Tony Kennedy
Tony Kennedy
Tony Kennedy
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Tony Kennedy had plenty of rides over jumps in the second half of the 1970s, ending up with three winners.
Tony Kennedy had plenty of rides over jumps in the second half of the 1970s, ending up with three winners.
One of several promising young jockeys associated with the Greystoke, Penrith stables of Gordon W. Richards, he had his first ride at Teesside Park on November 16, 1976, when Napazi was a ‘never dangerous’ eighth of ten finishers in the Mr. Sponge Handicap Hurdle, a race Napazi had won two years earlier when ridden by another of the trainer’s conditional jockeys, Brendan Donaghy.
One of several promising young jockeys associated with the Greystoke, Penrith stables of Gordon W. Richards, he had his first ride at Teesside Park on November 16, 1976, when Napazi was a ‘never dangerous’ eighth of ten finishers in the Mr. Sponge Handicap Hurdle, a race Napazi had won two years earlier when ridden by another of the trainer’s conditional jockeys, Brendan Donaghy.
It was not until the meeting at Bangor-on-Dee on August 19, 1978 that Tony was able to enjoy his first victory when Forest Guard stayed on from the final fence to catch Moorabinda and take the Monsanto Ruabon Recreation Club Handicap Chase by a head. He came close to doubling his score when beaten three-quarters of a length on Forest Guard at Sedgefield in March 1979 but, despite having more than three dozen rides that season, a second winner did not come until near its end, at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting on May 26, when Top-N-Tale took the lead on the long run-in and stayed on to beat Saffron Cake, the mount of Ron Barry, by a length and a half in the Priory Handicap Hurdle.
It was not until the meeting at Bangor-on-Dee on August 19, 1978 that Tony was able to enjoy his first victory when Forest Guard stayed on from the final fence to catch Moorabinda and take the Monsanto Ruabon Recreation Club Handicap Chase by a head. He came close to doubling his score when beaten three-quarters of a length on Forest Guard at Sedgefield in March 1979 but, despite having more than three dozen rides that season, a second winner did not come until near its end, at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting on May 26, when Top-N-Tale took the lead on the long run-in and stayed on to beat Saffron Cake, the mount of Ron Barry, by a length and a half in the Priory Handicap Hurdle.
There was then a long gap before Tony had his third, and final, success, which came at Sedgefield on March 25, 1980, when Indian Gudja overhauled Graham Bradley’s mount Rowdy Elf on the flat to take the Middlesbrough Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle by four lengths.
There was then a long gap before Tony had his third, and final, success, which came at Sedgefield on March 25, 1980, when Indian Gudja overhauled Graham Bradley’s mount Rowdy Elf on the flat to take the Middlesbrough Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle by four lengths.
Thereafter, he had few opportunities, his last ride being when tailed off aboard Hand Over Fist in the Bradford Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby on December 27, 1980.
Thereafter, he had few opportunities, his last ride being when tailed off aboard Hand Over Fist in the Bradford Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby on December 27, 1980.
Tony's first winner: Forest Guard: August 19, 1978 Bangor-on-Dee
Tony's second winner: Top-N-Tale, May 26. 1979 Cartmel
Tony's final winner: Indian Gudja, March 25, 1980, Sedgefield