Johnny Lehane
1934 - 1969
1934 - 1969
When Fred Winter fell heavily from the favourite Andy Capp at the final fence at Chepstow in April 1963, he was left in sufficient pain to curtail his rides for the rest of the afternoon. He needed a lift home; his normal willing chauffeur, jockey Gene Kelly, was unavailable, so Johnny Lehane volunteered.
When Fred Winter fell heavily from the favourite Andy Capp at the final fence at Chepstow in April 1963, he was left in sufficient pain to curtail his rides for the rest of the afternoon. He needed a lift home; his normal willing chauffeur, jockey Gene Kelly, was unavailable, so Johnny Lehane volunteered.
He and Fred were good friends but complete opposites. Johnny was the weighing room joker who specialised in nicknames. He himself was known as 'Thumper', and he was the man responsible for such as enduring nicknames as, among others, 'Duke' (David Nicholson) and 'Bumble' (Michael Scudamore).
He and Fred were good friends but complete opposites. Johnny was the weighing room joker who specialised in nicknames. He himself was known as 'Thumper', and he was the man responsible for such as enduring nicknames as, among others, 'Duke' (David Nicholson) and 'Bumble' (Michael Scudamore).
Johnny discovered that Fred had been a lieutenant in the Parachute Regiment and henceforth referred to his friend as 'Lieut'. Fred told Johnny to grow up, but to no avail.
Johnny discovered that Fred had been a lieutenant in the Parachute Regiment and henceforth referred to his friend as 'Lieut'. Fred told Johnny to grow up, but to no avail.
Irish-born Johnny Lehane rode for Jimmy Brogan, the father of Barry Brogan, and scored his biggest victory on Gold Legend in the 1958 Irish Grand National.
Irish-born Johnny Lehane rode for Jimmy Brogan, the father of Barry Brogan, and scored his biggest victory on Gold Legend in the 1958 Irish Grand National.
Coming to England and riding mainly for Bill Marshall, he won 47 races and finished fourth in the jump jockeys' table. He was fourth again in 1959-60.
Coming to England and riding mainly for Bill Marshall, he won 47 races and finished fourth in the jump jockeys' table. He was fourth again in 1959-60.
He gained success at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Spring Greeting (1962) and Snaigow (1965), both for Verly Berwicke in the Mildmay of Fleet Chase. He also rode Pointin-Go to victory in the 1965 Eider.
He gained success at the Cheltenham Festival aboard Spring Greeting (1962) and Snaigow (1965), both for Verly Berwicke in the Mildmay of Fleet Chase. He also rode Pointin-Go to victory in the 1965 Eider.
He was small for a jump jockey, and suffered many injuries. Popular and happy-go-lucky, he fell on hard times.
He was small for a jump jockey, and suffered many injuries. Popular and happy-go-lucky, he fell on hard times.
His career was already over when, aged just 35, he was found dying of paraquat poisoning in an Exeter hotel on September 6, 1969.
His career was already over when, aged just 35, he was found dying of paraquat poisoning in an Exeter hotel on September 6, 1969.
John Patrick Lehane had been born in Cork on April 10, 1934.
John Patrick Lehane had been born in Cork on April 10, 1934.
At his peak he was the jolliest jockey who ever lived.
At his peak he was the jolliest jockey who ever lived.
He used to sing as he rode. When he fell he would bounce back in a trice. We used to call him Thumper. Race-riding was as natural to him as water to a seal. In the first two glorious years after he came chirping over from Ireland in 1958, it seemed as if the horses, as much as the people, laughed and sang to his tune.
He used to sing as he rode. When he fell he would bounce back in a trice. We used to call him Thumper. Race-riding was as natural to him as water to a seal. In the first two glorious years after he came chirping over from Ireland in 1958, it seemed as if the horses, as much as the people, laughed and sang to his tune.
He had such a disregard for boring things like money that when the pile of dirty shirts in the car got too large he would just buy some new ones. At the end of the season, the Lehane wardrobe would be spread as widely across the country as the humour he left behind.
He had such a disregard for boring things like money that when the pile of dirty shirts in the car got too large he would just buy some new ones. At the end of the season, the Lehane wardrobe would be spread as widely across the country as the humour he left behind.
On one splendidly bibulous occasion the phone rang, and a tremendously smart voice claimed it was the Queen Mother's trainer on the line and would Johnny like to ride the favourite in next week's big race. ``Oh bejaysus, pull the other one," said Thumper, who was already at least three sheets to the wind. ``I don't know who you are, but don't take the piss out of me."
On one splendidly bibulous occasion the phone rang, and a tremendously smart voice claimed it was the Queen Mother's trainer on the line and would Johnny like to ride the favourite in next week's big race. ``Oh bejaysus, pull the other one," said Thumper, who was already at least three sheets to the wind. ``I don't know who you are, but don't take the piss out of me."
Unfortunately, the late Peter Cazalet, for it was he, didn't bother to interrupt the party a second time, and after a while the flow of winners began to dry up, the bouncing became less easy, the jokes more strained.
Unfortunately, the late Peter Cazalet, for it was he, didn't bother to interrupt the party a second time, and after a while the flow of winners began to dry up, the bouncing became less easy, the jokes more strained.
As a young jockey, I have a vivid memory of him still sweet and eager to please, but the face battered, the reactions dulled. He was the sporting equivalent of the saddened, ageing clown. Only he wasn't ageing. When he died, already a year out of the saddle, Johnny was still only 34, and the sadness was everywhere.
As a young jockey, I have a vivid memory of him still sweet and eager to please, but the face battered, the reactions dulled. He was the sporting equivalent of the saddened, ageing clown. Only he wasn't ageing. When he died, already a year out of the saddle, Johnny was still only 34, and the sadness was everywhere.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1958: Irish Grand National – Gold Legend
1958: Irish Grand National – Gold Legend
1962: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Spring Greeting
1962: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Spring Greeting
1962: Lancashire Chase – Skish
1962: Lancashire Chase – Skish
1965: Eider Handicap Chase – Pontin-Go
1965: Eider Handicap Chase – Pontin-Go
1965: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Snaigow
1965: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Snaigow