Mark Hely-Hutchinson
Amateur rider Mark Hely-Hutchinson has long been used to living with the distinction of being the only man to have ridden Arkle in a race and not won on him.
Amateur rider Mark Hely-Hutchinson has long been used to living with the distinction of being the only man to have ridden Arkle in a race and not won on him.
The Hon. Mark Hely-Hutchinson was born on May 19, 1934, the second son of the 7th Lord Donoughmore. He was educated at Eton and graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and also a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.).
The Hon. Mark Hely-Hutchinson was born on May 19, 1934, the second son of the 7th Lord Donoughmore. He was educated at Eton and graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and also a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.).
He took out a licence to ride as an amateur in 1958 and rode his first winner on Olympia, trained by Tom Dreaper, in the T. Levins-Moore Memorial Hunters’ Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. Olympia was owned by his father, a major owner in the Dreaper yard.
He took out a licence to ride as an amateur in 1958 and rode his first winner on Olympia, trained by Tom Dreaper, in the T. Levins-Moore Memorial Hunters’ Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, March 30, 1959. Olympia was owned by his father, a major owner in the Dreaper yard.
Later that year, Mark rode Olympia to three successive victories in the Park Chase at Clonmel, the Cullen Handicap Chase at Mullingar, and the Brownstown Hurdle at Navan. They comprised three of the six races Mark won during that calendar year. The following spring, Olympia won the Irish Grand National in the hands of Tos Taaffe.
Later that year, Mark rode Olympia to three successive victories in the Park Chase at Clonmel, the Cullen Handicap Chase at Mullingar, and the Brownstown Hurdle at Navan. They comprised three of the six races Mark won during that calendar year. The following spring, Olympia won the Irish Grand National in the hands of Tos Taaffe.
Reunited, Mark rode Olympia to win a Limerick handicap chase in October 1960 and, the following month, guided him to a 15-length success in the Cheltenham Handicap Chase on his first ride in England. In February 1961 Mark and Olympia won the Webster Cup Chase at Navan.
Reunited, Mark rode Olympia to win a Limerick handicap chase in October 1960 and, the following month, guided him to a 15-length success in the Cheltenham Handicap Chase on his first ride in England. In February 1961 Mark and Olympia won the Webster Cup Chase at Navan.
He had two rides at the 1961 Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting, finishing fifth on Double Crest in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, won by Nicolaus Silver; then fifth again on Olympia in the Gold Cup behind Saffron Tartan.
He had two rides at the 1961 Cheltenham National Hunt Meeting, finishing fifth on Double Crest in the Kim Muir Challenge Cup, won by Nicolaus Silver; then fifth again on Olympia in the Gold Cup behind Saffron Tartan.
Returning to Ireland, Mark and Olympia won the Dunshaughlin Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, then finished second, beaten 1½ lengths, in the Punchestown Handicap Chase.
Returning to Ireland, Mark and Olympia won the Dunshaughlin Chase at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday, then finished second, beaten 1½ lengths, in the Punchestown Handicap Chase.
That was an eventful year for Mark, as he gained a further graduation from Magdalen College with a Master of Arts (M.A.) and attained the rank of Lieutenant in the Irish Guards.
That was an eventful year for Mark, as he gained a further graduation from Magdalen College with a Master of Arts (M.A.) and attained the rank of Lieutenant in the Irish Guards.
Mark described himself as “very much an amateur’s amateur” who rode for pleasure, he also enjoyed shooting and music. He fitted in his race-riding with his day job with Guinness in Dublin.
Mark described himself as “very much an amateur’s amateur” who rode for pleasure, he also enjoyed shooting and music. He fitted in his race-riding with his day job with Guinness in Dublin.
On December 9, 1961, Mark rode Tom Dreaper’s four-year-old gelding Arkle, who was making his first racecourse appearance in a bumper, the Lough Ennel Plate at Mullingar. On a course resembling a ploughed field, Arkle galloped through the Mullingar mud to finish a respectable third of 17, nine lengths behind the winner.
On December 9, 1961, Mark rode Tom Dreaper’s four-year-old gelding Arkle, who was making his first racecourse appearance in a bumper, the Lough Ennel Plate at Mullingar. On a course resembling a ploughed field, Arkle galloped through the Mullingar mud to finish a respectable third of 17, nine lengths behind the winner.
Dreaper was well satisfied with Arkle’s debut performance and ran him again two and a half weeks later in another bumper, the Greystones Flat Race at Leopardstown on St Stephens Day (Boxing Day in Britain). Again, Mark had the mount and Arkle again ran encouragingly, finishing fourth of the ten runners behind second favourite Artist’s Treasure, favourite Glyndebourne, and the grey mare Flying Wild, who would later play a major role in one of Arkle’s greatest races.
Dreaper was well satisfied with Arkle’s debut performance and ran him again two and a half weeks later in another bumper, the Greystones Flat Race at Leopardstown on St Stephens Day (Boxing Day in Britain). Again, Mark had the mount and Arkle again ran encouragingly, finishing fourth of the ten runners behind second favourite Artist’s Treasure, favourite Glyndebourne, and the grey mare Flying Wild, who would later play a major role in one of Arkle’s greatest races.
With those two bumpers successfully negotiated, Arkle graduated to hurdles and that marked the end of Mark’s association with the world’s greatest steeplechaser.
With those two bumpers successfully negotiated, Arkle graduated to hurdles and that marked the end of Mark’s association with the world’s greatest steeplechaser.
He married Rosita Margaret Woods in May 1962. They would go on to have two sons and a daughter.
He married Rosita Margaret Woods in May 1962. They would go on to have two sons and a daughter.
In 1968 he graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science. He became managing director of Arthur Guinness in Ireland from 1975 to 1982.
In 1968 he graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Master of Science. He became managing director of Arthur Guinness in Ireland from 1975 to 1982.
He became chief executive of the Bank of Ireland in 1983, a post he held for seven years, but never returned to mainstream management. Instead, he became a crusader for inner-city jobs, chairing the Dublin Inner City Partnership and helping thousands in socially-deprived areas to find employment.
He became chief executive of the Bank of Ireland in 1983, a post he held for seven years, but never returned to mainstream management. Instead, he became a crusader for inner-city jobs, chairing the Dublin Inner City Partnership and helping thousands in socially-deprived areas to find employment.
Living in Malahide, County Dublin, He continued to play a major role in non-commercial activities, indulging his interest in music by helping direct the Dublin Chamber Orchestra and being part of the organisation of international music competitions. He also chaired the Bank of Ireland’s important Millennium Scholars Programme.
Living in Malahide, County Dublin, He continued to play a major role in non-commercial activities, indulging his interest in music by helping direct the Dublin Chamber Orchestra and being part of the organisation of international music competitions. He also chaired the Bank of Ireland’s important Millennium Scholars Programme.
