Embedded Files
Jack Gilligan
Jack Gilligan
Apprenticed to Sir Mark Prescott at Newmarket, Jack Gilligan – no relation to his Irish jump jockey namesake Jack G. Gilligan – had ridden just four winners from a total of 27 rides when deciding to ply his trade in America in 2014.
Apprenticed to Sir Mark Prescott at Newmarket, Jack Gilligan – no relation to his Irish jump jockey namesake Jack G. Gilligan – had ridden just four winners from a total of 27 rides when deciding to ply his trade in America in 2014.
His apprenticeship had gone well but Sir Mark was unable to provide as many opportunities and as he would have liked, hence America was always lurking in the back of Jack’s mind.
His apprenticeship had gone well but Sir Mark was unable to provide as many opportunities and as he would have liked, hence America was always lurking in the back of Jack’s mind.
He had developed a taste for American racing when visiting Churchill Downs and Keeneland while on an exchange trip between racing schools. His father, former trainer Patrick Gilligan, had US citizenship, which would help with Jack obtaining the necessary green card.
He had developed a taste for American racing when visiting Churchill Downs and Keeneland while on an exchange trip between racing schools. His father, former trainer Patrick Gilligan, had US citizenship, which would help with Jack obtaining the necessary green card.
Being light enough and young enough, he was keen to give it a try. He initially planned to go for six months but enjoyed such a good winter that he decided to stay.
Being light enough and young enough, he was keen to give it a try. He initially planned to go for six months but enjoyed such a good winter that he decided to stay.
In contrast to just the occasional ride in Britain, Jack found himself riding four days a week, primarily in Kentucky and Louisiana, sometimes having three winners in a day. He rode at Keeneland and Churchill Downs in the summer and at Fair Grounds during the winter to escape the cold. Even after losing his claim he was still averaging 40 or 50 winners a year.
In contrast to just the occasional ride in Britain, Jack found himself riding four days a week, primarily in Kentucky and Louisiana, sometimes having three winners in a day. He rode at Keeneland and Churchill Downs in the summer and at Fair Grounds during the winter to escape the cold. Even after losing his claim he was still averaging 40 or 50 winners a year.
Such was his level of success that his mounts topped the $1m earnings mark every year from 2015 to 2019, He achieved a career-best score of 72 winners in 2017.
Such was his level of success that his mounts topped the $1m earnings mark every year from 2015 to 2019, He achieved a career-best score of 72 winners in 2017.
The best horse he rode was the grey Silver Dust, trained by Bret Calhoun. Jack rode the Tapit gelding to win a pair of Grade 3 contests in 2019, namely the Mineshaft Handicap at Finger Lakes and the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer Park. They finished runner-up, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds, and came even closer when beaten a neck in the valuable Grade 3 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs.
The best horse he rode was the grey Silver Dust, trained by Bret Calhoun. Jack rode the Tapit gelding to win a pair of Grade 3 contests in 2019, namely the Mineshaft Handicap at Finger Lakes and the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes at Mountaineer Park. They finished runner-up, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap at Fair Grounds, and came even closer when beaten a neck in the valuable Grade 3 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs.
There looked to have been further Grade 3 glory when Silver Dust passed the post first in the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds on 18 January 2020. However, the horse was subsequently disqualified after a banned substance was detected in a sample.
There looked to have been further Grade 3 glory when Silver Dust passed the post first in the Louisiana Stakes at Fair Grounds on 18 January 2020. However, the horse was subsequently disqualified after a banned substance was detected in a sample.
Shortly afterwards, Jack had a bad fall at Fair Grounds, breaking his jaw, both eye sockets, a collarbone and his nose, in addition to being badly concussed. No sooner had he been given medical clearance to resume his career, racing was shut down due to the pandemic.
Shortly afterwards, Jack had a bad fall at Fair Grounds, breaking his jaw, both eye sockets, a collarbone and his nose, in addition to being badly concussed. No sooner had he been given medical clearance to resume his career, racing was shut down due to the pandemic.
Having recently bought a house, Jack suddenly found himself without an income. He got going again when racing resumed and was on a winning streak back at Fair Grounds later in the year when he had a second, even more serious, fall.
Having recently bought a house, Jack suddenly found himself without an income. He got going again when racing resumed and was on a winning streak back at Fair Grounds later in the year when he had a second, even more serious, fall.
