John Gourley
John Gourley, knocked over on Manifesto on his only previous Grand National ride in 1896, made amends when steering Drogheda to victory two years later.
John Gourley, knocked over on Manifesto on his only previous Grand National ride in 1896, made amends when steering Drogheda to victory two years later.
The race had been run in a blinding snowstorm: John returned to the paddock looking like a mounted snowman.
The race had been run in a blinding snowstorm: John returned to the paddock looking like a mounted snowman.
So pleased was owner Mr Adams with John's efforts that he gave the jockey a pension for life.
So pleased was owner Mr Adams with John's efforts that he gave the jockey a pension for life.
John, who lived to be eighty, passed away in Dublin on Wednesday, June 4, 1952.
John, who lived to be eighty, passed away in Dublin on Wednesday, June 4, 1952.
Drogheda, a bay gelding, was named after the town in northeast Ireland in which its breeder, Mr G F Gradwell, was born. In Latin, the name Drogheda means 'bridge of the ford.'
Drogheda, a bay gelding, was named after the town in northeast Ireland in which its breeder, Mr G F Gradwell, was born. In Latin, the name Drogheda means 'bridge of the ford.'
Drogheda's trainer, Richard Dawson, after that National, then turned his attention to the Flat and sent out three Derby winners - Fifenella, Trigo & Blenheim.
Drogheda's trainer, Richard Dawson, after that National, then turned his attention to the Flat and sent out three Derby winners - Fifenella, Trigo & Blenheim.
John Gourley rode 25 winners over jumps in Britain between 1891 and 1900, with a best score of 11 in 1897. They were as follows:
John Gourley rode 25 winners over jumps in Britain between 1891 and 1900, with a best score of 11 in 1897. They were as follows:
1. Tornado, Kempton Park, December 1, 1891
1. Tornado, Kempton Park, December 1, 1891
2. Barbatello, Manchester, January 2, 1896
2. Barbatello, Manchester, January 2, 1896
3. Delvin, Kempton Park, February 7, 1896
3. Delvin, Kempton Park, February 7, 1896
4. Manifesto, Manchester, April 6, 1896 (walkover)
4. Manifesto, Manchester, April 6, 1896 (walkover)
5. Slingsby, Leicester, February 17, 1897
5. Slingsby, Leicester, February 17, 1897
6. Anchovy, Doncaster, February 24, 1897
6. Anchovy, Doncaster, February 24, 1897
7. Burnett, Ludlow, March 2, 1897
7. Burnett, Ludlow, March 2, 1897
8. Anchovy, Cardiff, April 20, 1897
8. Anchovy, Cardiff, April 20, 1897
9. Donner, Cardiff, April 20, 1897
9. Donner, Cardiff, April 20, 1897
10. Donner, Abingdon, May 6, 1897
10. Donner, Abingdon, May 6, 1897
11. Cloghran, Sandown Park, December 4, 1897
11. Cloghran, Sandown Park, December 4, 1897
12. Donner, Sandown Park, December 4, 1897
12. Donner, Sandown Park, December 4, 1897
13. Irish Girl, Gatwick, December 7, 1897
13. Irish Girl, Gatwick, December 7, 1897
14. Anchovy, Leicester, December 10, 1897
14. Anchovy, Leicester, December 10, 1897
15. Donner, Birmingham, December 22, 1897
15. Donner, Birmingham, December 22, 1897
16. Royston Crow, Hurst Park, January 22, 1898
16. Royston Crow, Hurst Park, January 22, 1898
17. Drogheda, Liverpool, March 25, 1898
17. Drogheda, Liverpool, March 25, 1898
18. Mill Girl, Vale of White Horse (Oaksey Park), April 21, 1898
18. Mill Girl, Vale of White Horse (Oaksey Park), April 21, 1898
19. Mill Girl, Sandown Park, October 22, 1898
19. Mill Girl, Sandown Park, October 22, 1898
20. Turkish Bath, Liverpool, November 12, 1898
20. Turkish Bath, Liverpool, November 12, 1898
21. Turkish Bath, Sandown Park, December 2, 1898
21. Turkish Bath, Sandown Park, December 2, 1898
22. Hypocrite, Kempton Park, December 27, 1898
22. Hypocrite, Kempton Park, December 27, 1898
23. Irish Girl, Nottingham, October 17, 1899
23. Irish Girl, Nottingham, October 17, 1899
24. Mill Girl, Birmingham, January 26, 1900
24. Mill Girl, Birmingham, January 26, 1900
25. Shackleford, Gatwick, December 5, 1900
25. Shackleford, Gatwick, December 5, 1900
His last winner in Ireland was Irish Girl in the June Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on June 9, 1899, the second of just two wins he had that year.
His last winner in Ireland was Irish Girl in the June Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on June 9, 1899, the second of just two wins he had that year.
He had his last ride in Britain on Blue Mint, who finished unplaced in the Great Warwickshire Handicap Chase at Birmingham on February 23, 1902.
He had his last ride in Britain on Blue Mint, who finished unplaced in the Great Warwickshire Handicap Chase at Birmingham on February 23, 1902.