Willie Irvine
William Robert Irvine was born in Belfast on October 7, 1949. He was apprenticed initially to Monty Smyth from 1965 to 1967 and then to Ken Cundell.
William Robert Irvine was born in Belfast on October 7, 1949. He was apprenticed initially to Monty Smyth from 1965 to 1967 and then to Ken Cundell.
Willie rode his first winner when aged 17 on the Cundell-trained Royal David in a seven-furlong seller at Bath on September 2, 1967, his only winner that season from just six rides. His rode one winner from nine rides the following season, Learned Lawyer in a Leicester apprentices’ race.
Willie rode his first winner when aged 17 on the Cundell-trained Royal David in a seven-furlong seller at Bath on September 2, 1967, his only winner that season from just six rides. His rode one winner from nine rides the following season, Learned Lawyer in a Leicester apprentices’ race.
In 1969 he scored three times from 31 rides, beginning with Lateen in a seven-furlong maiden at Bath. Next came March Bede in another Bath maiden, this one trained by Doug Marks. He then rode what proved to be his final winner at Brighton on September 4, landing the Sidney Thompson Memorial Handicap on Ken Cundell’s four-year-old Garnered, beating Geoff Lewis’ mount High Falutin by a neck.
In 1969 he scored three times from 31 rides, beginning with Lateen in a seven-furlong maiden at Bath. Next came March Bede in another Bath maiden, this one trained by Doug Marks. He then rode what proved to be his final winner at Brighton on September 4, landing the Sidney Thompson Memorial Handicap on Ken Cundell’s four-year-old Garnered, beating Geoff Lewis’ mount High Falutin by a neck.
Having ridden three winners within a month, it is perhaps surprising that Willie Irvine did not go on to further success. As it is, his relatively short-lived career as a jockey is little more than a footnote in racing’s history.
Having ridden three winners within a month, it is perhaps surprising that Willie Irvine did not go on to further success. As it is, his relatively short-lived career as a jockey is little more than a footnote in racing’s history.
Willie Irvine’s winners were, in chronological order:
Willie Irvine’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Royal David, Bath, September 2, 1967
1. Royal David, Bath, September 2, 1967
2. Learned Lawyer, Leicester, September 23, 1968
2. Learned Lawyer, Leicester, September 23, 1968
3. Lateen, Bath, August 7, 1969
3. Lateen, Bath, August 7, 1969
4. March Bede, Bath, August 30, 1969
4. March Bede, Bath, August 30, 1969
5. Garnered, Brighton, September 4, 1969
5. Garnered, Brighton, September 4, 1969