John Hurley
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
The picture above is of the Charlton Park Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on 15 November 1956.
The picture above is of the Charlton Park Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on 15 November 1956.
The race featured three well-known performers: Grand National hero E.S.B., Gold Cup winner Linwell and Aintree stalwart Tiberetta, while Dick Francis, then in his final season riding before picking up the author’s pen that would lead to worldwide fame and fortune, rode Hall Weir.
The race featured three well-known performers: Grand National hero E.S.B., Gold Cup winner Linwell and Aintree stalwart Tiberetta, while Dick Francis, then in his final season riding before picking up the author’s pen that would lead to worldwide fame and fortune, rode Hall Weir.
Linwell went on to win by four lengths from Hall Weir, with E.S.B. third and Tiberetta fourth.
Linwell went on to win by four lengths from Hall Weir, with E.S.B. third and Tiberetta fourth.
Leading the six-runner field at the time the photo was taken are the two other runners, both 33-1 outsiders, Catchems Corner, the mount of John Hurley, who holds a narrow advantage over Billy Budd, ridden by Harry Lewis. Those two outsiders gradually faded out of contention, with Catchems Corner trailing home last of the five finishers while Billy Budd was pulled up.
Leading the six-runner field at the time the photo was taken are the two other runners, both 33-1 outsiders, Catchems Corner, the mount of John Hurley, who holds a narrow advantage over Billy Budd, ridden by Harry Lewis. Those two outsiders gradually faded out of contention, with Catchems Corner trailing home last of the five finishers while Billy Budd was pulled up.
Catchems Corner’s jockey, John Hurley, had begun his racing career in his home country of Ireland, riding in a bumper (an amateur riders’ Flat race) at the age of ten.
Catchems Corner’s jockey, John Hurley, had begun his racing career in his home country of Ireland, riding in a bumper (an amateur riders’ Flat race) at the age of ten.
He journeyed to England aged 17 and joined Epsom trainer Ron Smyth but subsequently moved to former jump jockey Maurice Moroney, who trained at Kenilworth, in Warwickshire. He rode his first winner on the Moroney-trained Aprilcourt at Warwick on 22 November 1952.
He journeyed to England aged 17 and joined Epsom trainer Ron Smyth but subsequently moved to former jump jockey Maurice Moroney, who trained at Kenilworth, in Warwickshire. He rode his first winner on the Moroney-trained Aprilcourt at Warwick on 22 November 1952.
He then linked up with Warwickshire permit holder L W Fletcher, of Balsall Common, near Knowle, and effectively trained the horses while Fletcher held the licence. Fletcher was to provide him with all his 11 winners between 1954 and 1958. They included the well-named Hooray, who gave Hurley the second, third and fourth winners of his career, and the aforementioned Catchems Corner, on which he won three races and was placed many times.
He then linked up with Warwickshire permit holder L W Fletcher, of Balsall Common, near Knowle, and effectively trained the horses while Fletcher held the licence. Fletcher was to provide him with all his 11 winners between 1954 and 1958. They included the well-named Hooray, who gave Hurley the second, third and fourth winners of his career, and the aforementioned Catchems Corner, on which he won three races and was placed many times.
Hurley’s best seasons were in 1955/56 and 1956/57 with four winners in each. They included doubles on Catchems Corner and Little Pongo at Hereford on 21 May, 1956, and on Catchems Corner and Concepcion at Wincanton on 15 September 1956.
Hurley’s best seasons were in 1955/56 and 1956/57 with four winners in each. They included doubles on Catchems Corner and Little Pongo at Hereford on 21 May, 1956, and on Catchems Corner and Concepcion at Wincanton on 15 September 1956.
In 1958 he teamed up with the Harry Cousins-trained Keadeen, winning chases at Doncaster and over the old Mildmay fences at Liverpool.
In 1958 he teamed up with the Harry Cousins-trained Keadeen, winning chases at Doncaster and over the old Mildmay fences at Liverpool.
There was a strange incident at the last fence of the Liverpool race when amateur rider Peter Fox, riding Provident, slipped from his mount jumping the last fence and ended up astride Keadeen. Hurley managed to grab the seat of Fox’s breeches and lever him back into his own saddle.
There was a strange incident at the last fence of the Liverpool race when amateur rider Peter Fox, riding Provident, slipped from his mount jumping the last fence and ended up astride Keadeen. Hurley managed to grab the seat of Fox’s breeches and lever him back into his own saddle.
That Liverpool victory, on 4 December 1958, proved to be his penultimate one. His final winner came at Wincanton on Easter Monday 1959 aboard the chaser Basalt Knight, owned and trained by Toby Cobden at Martock, in Somerset.
That Liverpool victory, on 4 December 1958, proved to be his penultimate one. His final winner came at Wincanton on Easter Monday 1959 aboard the chaser Basalt Knight, owned and trained by Toby Cobden at Martock, in Somerset.
Hurley began the 1959/60 campaign riding two of Fletcher’s horses in August, Rascal’s Son at Newton Abbot and Fleetau at Devon & Exeter, but otherwise had few rides. His last was on Joe’s Girl, a faller at Woore on November 12, 1959.
