Tony Gorman
Anthony Francis Gorman was born in Ireland on March 14, 1960. He served his apprenticeship with Con Collins from 1975 to 1980 and rode his first winner on Maspalomas in a one-mile apprentice race at Phoenix Park on June 18, 1975.
Anthony Francis Gorman was born in Ireland on March 14, 1960. He served his apprenticeship with Con Collins from 1975 to 1980 and rode his first winner on Maspalomas in a one-mile apprentice race at Phoenix Park on June 18, 1975.
He scored a big race victory while still a 7lb claimer on the Con Collins-trained Cill Dara in the 1976 Naas November Handicap. However, the best horse he rode on the Flat was Sandy Creek, also trained by Collins, who Tony rode on his racecourse debut, finishing fifth in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in August 1978. Sandy Creek went on to win that year’s William Hill Futurity (later called the Racing Post Trophy), ridden by Christy Roche.
He scored a big race victory while still a 7lb claimer on the Con Collins-trained Cill Dara in the 1976 Naas November Handicap. However, the best horse he rode on the Flat was Sandy Creek, also trained by Collins, who Tony rode on his racecourse debut, finishing fifth in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh in August 1978. Sandy Creek went on to win that year’s William Hill Futurity (later called the Racing Post Trophy), ridden by Christy Roche.
Tony rode 20 winners in 1978 before turning his attentions to jumping. He was successful in that sphere, riding winners at the Punchestown Festival, Leopardstown’s big Christmas meeting and Fairyhouse’s Easter fixture. He came within a head of another big race triumph when finishing second on Corrib Chieftain in the 1980 Sweeps Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Tony rode 20 winners in 1978 before turning his attentions to jumping. He was successful in that sphere, riding winners at the Punchestown Festival, Leopardstown’s big Christmas meeting and Fairyhouse’s Easter fixture. He came within a head of another big race triumph when finishing second on Corrib Chieftain in the 1980 Sweeps Hurdle at Leopardstown.
He came to England during the 1984/85 season and spent five years plying his trade here, based in Compton and riding mainly for Peter Cundell and Ludlow trainer John Needham. Among his final victories were back-to-back wins on Captain Guy Prest’s Spartan Raft, who scored at Huntingdon on August Bank Holiday Monday 1988 and followed up in the William Teachers Highland Cream Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on September 8.
He came to England during the 1984/85 season and spent five years plying his trade here, based in Compton and riding mainly for Peter Cundell and Ludlow trainer John Needham. Among his final victories were back-to-back wins on Captain Guy Prest’s Spartan Raft, who scored at Huntingdon on August Bank Holiday Monday 1988 and followed up in the William Teachers Highland Cream Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on September 8.
Tony rode a combined total of 96 winners in Ireland and England. Having hung up his saddle, he joined Richard Hannon Racing in 1990 and soon graduated to the position of senior head lad at Herridge. There he is responsible for the day-to-day running of the yard and on occasions travels horses domestically and overseas. He is also in charge of feeding, bedding, staff training and organising the morning’s work lists.
Tony rode a combined total of 96 winners in Ireland and England. Having hung up his saddle, he joined Richard Hannon Racing in 1990 and soon graduated to the position of senior head lad at Herridge. There he is responsible for the day-to-day running of the yard and on occasions travels horses domestically and overseas. He is also in charge of feeding, bedding, staff training and organising the morning’s work lists.
Tony has also had a significant influence on a series of apprentice jockeys coming through the ranks, including Ryan Moore, and has watched with pride as a number of ambitious young riders have gone on to forge successful careers.
Tony has also had a significant influence on a series of apprentice jockeys coming through the ranks, including Ryan Moore, and has watched with pride as a number of ambitious young riders have gone on to forge successful careers.
His impressively long spell as head lad at Herridge was recognised when he won the Leadership Award at the Godolphin Stable Staff Awards in February 2014.
His impressively long spell as head lad at Herridge was recognised when he won the Leadership Award at the Godolphin Stable Staff Awards in February 2014.
He lists his ‘alternative career’ choice as “Personal taster for Arthur Guinness!”
He lists his ‘alternative career’ choice as “Personal taster for Arthur Guinness!”