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Tall for a jockey at 6 feet 2½ inches, Chris Kinane was born on 18 December 1956 and hails from a great Irish racing family, many of whom have enjoyed successful careers in the saddle. Several of them, including Chris, rode the majority of their winners in Britain.
Tall for a jockey at 6 feet 2½ inches, Chris Kinane was born on 18 December 1956 and hails from a great Irish racing family, many of whom have enjoyed successful careers in the saddle. Several of them, including Chris, rode the majority of their winners in Britain.
Chris ventured across the Irish Sea and joined Josh Gifford’s Findon stable. He scored his first win on Hard Outlook in the Wheeler's Handicap Chase at Lingfield on 18 March, 1978. On December 18, he rode his first winner for his boss when Modesty Forbids won a handicap chase at Leicester. The following day he won on Gifford’s Rube’s Wicket over hurdles at Folkestone. His other winners for Gifford that season included chasers Southern Lad at Huntingdon in March and Toureen at Devon & Exeter in May.
Chris ventured across the Irish Sea and joined Josh Gifford’s Findon stable. He scored his first win on Hard Outlook in the Wheeler's Handicap Chase at Lingfield on 18 March, 1978. On December 18, he rode his first winner for his boss when Modesty Forbids won a handicap chase at Leicester. The following day he won on Gifford’s Rube’s Wicket over hurdles at Folkestone. His other winners for Gifford that season included chasers Southern Lad at Huntingdon in March and Toureen at Devon & Exeter in May.
His victories during the next season included two ‘cup’ chases on Towcester’s 1980 Easter Monday card, winning the Northampton Chronicle and Echo Cup on Ian Dudgeon’s Siege King, and the Alex Fetherstonhaugh Challenge Cup on Physicist for Josh Gifford.
His victories during the next season included two ‘cup’ chases on Towcester’s 1980 Easter Monday card, winning the Northampton Chronicle and Echo Cup on Ian Dudgeon’s Siege King, and the Alex Fetherstonhaugh Challenge Cup on Physicist for Josh Gifford.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1980/81 with 13 wins, nine of which were on the board by the end of October, courtesy of just two horses. The fine early start began with handicap hurdler Gin N’ Lime winning the Sir Reginald Leeds Challenge Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 7 for Charles Vernon Miller. They followed up over course and distance later that month. Then came selling hurdler Red Ambion for Albert Davison at Plumpton on September 2, at Fontwell eight days later and back at Plumpton twelve days after that. Gin N’ Lime obliged again at Worcester on September 13 and at Devon & Exeter a fortnight later. Red Ambion followed up at Kempton on October 18 and again at Plumpton ten days later. His first winner for his ‘home’ stable of Josh Gifford that season came on novice hurdler Southdown Spirit at Lingfield on November 3.
He enjoyed his most successful season in 1980/81 with 13 wins, nine of which were on the board by the end of October, courtesy of just two horses. The fine early start began with handicap hurdler Gin N’ Lime winning the Sir Reginald Leeds Challenge Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on August 7 for Charles Vernon Miller. They followed up over course and distance later that month. Then came selling hurdler Red Ambion for Albert Davison at Plumpton on September 2, at Fontwell eight days later and back at Plumpton twelve days after that. Gin N’ Lime obliged again at Worcester on September 13 and at Devon & Exeter a fortnight later. Red Ambion followed up at Kempton on October 18 and again at Plumpton ten days later. His first winner for his ‘home’ stable of Josh Gifford that season came on novice hurdler Southdown Spirit at Lingfield on November 3.
Chris won two more early season races on Gin N’ Lime at the start of the next season, landing novice chases at Bangor and Market Rasen in August 1982. He won on him twice more at the start the following year, landing the opening race of the 1982/83 season at Newton Abbot on July 31 and following up at Worcester on August 7. He ended the year by winning Whitelaw Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell on December 29 aboard Spinning Reel.
Chris won two more early season races on Gin N’ Lime at the start of the next season, landing novice chases at Bangor and Market Rasen in August 1982. He won on him twice more at the start the following year, landing the opening race of the 1982/83 season at Newton Abbot on July 31 and following up at Worcester on August 7. He ended the year by winning Whitelaw Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Fontwell on December 29 aboard Spinning Reel.