Hurley began the 1959/60 campaign riding two of Fletcher’s horses in August, Rascal’s Son at Newton Abbot and Fleetau at Devon & Exeter, but otherwise had few rides. His last was on Joe’s Girl, a faller at Woore on November 12, 1959.
The following month he suffered a fractured forearm and head injuries when his car collided with another car on the Evesham to Alcester road. The arm injury precluded him from riding or schooling horses, and epileptic fits, which he suffered as a result of the accident, put paid to any possibility of a life in the racing world. He eventually found work as a £9 a week farm labourer.
The following month he suffered a fractured forearm and head injuries when his car collided with another car on the Evesham to Alcester road. The arm injury precluded him from riding or schooling horses, and epileptic fits, which he suffered as a result of the accident, put paid to any possibility of a life in the racing world. He eventually found work as a £9 a week farm labourer.
In April 1963 John Joseph Hurley, aged 34, of Station Road, Dorridge, near Birmingham, was awarded £4,500 damages at Warwick Assizes for injuries received in the road accident, which ended his riding career.
In April 1963 John Joseph Hurley, aged 34, of Station Road, Dorridge, near Birmingham, was awarded £4,500 damages at Warwick Assizes for injuries received in the road accident, which ended his riding career.
The following year he married Miss Margaret Court and subsequently rented a farm, Meadow Hill Farm, at Kings Norton, on the outer fringes of Birmingham, where they bred Charolais cattle and sold them at Banbury market. It turned out to be a successful venture and the Hurleys made a good living from cattle dealing.
The following year he married Miss Margaret Court and subsequently rented a farm, Meadow Hill Farm, at Kings Norton, on the outer fringes of Birmingham, where they bred Charolais cattle and sold them at Banbury market. It turned out to be a successful venture and the Hurleys made a good living from cattle dealing.
In the 1970s John Hurley bought a horse for £150, schooled him over fences and ran him in local point-to-points. That fired his enthusiasm and he took out a permit to train. He saddled Prince Willem to win a Huntingdon selling hurdle at 33-1 in the hands of jockey Jeff Barlow on 16 April, 1977.
In the 1970s John Hurley bought a horse for £150, schooled him over fences and ran him in local point-to-points. That fired his enthusiasm and he took out a permit to train. He saddled Prince Willem to win a Huntingdon selling hurdle at 33-1 in the hands of jockey Jeff Barlow on 16 April, 1977.
He then took out a full trainer’s licence in 1978 and got off to a good start when Nemon won a
He then took out a full trainer’s licence in 1978 and got off to a good start when Nemon won a
novices’ hurdle at Stratford on 2 September of that year. Nemon also won his next start but was subsequently disqualified for technical reasons.
novices’ hurdle at Stratford on 2 September of that year. Nemon also won his next start but was subsequently disqualified for technical reasons.
Despite the promising beginning, John Hurley relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of the following season.
Despite the promising beginning, John Hurley relinquished his trainer’s licence at the end of the following season.
He rode a total of 16 winners during his career. In chronological order they were:
He rode a total of 16 winners during his career. In chronological order they were:
1. Aprilcourt, Warwick, 22 November 1952
1. Aprilcourt, Warwick, 22 November 1952
2. Hooray, Stratford, 29 May 1954
2. Hooray, Stratford, 29 May 1954
3. Hooray, Newton Abbot, 9 April 1955
3. Hooray, Newton Abbot, 9 April 1955
4. Hooray, Liverpool, 3 November 1955
4. Hooray, Liverpool, 3 November 1955
5. Catchems Corner, Hereford, 21 May 1956
5. Catchems Corner, Hereford, 21 May 1956
6. Little Pongo, Hereford, 21 May 1956
6. Little Pongo, Hereford, 21 May 1956
7. Little Pongo, Stratford, 26 May 1956
7. Little Pongo, Stratford, 26 May 1956
8. Catchems Corner, Buckfastleigh, 1 September 1956
8. Catchems Corner, Buckfastleigh, 1 September 1956
9. Catchems Corner, Wincanton, 15 September 1956
9. Catchems Corner, Wincanton, 15 September 1956
10. Concepcion, Wincanton, 15 September 1956
10. Concepcion, Wincanton, 15 September 1956
11. Concepcion, Uttoxeter, 23 March 1957
11. Concepcion, Uttoxeter, 23 March 1957
12. Sage, Buckfastleigh, 31 August 1957
12. Sage, Buckfastleigh, 31 August 1957
13. Bwana, Buckfastleigh, 26 May 1958
13. Bwana, Buckfastleigh, 26 May 1958
14. Keadeen, Doncaster, 21 November 1958
14. Keadeen, Doncaster, 21 November 1958
15. Keadeen, Liverpool, 4 December 1958
15. Keadeen, Liverpool, 4 December 1958
16. Basalt Knight, Wincanton, 30 March 1959.
16. Basalt Knight, Wincanton, 30 March 1959.