Jayo Kinane
Jayo Kinane
Jayo Kinane
James Kevin Kinane, always known as ‘Jayo’, was born on 2 June 1960, the son of top Irish jump jockey Tommy Kinane. He had a few seasons riding in Britain in the 1980s and also rode in the Grand National.
James Kevin Kinane, always known as ‘Jayo’, was born on 2 June 1960, the son of top Irish jump jockey Tommy Kinane. He had a few seasons riding in Britain in the 1980s and also rode in the Grand National.
Jayo Kinane was a successful jockey in Ireland prior to coming to Britain. He served a three-year apprenticeship with his father and rode his first winner at Mallow (now known as Cork) on Smoke Charger on Easter Monday, 16 April 1979. He won on him again at Roscommon in May and then achieved a career highlight when riding Smoke Charger to victory in the Connaught National, also at Roscommon. Smoke Charger proved a good friend to Jayo, for the following season they won the Tickell Opportunity Handicap Chase at the 1980 Punchestown festival
Jayo Kinane was a successful jockey in Ireland prior to coming to Britain. He served a three-year apprenticeship with his father and rode his first winner at Mallow (now known as Cork) on Smoke Charger on Easter Monday, 16 April 1979. He won on him again at Roscommon in May and then achieved a career highlight when riding Smoke Charger to victory in the Connaught National, also at Roscommon. Smoke Charger proved a good friend to Jayo, for the following season they won the Tickell Opportunity Handicap Chase at the 1980 Punchestown festival
Jayo achieved another big race victory on Master Niall – which he rated the best he’d ridden – in the Sean Graham Hurdle at Leopardstown’s big Christmas meeting on St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day) 1981.
Jayo achieved another big race victory on Master Niall – which he rated the best he’d ridden – in the Sean Graham Hurdle at Leopardstown’s big Christmas meeting on St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day) 1981.
After three years with his father, Jayo moved to the town of Tullamore and joined trainer Guy Williams, brother-in-law of Grand National-winning rider Eddie Harty. But the move was a mistake, as Williams provided him with few winning opportunities. Most of Jayo’s winners came from outside stables.
After three years with his father, Jayo moved to the town of Tullamore and joined trainer Guy Williams, brother-in-law of Grand National-winning rider Eddie Harty. But the move was a mistake, as Williams provided him with few winning opportunities. Most of Jayo’s winners came from outside stables.
In 1984 Jayo was introduced by Timmy Hyde to Greystoke, Penrith trainer Gordon Richards. He came to Britain and joined Richards’ yard later that year. He got off to a flying start with a double at Southwell on 1 November 1984 on novice chaser Welfare and handicap chaser Virginia Road, both of them trained by Richards.
In 1984 Jayo was introduced by Timmy Hyde to Greystoke, Penrith trainer Gordon Richards. He came to Britain and joined Richards’ yard later that year. He got off to a flying start with a double at Southwell on 1 November 1984 on novice chaser Welfare and handicap chaser Virginia Road, both of them trained by Richards.
At the end of that season he returned to Ireland and rode at the summer meetings. However, he suffered a serious injury in a fall from Star Of Coole in the Rank Cup Chase at Killarney. With four fences left to jump, there were two horses on his outer. The one furthest from him moved in and forced the other one across Jayo’s mount. They were knocked through the wing and a steel bar went through Jayo’s leg just below the knee. He was still in Tralee Hospital when Gordon Richards rang to say he had a string of rides for him early the next season.
At the end of that season he returned to Ireland and rode at the summer meetings. However, he suffered a serious injury in a fall from Star Of Coole in the Rank Cup Chase at Killarney. With four fences left to jump, there were two horses on his outer. The one furthest from him moved in and forced the other one across Jayo’s mount. They were knocked through the wing and a steel bar went through Jayo’s leg just below the knee. He was still in Tralee Hospital when Gordon Richards rang to say he had a string of rides for him early the next season.
With Neale Doughty having temporarily parted company with Richards, Jayo was in with a chance of being made the stable jockey, but his injury prevented him from taking the post. Believing he would never get that chance again, Jayo felt he could not go back to Greystoke. He later realised that he had made a serious error of judgement and that Richards would have kept the door open for him until he was fit enough to resume riding.
