Dan Gallagher
Dan Gallagher
Dan Gallagher
c1910 - c1999
c1910 - c1999
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Daniel Joseph (Dan) Gallagher rode one winner over jumps in 1935, then came back almost a decade later to add six more over four seasons.
Daniel Joseph (Dan) Gallagher rode one winner over jumps in 1935, then came back almost a decade later to add six more over four seasons.
Born around 1910, he did not claim an allowance when having his first ride on the Flat, an unplaced effort on Border Raider in the Holm Hill Handicap Plate at Carlisle on June 27, 1933, thereby suggesting that he had either already completed his apprenticeship, or begun his career elsewhere, possibly Ireland.
Born around 1910, he did not claim an allowance when having his first ride on the Flat, an unplaced effort on Border Raider in the Holm Hill Handicap Plate at Carlisle on June 27, 1933, thereby suggesting that he had either already completed his apprenticeship, or begun his career elsewhere, possibly Ireland.
Having turned his attention to the jumps, his first winner was a narrow one, at Towcester on September 28, 1935, when riding Buenamigo to beat John Baxter on Armetta by a head, with champion jockey Gerry Wilson three-quarters of a length further back on third place on Luminetta. Making his seasonal reappearance, Buenamigo was receiving 23lb and 25lb respectively from the two horses that followed him home, which undoubtedly helped his cause. Dan was riding him for the first and, as it turned out, only time, as he never ran again.
Having turned his attention to the jumps, his first winner was a narrow one, at Towcester on September 28, 1935, when riding Buenamigo to beat John Baxter on Armetta by a head, with champion jockey Gerry Wilson three-quarters of a length further back on third place on Luminetta. Making his seasonal reappearance, Buenamigo was receiving 23lb and 25lb respectively from the two horses that followed him home, which undoubtedly helped his cause. Dan was riding him for the first and, as it turned out, only time, as he never ran again.
Having had few opportunities, Dan did not renew his jump jockey’s licence but took out a Flat licence in 1939. However, he failed to ride a winner.
Having had few opportunities, Dan did not renew his jump jockey’s licence but took out a Flat licence in 1939. However, he failed to ride a winner.
It was not until February 3, 1945, that he visited the winner’s enclosure again, when Prince Igor, trained by Vernell Hobbs, won the Ashurst Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Cheltenham by four lengths. It was just the second jumps meeting to take place in Britain following the resumption of National Hunt racing, which had endured a three-year hiatus during the war. Dan had ridden Prince Igor at the first post-war meeting, also at Cheltenham, on January 6, before a combination of snow and frost had wiped out racing for the remainder of the month.
It was not until February 3, 1945, that he visited the winner’s enclosure again, when Prince Igor, trained by Vernell Hobbs, won the Ashurst Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Cheltenham by four lengths. It was just the second jumps meeting to take place in Britain following the resumption of National Hunt racing, which had endured a three-year hiatus during the war. Dan had ridden Prince Igor at the first post-war meeting, also at Cheltenham, on January 6, before a combination of snow and frost had wiped out racing for the remainder of the month.
He opened his account for the 1945/46 campaign at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1945, winning the Selling Handicap Hurdle on Sutton Hoo. He doubled his score for the season with a four-length victory on Eastern Silver in the Bingham Selling Hurdle at Southwell on February 15, 1946, then added a third win back at Wincanton on March 20 when New Pipers landed the Selling Handicap Hurdle. Cecil Saxby trained all three winners at Lambourn.
He opened his account for the 1945/46 campaign at Wincanton on Boxing Day 1945, winning the Selling Handicap Hurdle on Sutton Hoo. He doubled his score for the season with a four-length victory on Eastern Silver in the Bingham Selling Hurdle at Southwell on February 15, 1946, then added a third win back at Wincanton on March 20 when New Pipers landed the Selling Handicap Hurdle. Cecil Saxby trained all three winners at Lambourn.
More than two years elapsed before he gained what would be his last two winners, by which time he had taken out a trainer’s licence, based at Upper Lambourn, with a string of around half a dozen. Combining riding with training, he guided Way Ahead to win the South Devon Handicap Hurdle on the Saturday of Buckfastleigh’s Whitsun meeting, reappearing on the Bank Holiday Monday to complete a double in the Dean Prior Selling Handicap Hurdle.
More than two years elapsed before he gained what would be his last two winners, by which time he had taken out a trainer’s licence, based at Upper Lambourn, with a string of around half a dozen. Combining riding with training, he guided Way Ahead to win the South Devon Handicap Hurdle on the Saturday of Buckfastleigh’s Whitsun meeting, reappearing on the Bank Holiday Monday to complete a double in the Dean Prior Selling Handicap Hurdle.
Dan held a jockey’s licence for a couple more seasons, mostly riding his own horses, having his final mount on Way Ahead when finishing third in the Kenn Selling Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 25, 1949. He retained his trainer’s licence until the early 1950s. He died in about 1999.
Dan held a jockey’s licence for a couple more seasons, mostly riding his own horses, having his final mount on Way Ahead when finishing third in the Kenn Selling Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 25, 1949. He retained his trainer’s licence until the early 1950s. He died in about 1999.
Dan Gallagher’s wins were, in chronological order:
Dan Gallagher’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Buenamigo, Towcester, September 28, 1935
1. Buenamigo, Towcester, September 28, 1935
2. Prince Igor, Cheltenham, February 3, 1945
2. Prince Igor, Cheltenham, February 3, 1945
3. Sutton Hoo, Wincanton, December 26, 1945
3. Sutton Hoo, Wincanton, December 26, 1945
4. Eastern Silver, Southwell, February 15, 1946
4. Eastern Silver, Southwell, February 15, 1946
5. New Pipers, Wincanton, March 20, 1946
5. New Pipers, Wincanton, March 20, 1946
6. Way Ahead, Buckfastleigh, May 15, 1948
6. Way Ahead, Buckfastleigh, May 15, 1948
7. Way Ahead, Buckfastleigh, May 17, 1948
7. Way Ahead, Buckfastleigh, May 17, 1948