John Martin Burke was born on 18 February 1953, and started to ride in point-to-points as an amateur. He progressed, whilst still an amateur, to riding under rules; such was his success that he turned professional in 1974.
John, the son of a schoolmaster in Co. Meath, rode a total of 196 winners, the first of which was Some Man at Ludlow on February 28, 1973.
He succeeded Ken White as stable jockey to champion trainer Fred Rimell and, that year, won the SGB Chase on Rough House for the stable. He won on Rough House again the following year when taking the Great Yorkshire and, in 1976, won the Welsh Grand National on Rag Trade.
Owned by celebrated hairdresser 'Teasy-Weasy' Raymond, Rag Trade was a large, clumsy horse (whom Champion jockey John Francome flatly refused to ride) who developed heat in his leg after that race, but Rimell decided to run him in the National at Aintree.
Red Rum, bidding for his third National victory, was second favourite but on this occasion, it was up to the Rimells to set records by winning their fourth Grand National.
Mercy Rimell said later: "John Burke rode a blinder. He came into the last, nicely poised behind Eyecatcher and Red Rum, who took the fence together. He collected Rag Trade, balanced him and drove him up to the leaders. At the elbow on that long run-in he was fractionally in front of Red Rum and our horse ran on splendidly to win by two lengths. No one can deny that Rag Trade fully deserved his success."
Before the Cheltenham National Hunt festival that year the 86-year-old Sir Edward Hamner queried whether his seven-year-old chaser Royal Frolic was too young to take on the cracks in the Blue Riband of steeplechasing, the Gold Cup. To which Fred Rimell, his trainer, replied diplomatically, "Well, none of us is getting any younger, sir, and I think he should take his chance." Taking the last in grand style, John Burke and Royal Frolic strode up the hill to pass the post with five lengths to spare.
In 1976, the year of his Gold Cup-National double, he also took the Game Spirit Chase at Ascot on Uncle Bing. The following season he was well clear in the National on Andy Pandy when they took a spectacular fall at Becher's Brook second time around. John Burke made amends when riding the horse to victory in the Whitbread Gold Cup.
John was the winning jockey on Connaught Ranger in the 1978 Triumph Hurdle.
In 1977 Burke was also lucky enough to partner that great Rimell hurdler Comedy of Errors to win the first of two consecutive National Spirit hurdles at Fontwell.
In the film Champions (1983), the story of Aldaniti and Bob Champion's heroic victory in the National, Burke rode Aldaniti in the jumping scenes.
John married Lynne Stephenson, daughter of trainer Willie, in 1974. They had two children, Kelly Jane and Josh Norman.
John retired in 1985. Keeping his hand in, he rode out occasionally for John Spearing, who took over the Rimell stables at Kinnersley.
He enjoyed tennis, swimming and a round of golf.
John Burke died of a heart attack at his home in Upton-upon-Severn on 8 February 1995. He was 41.
John Burke's National record:
1976: Rag Trade WON
1978: Brown Admiral 10th
1979: Royal Frolic 6th
1980: Royal Frolic refused 27th
1981: Senator MacLacury 5th
1983: Hot Tomato fell last
1984: Lucky Vane 4th
1985: Lucky Vane pulled up lame.
John Burke
Grand National winner: Rag Trade (1976)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Royal Frolic (1976)
Other big winners:
1974: S.G.B. Handicap Chase – Rough House
1975: Bass Handicap Chase – Junior Partner
1975: Great Yorkshire Chase – Rough House
1975: Midlands Grand National – Rag Trade
1976: Welsh Grand National – Rag Trade
1977: Whitbread Gold Cup – Andy Pandy
1978: Triumph Hurdle – Connaught Ranger
1984: Eider Chase – Lucky Vane
