Eugene Heaney, known as Gene, rode six winners straight after World War Two, followed by a seventh five years later. His first win came at Catterick Bridge on November 30, 1945, when Lion Hunter, owned and trained by Harry Marshall at Bedale, in Yorkshire, landed the Askrigg Selling Handicap Hurdle, winning by eight lengths despite the rider putting up 3lb overweight. Lion Hunter was in good form, having triumphed at Wetherby just seven days earlier when ridden by Jack Lynn. It was Lynn’s last win before his tragic death in a fall at Southwell the following month.
Gene doubled his score when Byepass, also trained by Harry Marshall, beat three rivals to take the Brompton Novices’ Chase at Catterick on December 21. The partnership was again successful in the Plompton Handicap Chase at Wetherby on February 1, 1946.
At Carlisle on Easter Monday, Gene and Byepass finished third in the Southwaite Handicap Chase at Carlisle. Later that afternoon Gene won the Moorhouse Novices’ Chase on Greenshaw, owned by the well-known racing administrator Brigadier Sir Loftus Bates, and again trained by Harry Marshall.
His next success came at Hexham on October 12, 1946, when Final Folly, owned and trained by Ted Gifford, won the Dukesfield Handicap Chase, beating Knight Of The Deep, the mount of Dick Curran, by a length, despite carrying 5lb overweight, suggesting that Gene fought a constant battle with the scales during his career. His only other win that season came at the back end, at Wetherby on May 3, 1947, aboard another Ted Gifford-trained inmate, the useful seven-year-old Preoccupation, who beat 21 rivals to take the Wharfe Novices’ Chase by five lengths, the only occasion on which rode the horse. That was his last win for almost five years.
Despite enduring a long losing streak, Gene did have a ride over the Aintree fences when partnering Praskeen in the Topham Trophy on March 22, 1950. However, in a race in which only three of the 16-strong field finished, Praskeen was among the fallers.
Gene had one final victory when Sacombe Knight, trained by former jump jockey Avril Vasey, won the De Aston Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, April 14, 1952, beating Mickey Lynn’s mount Brenalad by three lengths. He held a licence for one more season but had no further winners.
Gene Heaney’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Lion Hunter, Catterick Bridge, November 30, 1945
2. Byepass, Catterick Bridge, December 21, 1945
3. Byepass, Wetherby, February 1, 1946
4. Greenshaw, Carlisle, April 22, 1946
5. Final Folly, Hexham, October 12, 1946
6. Preoccupation, Wetherby, Mat 3, 1947
7. Sacombe Knight, Market Rasen, April 14, 1952