Richard Hennessy
Richard Hennessy
Richard Hennessy
Richard Montague Hennessy began his racing career in his native Ireland, riding his first winner on Warrenscourt Lad in the Southern Handicap Chase at Limerick Junction (known today as Tipperary) on June 29, 1955.
Richard Montague Hennessy began his racing career in his native Ireland, riding his first winner on Warrenscourt Lad in the Southern Handicap Chase at Limerick Junction (known today as Tipperary) on June 29, 1955.
He came close to landing Limerick’s Dunraven Perpetual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase aboard Cherry Valley on Boxing Day 1955, going down by a length and a quarter to Fahrenheit, the mount of Frank Gomez.
He came close to landing Limerick’s Dunraven Perpetual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase aboard Cherry Valley on Boxing Day 1955, going down by a length and a quarter to Fahrenheit, the mount of Frank Gomez.
In 1957 he rode won the Crobally Novice Chase at Waterford & Tramore on L’Orencore on June 11, followed eight days later by the Lee Handicap Hurdle at Mallow (known today as Cork) on Cuban Tan, both for trainer Phonsie O’Brien.
In 1957 he rode won the Crobally Novice Chase at Waterford & Tramore on L’Orencore on June 11, followed eight days later by the Lee Handicap Hurdle at Mallow (known today as Cork) on Cuban Tan, both for trainer Phonsie O’Brien.
Soon after, he crossed the Irish Sea and joined the stable of former champion National Hunt jockey Bryan Marshall, holding a jump jockey’s licence for three seasons in the early 1960s.
Soon after, he crossed the Irish Sea and joined the stable of former champion National Hunt jockey Bryan Marshall, holding a jump jockey’s licence for three seasons in the early 1960s.
He rode two winners from limited opportunities, both of them on Marshall’s juvenile hurdler Off Beat in the early part of the 1961/62 season. The first of those wins came on Off Beat’s hurdling debut in the St David’s Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on September 6, 1961.
He rode two winners from limited opportunities, both of them on Marshall’s juvenile hurdler Off Beat in the early part of the 1961/62 season. The first of those wins came on Off Beat’s hurdling debut in the St David’s Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on September 6, 1961.
He finished third on Off Beat next time out at Nottingham on October 22, then resumed winning ways in the Studley Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Birmingham on November 13. Unfortunately, they fell when leading two from home on their next start at Kempton Park nine days later. Whether Hennessy was injured in the fall is a matter of speculation, but it was March 1962 before Off Beat next appeared on a racecourse and Val Haslem was the man in the saddle, guiding the horse to victory at Doncaster.
He finished third on Off Beat next time out at Nottingham on October 22, then resumed winning ways in the Studley Three-Year-Old Selling Hurdle at Birmingham on November 13. Unfortunately, they fell when leading two from home on their next start at Kempton Park nine days later. Whether Hennessy was injured in the fall is a matter of speculation, but it was March 1962 before Off Beat next appeared on a racecourse and Val Haslem was the man in the saddle, guiding the horse to victory at Doncaster.
Aside from those four rides on Off Beat, Hennessy had only two other mounts during the whole of that season, so the possibility exists that he suffered some type of injury in the Kempton fall. He held a licence for the 1962/63 season but enjoyed no further success.
Aside from those four rides on Off Beat, Hennessy had only two other mounts during the whole of that season, so the possibility exists that he suffered some type of injury in the Kempton fall. He held a licence for the 1962/63 season but enjoyed no further success.
Richard Hennessy’s winners were:
Richard Hennessy’s winners were:
1. Warrenscourt Lad, Limerick Junction, June 28, 1955
1. Warrenscourt Lad, Limerick Junction, June 28, 1955
2. L’Orencore, Waterford & Tramore, June 11, 1957
2. L’Orencore, Waterford & Tramore, June 11, 1957
3. Cuban Tan, Mallow, June 19, 1957
3. Cuban Tan, Mallow, June 19, 1957
4. Off Beat, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1961
4. Off Beat, Devon & Exeter, September 6, 1961
5. Off Beat, Birmingham, November 13, 1961
5. Off Beat, Birmingham, November 13, 1961
