Johnny Gorman

Irish-born National Hunt jockey William John Gorman – better known as Johnny Gorman – had a long career in the saddle, from 1952 to 1970, but notched just eleven winners in that time. 

He rode his first winner on novice chaser Cheshire Cat for Doncaster trainer Eddie Magner at Southwell on December 18, 1957, one of three winners that season, the others being for Retford trainer Albert Bacon.  

Johnny drew a blank the following season but rode another three winners in 1959/60, including the Market Rasen Chamber of Trade Cup Novice Chase on Albert Bacon’s Mr McTaffy. 

He struggled thereafter and rode only three more winners in the next four seasons. His willingness to ride any horse inevitably led to more than his share of falls. His win on Saundby at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1965 was his first for two and a half years and also his tenth in all, resulting in his claim being cut to 5lb. He won on Saundby again ten days later at Perth.

Johnny rode two more winners, both in the 1966/67 season, the last of them on selling hurdler Croftess at Hexham on Saturday, May 27, 1967.

He subsequently trained between 1968 and 1971 with a string of eight or nine horses, based at Blacksmiths Arms Stables, Everton, near Doncaster but met with little success. 

Johnny Gorman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Cheshire Cat, Southwell, December 18, 1957

2. War Whoop, Market Rasen, December 27, 1957

3. Charioteer, Nottingham, January 28, 1958

4. Matches, Perth, September 24, 1959  

5. Mr McTaffy, Market Rasen, October 17, 1959

6. Mr McTaffy, Nottingham, October 27, 1959

7. Archer’s Green, Southwell, March 30, 1961

8. Doxa, Uttoxeter, June 11, 1962

9. Sylvan Rime, Nottingham, October 30, 1962

10. Saundby, Market Rasen, April 19, 1965

11. Saundby, Perth, April 29, 1965

12. Belvoir Prince, Southwell, October 3, 1966

13. Croftess, Hexham, May 27, 1967