Patrick Cowley

National Hunt jockey Patrick Cowley was badly injured at Hooton Park races on Monday, August 7, 1911, suffering concussion of the brain. His mount, Longenek, had gone through the wing of a hurdle.

An operation was performed on him that night, a blood clot being successfully removed from his brain, but he never recovered consciousness and died shortly after noon the following day.

He had been born in Drogheda, Co Meath, and was 27 years old.

Described as being quiet and reserved, he had become apprenticed to Leonard O'Sheil at Greenmount, Clonsilla.

Mr O'Sheil also met with a fatal accident in a steeplechase when falling from Dullough at Navan in 1899.

Paddy Cowley was champion NH jockey in 1908 with 65 winners.

Patrick's biggest wins included the 1908 Champion Chase on Crackler and the Valentine Chase, which he won twice: 1902 on Thomondgate & 1903 on Flying Swallow. He also won the Prince of Wales Handicap Chase twice; on Mount Hilary in 1905 & on Shay Girl in 1908. In 1902, he won the Stanley Chase on Thormondgate