Cornelius Galvin
Cornelius Galvin
Cornelius Galvin
1870-1916
1870-1916
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Born in 1870, Cornelius Galvin rode 20 winners under National Hunt rules between 1893 and 1900, starting with a comfortable victory in the Maiden Steeplechase at the Pembrokeshire Hunt meeting on April 6, 1893, when his mount, Woodranger finished alone, his three rivals having fallen. The five-year-old was owned by the leading amateur rider Bob Harries, who must have had fond memories of the course as he had twice ridden a treble there.
Born in 1870, Cornelius Galvin rode 20 winners under National Hunt rules between 1893 and 1900, starting with a comfortable victory in the Maiden Steeplechase at the Pembrokeshire Hunt meeting on April 6, 1893, when his mount, Woodranger finished alone, his three rivals having fallen. The five-year-old was owned by the leading amateur rider Bob Harries, who must have had fond memories of the course as he had twice ridden a treble there.
Although Cornelius did not ride many winners, he was usually prominent on Welsh racecourses, especially when riding horses owned and trained by another stalwart of the Welsh racing scene, Colonel Freddy Lort Phillips.
Although Cornelius did not ride many winners, he was usually prominent on Welsh racecourses, especially when riding horses owned and trained by another stalwart of the Welsh racing scene, Colonel Freddy Lort Phillips.
Among the highlights of Cornelius’s career were a win over Tenby’s banks course on Greenlight in October 1896, and six wins within the space of two months on the chaser Memphis in 1897, including victories on consecutive days at Torquay’s Easter meeting, that being the only time Cornelius rode winners outside Wales. On Easter Monday he beat five rivals to take the Stewards’ Plate, carrying joint top weight of 12st 10lb, and on the Tuesday won a match for the Western Counties Plate carrying a hefty 13 stone.
Among the highlights of Cornelius’s career were a win over Tenby’s banks course on Greenlight in October 1896, and six wins within the space of two months on the chaser Memphis in 1897, including victories on consecutive days at Torquay’s Easter meeting, that being the only time Cornelius rode winners outside Wales. On Easter Monday he beat five rivals to take the Stewards’ Plate, carrying joint top weight of 12st 10lb, and on the Tuesday won a match for the Western Counties Plate carrying a hefty 13 stone.
On January 30, 1896, four horses lined up for the start of the Derllys Selling Hurdle at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting. At the finish, Cadno, ridden by Cornelius, was the two-length winner from Luke Bland’s mount Antique, with top amateur Arthur ‘Stosher’ Wood a bad third on Jesuit, and Goldfinder, ridden by David Davies, even further behind in last place. However, the first three home were all disqualified for “having gone the wrong side of a flag” and Goldfinder was awarded the race.
On January 30, 1896, four horses lined up for the start of the Derllys Selling Hurdle at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting. At the finish, Cadno, ridden by Cornelius, was the two-length winner from Luke Bland’s mount Antique, with top amateur Arthur ‘Stosher’ Wood a bad third on Jesuit, and Goldfinder, ridden by David Davies, even further behind in last place. However, the first three home were all disqualified for “having gone the wrong side of a flag” and Goldfinder was awarded the race.
Four years later, Cornelius’s final victory was again at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting, and again, it was the Derllys Selling Hurdle, but this time he kept the race on Rickardstown.
Four years later, Cornelius’s final victory was again at the Carmarthenshire Hunt meeting, and again, it was the Derllys Selling Hurdle, but this time he kept the race on Rickardstown.
He had his last two rides at the Pembroke Hunt fixture on April 9, 1902. Having failed to finish on Kirkland in the Castle Hurdle, he then finished second on Sal Volatile in the Stewards’ Chase, beaten by Sir Francis Drake, ridden by ‘Mr Deer’, the pseudonym of leading trainer David Harrison, presumably taken from Deer Park, where he lived. Harrison found it necessary to ride incognito as he had promised his aunt – who was providing him with a substantial monthly allowance – not to take part in races and did not want her to be made aware that he had broken his promise.
