Pat Glennon
1927-2004
1927-2004
Australian jockey Thomas Patrick (Pat) Glennon was born on August 23, 1927 and raised in the Avon Vale area of Melbourne, not far from Flemington racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup. He rode his first winner, a horse named Alares, trained by his father, at a bush track called Bacchus Marsh at the age of 13.
Australian jockey Thomas Patrick (Pat) Glennon was born on August 23, 1927 and raised in the Avon Vale area of Melbourne, not far from Flemington racecourse, home of the Melbourne Cup. He rode his first winner, a horse named Alares, trained by his father, at a bush track called Bacchus Marsh at the age of 13.
He then moved to South Australia, where he rode with great success, quickly becoming one of the leading apprentices in Adelaide. Linking up with trainer Jim Cummings (father of the legendary Bart Cummings), Pat went on to pilot Comic Court to victory in the 1950 Melbourne Cup. He won a second Melbourne Cup in 1959 on Macdougal
He then moved to South Australia, where he rode with great success, quickly becoming one of the leading apprentices in Adelaide. Linking up with trainer Jim Cummings (father of the legendary Bart Cummings), Pat went on to pilot Comic Court to victory in the 1950 Melbourne Cup. He won a second Melbourne Cup in 1959 on Macdougal
Keen to embellish his already solid career, he went abroad seeking further opportunities. He settled in Ireland, where he took over from fellow Australian Garnet Bougoure as first jockey to Vincent O'Brien’s stable. In 1962 he emulated Bougoure by becoming Ireland’s Champion Jockey with 57 winners, Bougoure having won the title two years earlier.
Keen to embellish his already solid career, he went abroad seeking further opportunities. He settled in Ireland, where he took over from fellow Australian Garnet Bougoure as first jockey to Vincent O'Brien’s stable. In 1962 he emulated Bougoure by becoming Ireland’s Champion Jockey with 57 winners, Bougoure having won the title two years earlier.
During the early weeks of that season with O’Brien, Pat won the Players’ Navy Cut Stakes at Phoenix Park on Sebring and the Wills Gold Flake Stakes at Leopardstown on Larkspur. He had the option of riding either of them in the Derby at Epsom but chose the wrong one, preferring Sebring against 22-1 outsider Larkspur, only to see the latter win under fellow Australian Neville Sellwood while Sebring finished fifth.
During the early weeks of that season with O’Brien, Pat won the Players’ Navy Cut Stakes at Phoenix Park on Sebring and the Wills Gold Flake Stakes at Leopardstown on Larkspur. He had the option of riding either of them in the Derby at Epsom but chose the wrong one, preferring Sebring against 22-1 outsider Larkspur, only to see the latter win under fellow Australian Neville Sellwood while Sebring finished fifth.
Later that year he rode his first British winner on Clem Magnier’s Irish raider Fiora in the Kilburn Stakes, the last race of Ayr’s Western Meeting on September 21, 1962.
Later that year he rode his first British winner on Clem Magnier’s Irish raider Fiora in the Kilburn Stakes, the last race of Ayr’s Western Meeting on September 21, 1962.
Pat scored a clean sweep of Ireland’s major 1962 two-year-old races, winning the Beresford Stakes on Pontifex, the Anglesey Stakes on Philemon, the Railway Stakes and the Birdcatcher Stakes on Turbo Jet, all for Vincent O’Brien, plus the Curragh Stakes on the Mick Connolly-trained Majority Blue.
Pat scored a clean sweep of Ireland’s major 1962 two-year-old races, winning the Beresford Stakes on Pontifex, the Anglesey Stakes on Philemon, the Railway Stakes and the Birdcatcher Stakes on Turbo Jet, all for Vincent O’Brien, plus the Curragh Stakes on the Mick Connolly-trained Majority Blue.
He rode two winners in Britain in 1963, both on Irish-trained horses: Lock Hard for Mick Hurley in the strangely-titled Bonsoir Birthday Cup Handicap at York on September 7, and Ashavan for Vincent O’Brien in the Mornington Stakes at Kempton – the meeting having transferred there from Ascot – on October 11. He also went close to landing Newmarket’s two big juvenile races that year, finishing second in both the Cheveley Park Stakes on Palinda and in the Middle Park Stakes on Smooth Jet.
He rode two winners in Britain in 1963, both on Irish-trained horses: Lock Hard for Mick Hurley in the strangely-titled Bonsoir Birthday Cup Handicap at York on September 7, and Ashavan for Vincent O’Brien in the Mornington Stakes at Kempton – the meeting having transferred there from Ascot – on October 11. He also went close to landing Newmarket’s two big juvenile races that year, finishing second in both the Cheveley Park Stakes on Palinda and in the Middle Park Stakes on Smooth Jet.
While riding for O’Brien in Ireland, he met leading French Etienne Pollet and accepted a contract to ply his trade in France. That led him to form a partnership with the mighty Sea-Bird. They carried all before them throughout the 1965 Flat season, culminating in majestic victories in the Derby by two lengths without being extended and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by six lengths. Sea-Bird ended his racing days as the highest rated Flat horse of all time, while Pat became the first Australian jockey to win the Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
While riding for O’Brien in Ireland, he met leading French Etienne Pollet and accepted a contract to ply his trade in France. That led him to form a partnership with the mighty Sea-Bird. They carried all before them throughout the 1965 Flat season, culminating in majestic victories in the Derby by two lengths without being extended and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe by six lengths. Sea-Bird ended his racing days as the highest rated Flat horse of all time, while Pat became the first Australian jockey to win the Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Pat eventually returned to Australia where he died on February 14, 2004, aged 76.
Pat eventually returned to Australia where he died on February 14, 2004, aged 76.