With Neale Doughty having temporarily parted company with Richards, Jayo was in with a chance of being made the stable jockey, but his injury prevented him from taking the post. Believing he would never get that chance again, Jayo felt he could not go back to Greystoke. He later realised that he had made a serious error of judgement and that Richards would have kept the door open for him until he was fit enough to resume riding.
Jayo sued Killarney Racecourse for negligence but, because he had cut short his convalescence, he received only £12,000 in damages.
Jayo sued Killarney Racecourse for negligence but, because he had cut short his convalescence, he received only £12,000 in damages.
He returned to Britain and rode for Dick Allen and Ken Oliver, both of whom trained in the Scottish Borders, and found himself back in the winner’s enclosure on Allen’s handicap hurdler Sonny One Shine at Kelso on December 20, 1985. He won on him again at Ayr next time out on January 2, 1986. They were two of just four winners from 68 mounts in his first season in Britain.
He returned to Britain and rode for Dick Allen and Ken Oliver, both of whom trained in the Scottish Borders, and found himself back in the winner’s enclosure on Allen’s handicap hurdler Sonny One Shine at Kelso on December 20, 1985. He won on him again at Ayr next time out on January 2, 1986. They were two of just four winners from 68 mounts in his first season in Britain.
The following season, 1986/87, he enjoyed a good partnership with Ken Oliver’s chaser Blackhawk Star, winning four races in a row: twice at Hexham in October, followed by the Lucius Challenge Cup at Carlisle on November 10 and then the four-mile H.L.H. Timber Handicap Chase at Haydock on November 20, 1986.
The following season, 1986/87, he enjoyed a good partnership with Ken Oliver’s chaser Blackhawk Star, winning four races in a row: twice at Hexham in October, followed by the Lucius Challenge Cup at Carlisle on November 10 and then the four-mile H.L.H. Timber Handicap Chase at Haydock on November 20, 1986.
Jayo only rode three winners from 42 rides in the 1987/88 campaign. They included Super Tony for Morpeth trainer Frank Walton in the Hugh Joicey Memorial Handicap Chase at Hexham on March 26 and Peter Monteith’s Faroor in the Tennent Quaich Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on April 6. Three days after that Kelso victory, Jayo took part in the 1988 Grand National. He rode Carlisle trainer Stan Payne’s 100/1 shot Polly’s Pal but was hampered and brought down at the Canal Turn first time round.
Jayo only rode three winners from 42 rides in the 1987/88 campaign. They included Super Tony for Morpeth trainer Frank Walton in the Hugh Joicey Memorial Handicap Chase at Hexham on March 26 and Peter Monteith’s Faroor in the Tennent Quaich Handicap Hurdle at Kelso on April 6. Three days after that Kelso victory, Jayo took part in the 1988 Grand National. He rode Carlisle trainer Stan Payne’s 100/1 shot Polly’s Pal but was hampered and brought down at the Canal Turn first time round.
The following season, 1988/89, Jayo’s victories included two sponsored races at Ayr, namely the Tennents Special Handicap Chase on Dick Allen’s Aden Apollo and the Scottish Farm Dairy Foods Handicap Chase on Cool Brew. In May he won twice on the Dawn Goodfellow-trained three-mile chaser King Kanda, landing the Tant Pis Handicap Chase at Hexham and the Pintail Sherry Handicap Chase at Perth.
The following season, 1988/89, Jayo’s victories included two sponsored races at Ayr, namely the Tennents Special Handicap Chase on Dick Allen’s Aden Apollo and the Scottish Farm Dairy Foods Handicap Chase on Cool Brew. In May he won twice on the Dawn Goodfellow-trained three-mile chaser King Kanda, landing the Tant Pis Handicap Chase at Hexham and the Pintail Sherry Handicap Chase at Perth.
Sadly, Jayo was unable to build on his successful career in Ireland and by 1993 had returned to the place of his birth where he rode as a freelance.
Sadly, Jayo was unable to build on his successful career in Ireland and by 1993 had returned to the place of his birth where he rode as a freelance.