He had his last two rides at the Pembroke Hunt fixture on April 9, 1902. Having failed to finish on Kirkland in the Castle Hurdle, he then finished second on Sal Volatile in the Stewards’ Chase, beaten by Sir Francis Drake, ridden by ‘Mr Deer’, the pseudonym of leading trainer David Harrison, presumably taken from Deer Park, where he lived. Harrison found it necessary to ride incognito as he had promised his aunt – who was providing him with a substantial monthly allowance – not to take part in races and did not want her to be made aware that he had broken his promise.
That day may have marked the end of Cornelius’s career, but Kirkland, his unsuccessful mount in the Castle Hurdle, went on to win that year’s Grand Sefton Chase on his very next start, seven months later, then finished fourth in the 1903 Grand National and second in 1904, before finally winning the race in 1905, becoming the first – and so far only – horse Welsh-trained horse to win the world’s most famous steeplechase.
That day may have marked the end of Cornelius’s career, but Kirkland, his unsuccessful mount in the Castle Hurdle, went on to win that year’s Grand Sefton Chase on his very next start, seven months later, then finished fourth in the 1903 Grand National and second in 1904, before finally winning the race in 1905, becoming the first – and so far only – horse Welsh-trained horse to win the world’s most famous steeplechase.
Cornelius Galvin died in 1916. His wins were, in chronological order:
Cornelius Galvin died in 1916. His wins were, in chronological order:
1. Woodranger, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 6, 1893
1. Woodranger, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 6, 1893
2. Marguerite, Tenby Hunt, March 8, 1894
2. Marguerite, Tenby Hunt, March 8, 1894
3. Marguerite, Pembroke Hunt, March 27, 1894
3. Marguerite, Pembroke Hunt, March 27, 1894
4. Cadno, Tenby Hunt, January 24, 1895
4. Cadno, Tenby Hunt, January 24, 1895
5. Fairy Queen, Llangibby and Tredegar Hunt, November 28, 1895
5. Fairy Queen, Llangibby and Tredegar Hunt, November 28, 1895
6. Cross, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 9, 1896
6. Cross, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 9, 1896
7. Village Belle, Tivyside Hunt, April 15, 1896
7. Village Belle, Tivyside Hunt, April 15, 1896
8. Greenlight, Tenby Hunt, October 22, 1896
8. Greenlight, Tenby Hunt, October 22, 1896
9. Memphis, Tenby Hunt, February 25, 1897
9. Memphis, Tenby Hunt, February 25, 1897
10. Memphis, Tenby Hunt, February 26, 1897
10. Memphis, Tenby Hunt, February 26, 1897
11. Memphis, Glamorgan Hunt (Cowbridge), March 18, 1897
11. Memphis, Glamorgan Hunt (Cowbridge), March 18, 1897
12. Memphis, Torquay, April 19, 1897
12. Memphis, Torquay, April 19, 1897
13. Memphis, Torquay, April 20, 1897
13. Memphis, Torquay, April 20, 1897
14. Memphis, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 22, 1897
14. Memphis, Pembrokeshire Hunt, April 22, 1897
15. Sequah, Carmarthenshire Hunt, February 1, 1899
15. Sequah, Carmarthenshire Hunt, February 1, 1899
16. Sequah, Carmarthenshire Hunt, February 2, 1899
16. Sequah, Carmarthenshire Hunt, February 2, 1899
17. Rickardstown, Tenby Hunt, February 10, 1899
17. Rickardstown, Tenby Hunt, February 10, 1899
18. Sequah, Pembroke Hunt, April 12, 1899
18. Sequah, Pembroke Hunt, April 12, 1899
19. Menzikoff, Tenby Hunt, February 1, 1900
19. Menzikoff, Tenby Hunt, February 1, 1900
20. Rickardstown, Carmarthenshire Hunt, March 1, 1900
20. Rickardstown, Carmarthenshire Hunt, March 1, 1900