Harry Hannon
Harry Hannon
Harry Hannon
1903-1980
1903-1980
Harry Hannon was born in Armagh on November 2, 1903, and achieved success on the Flat in Ireland before moving to England as a National Hunt jockey, riding eight winners.
Harry Hannon was born in Armagh on November 2, 1903, and achieved success on the Flat in Ireland before moving to England as a National Hunt jockey, riding eight winners.
He rode for the first time in Britain on February 10, 1927, when finishing third on Perhaps No in the Lydd Selling Handicap Chase at Folkestone. Perhaps No then provided Harry with his first win when landing the Ingatestone Selling Handicap Chase at Chelmsford on March 28. Seven days later he doubled his score when Playful took the Chatham Selling Hurdle at Folkestone by six lengths. Playful and Harry were beaten a short head at Aldershot next time out but then returned to winning ways in the Uckfield Selling Hurdle at Plumpton.
He rode for the first time in Britain on February 10, 1927, when finishing third on Perhaps No in the Lydd Selling Handicap Chase at Folkestone. Perhaps No then provided Harry with his first win when landing the Ingatestone Selling Handicap Chase at Chelmsford on March 28. Seven days later he doubled his score when Playful took the Chatham Selling Hurdle at Folkestone by six lengths. Playful and Harry were beaten a short head at Aldershot next time out but then returned to winning ways in the Uckfield Selling Hurdle at Plumpton.
Having won three races in 1926/27, Harry did likewise the following season, with three wins within a month. Perhaps No scored again, this time at Gatwick, in the Clayton Selling Handicap Chase on January 6; First Magic easily won the Eden Vale Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on January 19; and Theodust, owned and trained by George Poole, beat 13 rivals in the Horleyland Selling Hurdle at Gatwick on February 1. Poole also provided Harry with his sole victory the following season, when Eagle’s Realm won the Hawthorn Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on October 29, 1928.
Having won three races in 1926/27, Harry did likewise the following season, with three wins within a month. Perhaps No scored again, this time at Gatwick, in the Clayton Selling Handicap Chase on January 6; First Magic easily won the Eden Vale Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on January 19; and Theodust, owned and trained by George Poole, beat 13 rivals in the Horleyland Selling Hurdle at Gatwick on February 1. Poole also provided Harry with his sole victory the following season, when Eagle’s Realm won the Hawthorn Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Hawthorn Hill on October 29, 1928.
Harry only had about a dozen rides that season, and little was seen of him for the next few years. However, he had one more win at Chelmsford on April 29, 1935, when Young Sport, owned and trained by Jock Langlands, took the Billericay Selling Handicap Hurdle, beating Belha, ridden by future Royal trainer Peter Cazalet, by a neck.
Harry only had about a dozen rides that season, and little was seen of him for the next few years. However, he had one more win at Chelmsford on April 29, 1935, when Young Sport, owned and trained by Jock Langlands, took the Billericay Selling Handicap Hurdle, beating Belha, ridden by future Royal trainer Peter Cazalet, by a neck.
Shortly after the war, he began training at Lewes before moving on to Lambourn. Finally, he settled in the Beverley House stables at Collingbourne Ducis on Salisbury Plain, from where he sent out over 400 winners on the Flat and National Hunt before retiring in 1969.
Shortly after the war, he began training at Lewes before moving on to Lambourn. Finally, he settled in the Beverley House stables at Collingbourne Ducis on Salisbury Plain, from where he sent out over 400 winners on the Flat and National Hunt before retiring in 1969.
His son Richard, who had had a brief career as a National Hunt jockey in the early 1960s, took over the licence and would go on to be crowned champion trainer four times. He trained 4,193 winners in Britain and overseas during a 43-year career, including the Two Thousand Guineas three times and the One Thousand Guineas once. He retired at the end of 2013, handing over to his son, also named Richard, who had served as his assistant trainer.
His son Richard, who had had a brief career as a National Hunt jockey in the early 1960s, took over the licence and would go on to be crowned champion trainer four times. He trained 4,193 winners in Britain and overseas during a 43-year career, including the Two Thousand Guineas three times and the One Thousand Guineas once. He retired at the end of 2013, handing over to his son, also named Richard, who had served as his assistant trainer.
Harry Hannon died on his 77th birthday, November 2, 1980.
Harry Hannon died on his 77th birthday, November 2, 1980.
His British winners were, in chronological order:
His British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Perhaps No, Chelmsford, March 28, 1927
1. Perhaps No, Chelmsford, March 28, 1927
2. Playful, Folkestone, April 3, 1927
2. Playful, Folkestone, April 3, 1927
3. Playful, Plumpton, April 16, 1927
3. Playful, Plumpton, April 16, 1927
4. Perhaps No, Gatwick, January 6, 1928
4. Perhaps No, Gatwick, January 6, 1928
5. First Magic, Lingfield Park, January 19, 1928
5. First Magic, Lingfield Park, January 19, 1928
6. Theodust, Gatwick, February 1, 1928
6. Theodust, Gatwick, February 1, 1928
7. Eagle’s Realm, Hawthorn Hill, October 19, 1928
7. Eagle’s Realm, Hawthorn Hill, October 19, 1928
8. Young Sport, Chelmsford, April 29, 1935
8. Young Sport, Chelmsford, April 29, 1935