T. P. Burns

T P Burns was one of the leading Irish jockeys of the 20th century. In a career that spanned more than five decades, he proved himself equally adaptable on the Flat and over jumps, achieving both Classic and Cheltenham Festival success. He was champion jockey three times in Ireland (Flat/jumps combined) in 1954, 1955 and 1957.

Tommy Pascal Burns was born on April 14, 1924, the son of Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns, champion jockey in Ireland in 1932. Although based in Ireland and best known by his initials rather than his Christian name, ‘TP’ actually served part of his apprenticeship in England with Steve Donoghue at Blewbury. He was just 14 when riding his first winner, on Prudent Rose at the Curragh’s Irish Derby meeting in 1938. He secured his first big-race success in the 1941 Irish Cambridgeshire on Mill Boy.

TP enjoyed his greatest days in association with Vincent O’Brien, for whom he rode Ballymoss to win the Irish Derby in 1957, after finishing runner-up to Crepello at Epsom. A few months later he was aboard again when Ballymoss secured a piece of racing history by becoming the first Irish-trained winner of the St Leger at Doncaster.

Over jumps, he rode nine Cheltenham Festival winners, all for Vincent O'Brien: Lucky Dome (1954 Spa Hurdle), Ahaburn (1955 Birdlip Hurdle) and seven divisions of Gloucestershire Hurdle on Illyric (1955), Boys Hurrah and Pelargos (1956), Saffron Tartan (1957, Admiral Stuart and Prudent King (1958) and York Fair (1959).

Other major wins over jumps included the 1949 Kerry National on Sadler’s Wells, the 1952 Galway Hurdle on Warrenscourt Lad, and the 1961 Carroll Hurdle on Coniston. He finished second in the 1955 Champion Hurdle on Stroller. On October 9, 1963, TP rode Arkle to victory at Navan, in what was that great champion chaser’s only run on the Flat (bumpers excepted).

As well as his many successes for Vincent O’Brien, TP rode a number of big-race winners for Paddy Prendergast, including Prominer in the 1964 National Stakes and the same horse in the Player’s Navy Cut Trial at Phoenix Park in 1965.

In addition to his Irish Derby triumph on Ballymoss, his other Irish Classic winners were: El Toro (1959 2,000 Guineas), Vimadee (1961 St Leger), Shandon Belle (1962 1,000 Guineas), Paveh (1966 2,000 Guineas), and Pidget (1972 St Leger).

Other big race wins included the 1950 Irish Lincolnshire on Knock Hard, 1955 Pretty Polly Stakes on Free Model, 1956 Whitehall Stakes on Beau Chevalet, 1956 National Produce Stakes on El Minzah, 1957 Irish Champion Stakes on Gladness, and the Phoenix Stakes twice on Gigi (1959) and Marble Arch (1972).  

His last winner was Dermot Weld’s Old Man River in a trainers’ race at Punchestown on July 7, 1989, by which time he was 65 years old.

TP Burns died in May 2018, aged 94. His funeral mass took place in St Brigid’s Church, the Curragh. He was buried in Tynaclash Cemetery, Kiltegan, County Wicklow.

English Classic winner: 

1957: St Leger – Ballymoss

Irish Classic winners:

1957: Irish Derby – Ballymoss

1959: Irish 2,000 Guineas – El Toro

1961: Irish St Leger – Vimadee 

1962: Irish 1,000 Guineas – Shandon Belle 

1966: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Paveh 

1972: Irish St Leger – Pidget 

Other big wins in Ireland:

1941: Irish Cambridgeshire – Mill Boy 

1950: Irish Lincolnshire – Knock Hard 

1952: Royal Whip – Beau Sire 

1952: Beresford Stakes – Northern Gleam 

1952: Naas November Handicap – Sontogo 

1954: Currage Cup (Phoenix Park) – King’s Melody 

1955: Tetrarch Stakes- Bright Night 

1955: Pretty Polly Stakes – Free Model 

1955: Blandford Stakes – Nile Bird 

1955: Irish Cesarewitch – Reinstated 

1956: International Stakes – Beau Chevalet 

1956: National Stakes – El Minzah 

1957: Irish Champion Stakes – Gladness 

1958: Athasi Stakes – Minou 

1959: Phoenix Stakes – Gigi 

1962: Desmond Stakes – Sicilian Prince 

1964: National Stakes – Prominer 

1966: Ulster Harp Derby – My Kuda 

1966: Beresford Stakes – Sovereign Slipper 

1968: Madrid Handicap – French Serenade 

1969: Royal Whip – Candy Cane 

1969: Blandford Stakes – Barons Court 

1971: Ulster Harp Derby – Falaise 

1971: Phoenix ‘Fifteen Hundred’ – Marble Arch 

1971: McDonagh Handicap (Galway) – Greek Waters 

1972: Phoenix Stakes – Marble Arch 

1974: Desmond Stakes – Sir Penfro 

National Hunt – England 

1954: Spa Hurdle – Lucky Dome 

1955: Birdlip Hurdle – Ahaburn 

1955: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Ilyric 

1956: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – Boys Hurrah   

1956: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Pelargos 

1957: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Saffron Tartan 

1958: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – Admiral Stuart   

1958: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 2) – Prudent King

1959: Gloucestershire Hurdle (Div 1) – York Fair 

National Hunt – Ireland 

1949: Kerry National – Sadler’s Wells

1949: Munster National – Confucius 

1951: Ulster National – Miss Steel 

1952: Galway Hurdle – Warrenscourt Lad 

1957: Tipperary Cup Hurdle (Clonmel) – Owen’s Image