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Born in Limerick, Ireland, Cornelius (Connie) Kenneally came to England as a 15-year-old in 1955, following his elder brother Paddy and joining trainer Earl Jones at Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. Tragically, his race-riding career lasted only three months, for on just his sixth ride in public he broke his back in a fall at Chepstow.
Born in Limerick, Ireland, Cornelius (Connie) Kenneally came to England as a 15-year-old in 1955, following his elder brother Paddy and joining trainer Earl Jones at Guiting Power, Gloucestershire. Tragically, his race-riding career lasted only three months, for on just his sixth ride in public he broke his back in a fall at Chepstow.
He had his first ride on Zoroaster in the Welford Selling Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on January 7, 1956, finishing unplaced. It was a similar story on his second mount, Barrowby Court in division three of the Knowle Maiden Hurdle at Birmingham on January 16. He finished eleventh of twelve on his third ride, a Worcester handicap hurdle on March 5.
He had his first ride on Zoroaster in the Welford Selling Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on January 7, 1956, finishing unplaced. It was a similar story on his second mount, Barrowby Court in division three of the Knowle Maiden Hurdle at Birmingham on January 16. He finished eleventh of twelve on his third ride, a Worcester handicap hurdle on March 5.
He rode in two races at Chepstow on March 10, finishing unplaced on Fancy Rattle in a four-year-old hurdle, then half an hour later coming home fourth on his first ride over fences, aboard Florio in the Glamorgan Handicap Chase.
He rode in two races at Chepstow on March 10, finishing unplaced on Fancy Rattle in a four-year-old hurdle, then half an hour later coming home fourth on his first ride over fences, aboard Florio in the Glamorgan Handicap Chase.
He was reunited with Florio over the same course and distance for his next ride, on Tuesday, April 3, 1956, the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting. An hour and a half after Dick Francis had steered Crudwell to Welsh Grand National success, 16-year-old Connie cantered Florio to the start of the day’s last race, the Beginners’ Handicap Chase.
He was reunited with Florio over the same course and distance for his next ride, on Tuesday, April 3, 1956, the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting. An hour and a half after Dick Francis had steered Crudwell to Welsh Grand National success, 16-year-old Connie cantered Florio to the start of the day’s last race, the Beginners’ Handicap Chase.
The pair were going well and Connie was hopeful of gaining his first win, but Florio fell heavily at the last open ditch and his jockey was trampled on by the horses behind him.
The pair were going well and Connie was hopeful of gaining his first win, but Florio fell heavily at the last open ditch and his jockey was trampled on by the horses behind him.
He was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Cardiff, where an operation was carried out to insert plates in his broken back. He spent two years in the hospital, paralysed from the waist down and destined to spend the remainder of his life in a wheelchair.
He was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Cardiff, where an operation was carried out to insert plates in his broken back. He spent two years in the hospital, paralysed from the waist down and destined to spend the remainder of his life in a wheelchair.
Once out of hospital, he worked in a factory for over 20 years before suffering severe injuries in a car crash. He spent another year in hospital recovering and was forced to give up work.
Once out of hospital, he worked in a factory for over 20 years before suffering severe injuries in a car crash. He spent another year in hospital recovering and was forced to give up work.
Living with his wife Marion in Prestbury, near Cheltenham Racecourse, he kept himself busy by captaining the crib team at the Albion House club in Cheltenham’s Upper North Street. He still managed to attend race meetings at his local course and at Stratford.
Living with his wife Marion in Prestbury, near Cheltenham Racecourse, he kept himself busy by captaining the crib team at the Albion House club in Cheltenham’s Upper North Street. He still managed to attend race meetings at his local course and at Stratford.
It took a while before the Injured Jockeys Fund got to hear of him but once they did, they were swift to help. He attended the IJF’s holidays in Tenerife where he met other jockeys who had suffered career-ending injuries, along with those rendered infirm by old age. He enjoyed listening to their tales from the past.
It took a while before the Injured Jockeys Fund got to hear of him but once they did, they were swift to help. He attended the IJF’s holidays in Tenerife where he met other jockeys who had suffered career-ending injuries, along with those rendered infirm by old age. He enjoyed listening to their tales from the past.
Forty years to the day since breaking his back, he returned to Chepstow on Easter Monday 1996, having been sent complimentary tickets by Clerk of the Course, Roger Farrant, who had heard it was the fortieth anniversary of his accident. Farrant also invited him to present the winner’s trophy for the day’s feature race, the Welsh Champion Hurdle, and presented him with a bottle of champagne, making the day an occasion to remember.
Forty years to the day since breaking his back, he returned to Chepstow on Easter Monday 1996, having been sent complimentary tickets by Clerk of the Course, Roger Farrant, who had heard it was the fortieth anniversary of his accident. Farrant also invited him to present the winner’s trophy for the day’s feature race, the Welsh Champion Hurdle, and presented him with a bottle of champagne, making the day an occasion to remember.
Cornelius Kenneally was an irrepressible character who made light of the hand fate had dealt him. “I still enjoy life. You’ve just got to keep smiling,” he once told a local newspaper reporter.
Cornelius Kenneally was an irrepressible character who made light of the hand fate had dealt him. “I still enjoy life. You’ve just got to keep smiling,” he once told a local newspaper reporter.
He died on June 25, 2004, aged 64.
He died on June 25, 2004, aged 64.
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