After retiring from the saddle, Chris remained very much involved with racing. In 2001, he became travelling head lad to Ian Williams successful Alvechurch stable.
After retiring from the saddle, Chris remained very much involved with racing. In 2001, he became travelling head lad to Ian Williams successful Alvechurch stable.
One April evening in 2005, Chris was standing in the paddock with Williams’ horse Not Amused before the mile-and-a half handicap at Wolverhampton. Meanwhile, another horse, Saameq, was becoming unruly and on his toes nearby. Just as Chris was about to leg-up jockey Jamie Spencer, Saameq lashed out, double-barrelling Chris. Saameq’s hind hooves caught him on the right-hand side of his head, just above the ear, smashing his skull and ricocheting his brain off the opposite side.
One April evening in 2005, Chris was standing in the paddock with Williams’ horse Not Amused before the mile-and-a half handicap at Wolverhampton. Meanwhile, another horse, Saameq, was becoming unruly and on his toes nearby. Just as Chris was about to leg-up jockey Jamie Spencer, Saameq lashed out, double-barrelling Chris. Saameq’s hind hooves caught him on the right-hand side of his head, just above the ear, smashing his skull and ricocheting his brain off the opposite side.
The quick thinking of the paramedics on site saved his life, and he was taken to Wolverhampton hospital where he was stabilized. Unable to deal with the injury as it was so severe, he was then moved to the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham.
The quick thinking of the paramedics on site saved his life, and he was taken to Wolverhampton hospital where he was stabilized. Unable to deal with the injury as it was so severe, he was then moved to the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham.
Chris spent just under a year in hospital, and it took 14 major operations to rebuild his skull. He had titanium plates inserted where much of his skull had once been, and part of the right side of his brain had to be removed.
Chris spent just under a year in hospital, and it took 14 major operations to rebuild his skull. He had titanium plates inserted where much of his skull had once been, and part of the right side of his brain had to be removed.
Following three to four months in the Moseley Hall Hospital neurological rehabilitation unit in Birmingham, Chris was allowed home. It took him a year to learn how to talk again and that was only possible with the assistance of two carers and a frame. The damage to his brain has left him suffering with severe seizures, epilepsy, mobility issues and poor short-term memory.
Following three to four months in the Moseley Hall Hospital neurological rehabilitation unit in Birmingham, Chris was allowed home. It took him a year to learn how to talk again and that was only possible with the assistance of two carers and a frame. The damage to his brain has left him suffering with severe seizures, epilepsy, mobility issues and poor short-term memory.
The Injured Jockeys Fund have provided a great deal of invaluable support to both Chris and his family. They contribute towards Chris’s two carers, which he needs to get out of bed, dress and wash himself. They also contribute towards his three physiotherapy sessions each week.
The Injured Jockeys Fund have provided a great deal of invaluable support to both Chris and his family. They contribute towards Chris’s two carers, which he needs to get out of bed, dress and wash himself. They also contribute towards his three physiotherapy sessions each week.
In October 2012, Chris walked in public for the first time, completing a circuit of the paddock at Fontwell Park to raise funds for the IJF.
In October 2012, Chris walked in public for the first time, completing a circuit of the paddock at Fontwell Park to raise funds for the IJF.
That tragic Wolverhampton accident had unfortunate consequences for Saameq’s owner and trainer. Under the Animals Act 1971, the horse’s owner is liable for the animal’s actions, including injuries caused by them.
That tragic Wolverhampton accident had unfortunate consequences for Saameq’s owner and trainer. Under the Animals Act 1971, the horse’s owner is liable for the animal’s actions, including injuries caused by them.
Legal action, leading to an out-of-court settlement, caused the bankruptcy of Saameq’s uninsured owner David Irvine, while trainer Ian Semple admitted that the pressure of legal action was a factor in handing in his training licence at the end of 2007.
Legal action, leading to an out-of-court settlement, caused the bankruptcy of Saameq’s uninsured owner David Irvine, while trainer Ian Semple admitted that the pressure of legal action was a factor in handing in his training licence at the end of 2007.
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