First, his mount slipped over in the starting gates and he broke the same collarbone. Then he had another concussion and was referred to the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, where they told him he needed to take time out as he risked suffering irreversible damage.
First, his mount slipped over in the starting gates and he broke the same collarbone. Then he had another concussion and was referred to the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine, where they told him he needed to take time out as he risked suffering irreversible damage.
Jack struggled with his balance for months without showing much improvement. He thought his career was over and contemplated retirement but, on reflection, he reckoned the time off had done him a power of good. He resumed race-riding in 2022 and had one of his best years in terms of earnings.
Jack struggled with his balance for months without showing much improvement. He thought his career was over and contemplated retirement but, on reflection, he reckoned the time off had done him a power of good. He resumed race-riding in 2022 and had one of his best years in terms of earnings.
However, as he got older and stronger he found he was putting on muscle and so weight became a problem, particularly as in America the weights are lighter and jockeys do not get a weight allowance for their equipment.
However, as he got older and stronger he found he was putting on muscle and so weight became a problem, particularly as in America the weights are lighter and jockeys do not get a weight allowance for their equipment.
Realising that he could comfortably do 8st 10lb under the British system, he returned to his England towards the end of 2023 with high hopes of prolonging his career in the saddle. Aged just 27, he left behind a successful American career that had brought a total of 407 wins from 4,096 rides.
Realising that he could comfortably do 8st 10lb under the British system, he returned to his England towards the end of 2023 with high hopes of prolonging his career in the saddle. Aged just 27, he left behind a successful American career that had brought a total of 407 wins from 4,096 rides.
After nearly a decade away, he soon found himself riding out again for Sir Mark Prescott as well as fellow Newmarket trainers Marco Botti and Phil McEntee, plus Manton-based Ollie Sangster.
After nearly a decade away, he soon found himself riding out again for Sir Mark Prescott as well as fellow Newmarket trainers Marco Botti and Phil McEntee, plus Manton-based Ollie Sangster.
Bidding to re-establish himself in his homeland, he was swiftly back in the winning groove and had ridden a total of 27 winners by late summer 2024, the last of them on Tactical Control for Ben Brookhouse in a class 5 three-year-old handicap at a Salisbury’s evening meeting on 30 August. Later that night he finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length on Apostle for Sir Mark in a class 6 mile and three-quarters handicap. He did not know it then but that would be his final ride.
Bidding to re-establish himself in his homeland, he was swiftly back in the winning groove and had ridden a total of 27 winners by late summer 2024, the last of them on Tactical Control for Ben Brookhouse in a class 5 three-year-old handicap at a Salisbury’s evening meeting on 30 August. Later that night he finished second, beaten three-quarters of a length on Apostle for Sir Mark in a class 6 mile and three-quarters handicap. He did not know it then but that would be his final ride.
An ongoing nerve injury in his right shoulder had not hindered him riding winners but the condition had progressively worsened during the previous month and the doctors at Salisbury that night advised him to stop race-riding.
An ongoing nerve injury in his right shoulder had not hindered him riding winners but the condition had progressively worsened during the previous month and the doctors at Salisbury that night advised him to stop race-riding.
After struggling with the injury for another couple of months he announced his decision to hang up his boots on medical grounds, aged 28.
After struggling with the injury for another couple of months he announced his decision to hang up his boots on medical grounds, aged 28.
He told the Racing Post: “I have been very lucky to have had the great career I had in the US and England these last 11 years and I feel very privileged to have ridden for all of the great trainers and owners who have believed in me. I walk away from being a jockey with a lot of happy memories.”
He told the Racing Post: “I have been very lucky to have had the great career I had in the US and England these last 11 years and I feel very privileged to have ridden for all of the great trainers and owners who have believed in me. I walk away from being a jockey with a lot of happy memories.”
He did not rule out returning to American racing in some capacity, citing the bloodstock side and the managerial side as areas of particular interest. He still has his house in Kentucky, and his parents live there too. While his father is now retired, his mother works as one of the yearling managers at WinStar Farm
He did not rule out returning to American racing in some capacity, citing the bloodstock side and the managerial side as areas of particular interest. He still has his house in Kentucky, and his parents live there too. While his father is now retired, his mother works as one of the yearling managers at WinStar Farm
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse