John Keenan
John Keenan
John Keenan
Liverpool-born apprentice John Keenan would never forget his first ride in public, nor would the racegoers who were present to witness it.
Liverpool-born apprentice John Keenan would never forget his first ride in public, nor would the racegoers who were present to witness it.
John had been apprenticed to Lambourn trainer Farnham ‘Freddie’ Maxwell since March 1965. Aged 16, he was given his first race ride at Chepstow on Friday, August 5, 1966, aboard Maxwell’s three-year-old colt Tune in the mile and a quarter East Cliffe Apprentices’ Selling Handicap.
John had been apprenticed to Lambourn trainer Farnham ‘Freddie’ Maxwell since March 1965. Aged 16, he was given his first race ride at Chepstow on Friday, August 5, 1966, aboard Maxwell’s three-year-old colt Tune in the mile and a quarter East Cliffe Apprentices’ Selling Handicap.
Down at the start, 8/1 chance Tune charged the tapes and threw Keenan heavily. The horse then galloped the length of the course and nearly crashed through the rails. Brought back to the start and remounted, Tune galloped off with Keenan for a furlong in the opposite direction.
Down at the start, 8/1 chance Tune charged the tapes and threw Keenan heavily. The horse then galloped the length of the course and nearly crashed through the rails. Brought back to the start and remounted, Tune galloped off with Keenan for a furlong in the opposite direction.
Finally, after 21 minutes delay, the race started. Tune was badly away and lost half a dozen lengths. That looked to have ended any remote chance he may still have had, but no, he amazed everyone by coming with a strong run to get up 50 yards from home and beat the 2/1 favourite Roke by a neck. Having displayed such unruly behaviour, Tune was retired soon after rather than risking a repeat of his antics.
Finally, after 21 minutes delay, the race started. Tune was badly away and lost half a dozen lengths. That looked to have ended any remote chance he may still have had, but no, he amazed everyone by coming with a strong run to get up 50 yards from home and beat the 2/1 favourite Roke by a neck. Having displayed such unruly behaviour, Tune was retired soon after rather than risking a repeat of his antics.
Despite those heroics, John Keenan only had one more ride all season. He never rode another winner and disappeared from the scene just as quickly as he had entered it, remembered, if at all, only by those who were at Chepstow on that Friday afternoon in August 1966 when a 16-year-old apprentice defied the odds to win his first (and only) race on his first ride, despite everything going so badly wrong.
Despite those heroics, John Keenan only had one more ride all season. He never rode another winner and disappeared from the scene just as quickly as he had entered it, remembered, if at all, only by those who were at Chepstow on that Friday afternoon in August 1966 when a 16-year-old apprentice defied the odds to win his first (and only) race on his first ride, despite everything going so badly wrong.
