Pat Kavanagh
Northern-based National Hunt jockey Patrick Joseph Kavanagh held a licence between 1958 and 1971. He rode his first winner on Rantin Robin in a Perth selling hurdle on September 23, 1959. His second came on Sybil’s Boy at Ayr in March 1960.
Northern-based National Hunt jockey Patrick Joseph Kavanagh held a licence between 1958 and 1971. He rode his first winner on Rantin Robin in a Perth selling hurdle on September 23, 1959. His second came on Sybil’s Boy at Ayr in March 1960.
More than three years passed before he next visited the winner’s enclosure, but when he did it was on a good horse, one named African Patrol, trained by Jack Ormston, in a Sedgefield novices’ hurdle in May 1963. They followed up with another win at Wetherby’s Whit Monday fixture. Three years later, ridden by John Leech, African Patrol won the Scottish Grand National, its first running at Ayr following Bogside’s closure in 1965.
More than three years passed before he next visited the winner’s enclosure, but when he did it was on a good horse, one named African Patrol, trained by Jack Ormston, in a Sedgefield novices’ hurdle in May 1963. They followed up with another win at Wetherby’s Whit Monday fixture. Three years later, ridden by John Leech, African Patrol won the Scottish Grand National, its first running at Ayr following Bogside’s closure in 1965.
Patrick endured a further lengthy winnerless spell before another of Jack Ormston’s novice hurdlers, Beecham, ended the drought at Catterick in February 1965. The next two seasons were his most successful, registering scores of four in 1965/66 – three of them within a three-week period in April on Ormston’s four-year-old hurdler Spot On – and five in 1966/67.
Patrick endured a further lengthy winnerless spell before another of Jack Ormston’s novice hurdlers, Beecham, ended the drought at Catterick in February 1965. The next two seasons were his most successful, registering scores of four in 1965/66 – three of them within a three-week period in April on Ormston’s four-year-old hurdler Spot On – and five in 1966/67.
Having drawn a blank in the 1967/68 campaign, Patrick headed south the following season and joined the prominent Taunton trainer Les Kennard. The move was of only limited success, his sole win being on Sunsaly in a Chepstow selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1969.
Having drawn a blank in the 1967/68 campaign, Patrick headed south the following season and joined the prominent Taunton trainer Les Kennard. The move was of only limited success, his sole win being on Sunsaly in a Chepstow selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1969.
His brief sojourn at an end, he returned north and rode two winners during the 1969/70 season, both of them on novice chaser River Moy. They were the last of his career.
His brief sojourn at an end, he returned north and rode two winners during the 1969/70 season, both of them on novice chaser River Moy. They were the last of his career.
Although he only rode 17 winners, that total did not reflect Patrick Kavanagh’s importance as one of the backroom boys of the racing industry. He went on to serve as head man for Gordon Richards from 1980 to 1997 when the stable was one of jump racing’s major forces. He then joined Norman Mason’s training establishment where he was instrumental in the early development of 2001 Grand National hero Red Marauder.
Although he only rode 17 winners, that total did not reflect Patrick Kavanagh’s importance as one of the backroom boys of the racing industry. He went on to serve as head man for Gordon Richards from 1980 to 1997 when the stable was one of jump racing’s major forces. He then joined Norman Mason’s training establishment where he was instrumental in the early development of 2001 Grand National hero Red Marauder.
Patrick Kavanagh died in July 2018, aged 78.
Patrick Kavanagh died in July 2018, aged 78.
His winners were, in chronological order:
His winners were, in chronological order:
1. Rantin Robin, Perth, September 23, 1959
1. Rantin Robin, Perth, September 23, 1959
2. Sybil’s Boy, Ayr, March 12, 1960
2. Sybil’s Boy, Ayr, March 12, 1960
3. African Patrol, Sedgefield, May 18, 1963
3. African Patrol, Sedgefield, May 18, 1963
4. African Patrol, Wetherby, June 3, 1963
4. African Patrol, Wetherby, June 3, 1963
5. Beecham, Catterick Bridge, February 20, 1965
5. Beecham, Catterick Bridge, February 20, 1965
6. Spot On, Ayr, April 4, 1966
6. Spot On, Ayr, April 4, 1966
7. Spot On, Wetherby, April 11, 1966
7. Spot On, Wetherby, April 11, 1966
8. Spot On, Hexham, April 23, 1966
8. Spot On, Hexham, April 23, 1966
9. Datis, Hexham, May 28, 1966
9. Datis, Hexham, May 28, 1966
10. Derek H., Carlisle, October 8, 1966
10. Derek H., Carlisle, October 8, 1966
11. Derek H., Newcastle, October 19, 1966
11. Derek H., Newcastle, October 19, 1966
12. Admira, Newcastle, December 3, 1966
12. Admira, Newcastle, December 3, 1966
13. Admira, Doncaster, December 8, 1966
13. Admira, Doncaster, December 8, 1966
14. Spot On, Newcastle, April 29, 1967
14. Spot On, Newcastle, April 29, 1967
15. Sunsaly, Chepstow, April 7, 1969
15. Sunsaly, Chepstow, April 7, 1969
16. River Moy, Ayr, January 3, 1970
16. River Moy, Ayr, January 3, 1970
17. River Moy, Carlisle, February 2, 1970
17. River Moy, Carlisle, February 2, 1970