post-war amateur riders before becoming a successful trainer. In addition to his many victories under rules, he enjoyed regular visits to the winner’s enclosure in point-to-points on horses trained by Paddy Sleator.
Bunny rode his first winner at just 13 years of age in 1938. In 1940, aged only 15, he won the Troytown Chase on Drumbilla, owned and trained by his father, John Cox. He went on to become champion amateur in Ireland five times – 1944, 1945, 1952, 1956 and finally in 1958 when he shared the title with Francis Flood.
In 1949 he rode four winners on the same day at the Punchestown Festival, a feat that remained unequalled until 1990 when Tommy Carmody emulated it. The four-timer included the Conyngham Cup on Loyal Antrim, a race which he won for a second time on Little Trix, trained by his father, in 1951.
He registered his first British success on Dorothy Paget’s chaser Legal Joy, trained by Fulke Walwyn, in the Nutgrove Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on October 8, 1949.
Cheltenham was to prove the scene of his biggest triumphs. He won the National Hunt Chase in successive years on
Pontage (1953) and Quare Times (1954), the latter going on to win the 1955 Grand National when ridden by Pat Taaffe. He also won the inaugural running of the Two-Mile Champion Chase in 1959 on Quita Que, trained by Dan Moore, having won the previous year’s Cathcart Chase there and, in 1956, the Monaveen Chase at Hurst Park on the same horse.
He had just one ride in the Grand National, on Mr 20-1 chance Linnett in 1955, pulling up at the Canal Turn on the second circuit when out of contention.
On the Flat, he twice won the richly-endowed amateur riders’ race traditionally held on the first day of the Galway Festival. Known in those days as the Player’s Navy Cut Amateur Handicap, Bunny won it in 1961 on Old Mull and in 1963 on Maigret.
A veterinary surgeon by profession, Bunny was also assistant trainer to his father before starting training in his own right in 1970. He initially partnered some of his own horses until finally retiring from race-riding in 1972.
Among his best horses in the early years of his of his training career were Highway View, winner of the 1971 Galway Hurdle and 1975 Leopardstown Chase, and Fort Fox, whose wins included the 1975 John Jameson Gold Cup at Punchestown and what is now called the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
He trained Fortune Seeker, who won the 1983 Leopardstown Chase, and Sicilian Answer, who landed the Troytown Chase in 1983 and the Leopardstown Chase in 1984. In the latter years of his career he sent out the Robert Sinclair-owned Atone to win the 1994 Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Bunny Cox died Tuesday, 10 January 2006, aged 80, the funeral taking place on Friday, January 13 at The Green Church on the outskirts of Dundalk. He was survived by his wife Sally – daughter of top professional jockey Aubrey Brabazon – three daughters Jennifer, Suzanne, who became a trainer, and Michelle, and a son, Richard.
Bunny Cox’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Legal Joy, Cheltenham, October 8, 1949
2. Pontage, Cheltenham (National Hunt Chase), March 4, 1953
3. Quare Times, Cheltenham (National Hunt Chase), March 2, 1954
4. Quita Que, Hurst Park, March 10, 1956
5. Wild Knave, Hurst Park, January 8, 1958
6. Quita Que, Cheltenham (Cathcart Challenge Cup), March 13, 1958
7. Quita Que, Cheltenham (National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase), March 4, 1959
