Declan Gillespie
Irish Flat jockey Declan Gillespie was born in Sligo on March 28, 1954. He was at his peak in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Though never champion jockey in an era dominated by Christy Roche and Michael Kinane, Declan rode over 1,000 winners in his career and enjoyed Classic triumphs and Group One glory.
Irish Flat jockey Declan Gillespie was born in Sligo on March 28, 1954. He was at his peak in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Though never champion jockey in an era dominated by Christy Roche and Michael Kinane, Declan rode over 1,000 winners in his career and enjoyed Classic triumphs and Group One glory.
Crowned Ireland’s champion apprentice in 1973 when riding for Kevin Prendergast, he joined forces with Jim Bolger four years later after returning from a spell with John Dunlop in England.
Crowned Ireland’s champion apprentice in 1973 when riding for Kevin Prendergast, he joined forces with Jim Bolger four years later after returning from a spell with John Dunlop in England.
Declan had his first Group race win for Bolger in 1978, in the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes on Columbanus. He won his first two Classics in 1983, landing the Irish Oaks on Bolger’s filly Give Thanks and the Irish St Leger on Mountain Lodge for John Dunlop.
Declan had his first Group race win for Bolger in 1978, in the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes on Columbanus. He won his first two Classics in 1983, landing the Irish Oaks on Bolger’s filly Give Thanks and the Irish St Leger on Mountain Lodge for John Dunlop.
He won a handful of Group races in Britain in the early 1980s, all on fillies trained by Bolger, including the 1981 Musidora Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, both on Condessa, the 1983 Lancashire Oaks on Give Thanks, the 1983 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Flame Of Tara, and the 1984 Cheveley Park Stakes on Park Appeal. Flame Of Tara was one of the best fillies of the early 1980s and Declan remembered her Royal Ascot success as being one of his best days in the saddle.
He won a handful of Group races in Britain in the early 1980s, all on fillies trained by Bolger, including the 1981 Musidora Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks, both on Condessa, the 1983 Lancashire Oaks on Give Thanks, the 1983 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot on Flame Of Tara, and the 1984 Cheveley Park Stakes on Park Appeal. Flame Of Tara was one of the best fillies of the early 1980s and Declan remembered her Royal Ascot success as being one of his best days in the saddle.
He was Jim Bolger’s stable jockey from 1978 to 1986 and the vast majority of his Group race winners were trained by Bolger. He then rode for Vincent O’Brien and enjoyed two Classic victories for the maestro of Ballydoyle in 1988, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Prince Of Birds and the Irish St Leger on Dark Lomond.
He was Jim Bolger’s stable jockey from 1978 to 1986 and the vast majority of his Group race winners were trained by Bolger. He then rode for Vincent O’Brien and enjoyed two Classic victories for the maestro of Ballydoyle in 1988, winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Prince Of Birds and the Irish St Leger on Dark Lomond.
His other Group race winners included:
His other Group race winners included:
1979: Mulcahy Stakes (Lady Segrave), Park Stakes (Mulvilla).
1979: Mulcahy Stakes (Lady Segrave), Park Stakes (Mulvilla).
1980: Royal Whip Stakes, Meld Stakes, Desmond Stakes (all on My Hollow).
1980: Royal Whip Stakes, Meld Stakes, Desmond Stakes (all on My Hollow).
1981: Tattersalls Gold Cup (Erin’s Isle), Gallinule Stakes (Erin’s Isle), Pretty Polly Stakes (Happy Bride).
1981: Tattersalls Gold Cup (Erin’s Isle), Gallinule Stakes (Erin’s Isle), Pretty Polly Stakes (Happy Bride).
1982: Moyglare Stud Stakes (Habibti), Athasi Stakes (Celestial Pride).
1982: Moyglare Stud Stakes (Habibti), Athasi Stakes (Celestial Pride).
1983: 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Glasson Lady), Pretty Polly Stakes (Flame Of Tara), Royal Whip Stakes (Condell), Desmond Stakes (Erin’s Hope).
1983: 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Glasson Lady), Pretty Polly Stakes (Flame Of Tara), Royal Whip Stakes (Condell), Desmond Stakes (Erin’s Hope).
1984: Phoenix Stakes (Aviance), Moyglare Stud Stakes (Park Appeal), Vauxhall Stakes (Hegemony).
1984: Phoenix Stakes (Aviance), Moyglare Stud Stakes (Park Appeal), Vauxhall Stakes (Hegemony).
1986: Railway Stakes (Polonia).
1986: Railway Stakes (Polonia).
1987: Royal Whip Stakes (Baba Karam).
1987: Royal Whip Stakes (Baba Karam).
1988: Flying Five (Heather Seeker).
1988: Flying Five (Heather Seeker).
1989: Blandford Stakes (Indian Queen).
1989: Blandford Stakes (Indian Queen).
Declan’s last big race winner was achieved in 1990 in the Group 3 Matron Stakes on Spring Daffodil, trained by Augustine Leahy. He retired from the saddle later that year and began training.
Declan’s last big race winner was achieved in 1990 in the Group 3 Matron Stakes on Spring Daffodil, trained by Augustine Leahy. He retired from the saddle later that year and began training.
He trained until 2008, his last winner being Striking Article in a Fairyhouse bumper on October 13, 2007. He now lives in Malaysia, working as assistant trainer to his son Thomas and as a consultant for Red Mills in Asia.
He trained until 2008, his last winner being Striking Article in a Fairyhouse bumper on October 13, 2007. He now lives in Malaysia, working as assistant trainer to his son Thomas and as a consultant for Red Mills in Asia.