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Alan McCabe
Alan McCabe
Prior to becoming a Classic-winning trainer, Alan Joseph McCabe rode under National Hunt rules for around a decade and had eleven winners.
Prior to becoming a Classic-winning trainer, Alan Joseph McCabe rode under National Hunt rules for around a decade and had eleven winners.
He started in pony racing and joined showjumper Eddie Macken’s mother-in-law for a while. Although he did not enjoy much success on the pony racing circuit, it provided valuable experience and a good grounding. Then, through Joe Byrne, who was champion jockey at the time, he was put in touch with top trainer Noel Meade and went to work for him.
He started in pony racing and joined showjumper Eddie Macken’s mother-in-law for a while. Although he did not enjoy much success on the pony racing circuit, it provided valuable experience and a good grounding. Then, through Joe Byrne, who was champion jockey at the time, he was put in touch with top trainer Noel Meade and went to work for him.
He left his native Ireland in 1987 and joined another top trainer, David Elsworth, as a conditional jockey, finding himself involved with stable stars Desert Orchid and In The Groove. Working with such talented horses was what he had always wanted to do. They gave the job an edge and ultimately had him thinking to the future and the possibility of setting up as a trainer yourself.
He left his native Ireland in 1987 and joined another top trainer, David Elsworth, as a conditional jockey, finding himself involved with stable stars Desert Orchid and In The Groove. Working with such talented horses was what he had always wanted to do. They gave the job an edge and ultimately had him thinking to the future and the possibility of setting up as a trainer yourself.
Before that, however, he had his first ride at Lingfield Park on January 21, 1988, when Lector finished seventh of a dozen starters in the Turret Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle after having been prominent early.
Before that, however, he had his first ride at Lingfield Park on January 21, 1988, when Lector finished seventh of a dozen starters in the Turret Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle after having been prominent early.
Just a few weeks later he opened his account when Givus A Buck, making his racecourse debut, came with a strong run and was driven out to beat Bruton Street by two lengths and land the Spring N.H. Flat Race at Newbury.
Just a few weeks later he opened his account when Givus A Buck, making his racecourse debut, came with a strong run and was driven out to beat Bruton Street by two lengths and land the Spring N.H. Flat Race at Newbury.
From then on Alan had the occasional winner, though never more than two in a season, recording his greatest success coming at Chepstow on Easter Monday 1995, when the seven-year-old Nemuro led at the last flight and quickened to beat Richard Dunwoody on the favourite Pridwell by two and a half lengths in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.
From then on Alan had the occasional winner, though never more than two in a season, recording his greatest success coming at Chepstow on Easter Monday 1995, when the seven-year-old Nemuro led at the last flight and quickened to beat Richard Dunwoody on the favourite Pridwell by two and a half lengths in the Welsh Champion Hurdle.
The following season Alan won two bumpers on the four-year-old Neat Feet, the second of which, the Sandown Standard Stakes N.H. Flat race at that Esher venue on November 4, 1995, was his last success in the saddle. Next time out they finished last of six at Kempton. Alan only had a few more rides before relinquishing his licence. All of his eleven winners were trained by David Elsworth.
The following season Alan won two bumpers on the four-year-old Neat Feet, the second of which, the Sandown Standard Stakes N.H. Flat race at that Esher venue on November 4, 1995, was his last success in the saddle. Next time out they finished last of six at Kempton. Alan only had a few more rides before relinquishing his licence. All of his eleven winners were trained by David Elsworth.
After quitting race-riding he worked for Eoin Harty in Dubai for six months. He then joined the Godolphin operation with David Loder in Newmarket, where he rode out the likes of Jersey Stakes winner Kheleyf, the 2004 St Leger winner Rule Of Law, and was involved with Dubai Destination. At the same time he had a couple of boxes in the town and did some pre-training
After quitting race-riding he worked for Eoin Harty in Dubai for six months. He then joined the Godolphin operation with David Loder in Newmarket, where he rode out the likes of Jersey Stakes winner Kheleyf, the 2004 St Leger winner Rule Of Law, and was involved with Dubai Destination. At the same time he had a couple of boxes in the town and did some pre-training
In 2005, he became a salaried trainer for prominent owner Paul Dixon in Retford. Then in 2009 he set up on his own, with the two-year-old Fratellino immediately bringing him to the fore when finishing second at 33-1, beaten a neck, in that year’s Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
In 2005, he became a salaried trainer for prominent owner Paul Dixon in Retford. Then in 2009 he set up on his own, with the two-year-old Fratellino immediately bringing him to the fore when finishing second at 33-1, beaten a neck, in that year’s Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His best horse was Caspar Netscher who cost £65,000 and finished third in the 2011 Windsor Castle and second in the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury before going on to win York’s Gimcrack and Newbury’s Mill Reef Stakes. As a three-year-old, Caspar Netscher won the Greenham Stakes and then landed the 2012 German 2,000 Guineas, known as the Mehl-Mulheim Rennen, at Cologne.
His best horse was Caspar Netscher who cost £65,000 and finished third in the 2011 Windsor Castle and second in the Rose Bowl Stakes at Newbury before going on to win York’s Gimcrack and Newbury’s Mill Reef Stakes. As a three-year-old, Caspar Netscher won the Greenham Stakes and then landed the 2012 German 2,000 Guineas, known as the Mehl-Mulheim Rennen, at Cologne.
Despite that success, Alan relinquished his trainer’s licence in 2015, his last runner, Sea Of Uncertainty, having finished second in a two-year-old Beverley claimer on September 16 of that year.
Despite that success, Alan relinquished his trainer’s licence in 2015, his last runner, Sea Of Uncertainty, having finished second in a two-year-old Beverley claimer on September 16 of that year.
He ran a pre-training business at Egerton Stud in Newmarket, close to the town’s July Course. Though operating successfully, in 2023 he was forced to close the doors six years after setting it up.
He ran a pre-training business at Egerton Stud in Newmarket, close to the town’s July Course. Though operating successfully, in 2023 he was forced to close the doors six years after setting it up.
Alan McCabe’s winners were, in chronological order:
Alan McCabe’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Givus A Buck, Newbury, March 26, 1988
1. Givus A Buck, Newbury, March 26, 1988
2. Owena Deep, Warwick, December 28, 1988
2. Owena Deep, Warwick, December 28, 1988
3. Bags, Warwick, January 7, 1989
3. Bags, Warwick, January 7, 1989
4. Mallypha, Windsor, November 11, 1989
4. Mallypha, Windsor, November 11, 1989
5. Kibreet, Newbury, December 29, 1990
5. Kibreet, Newbury, December 29, 1990
6. Golden Coast, Lingfield Park, January 2, 1992
6. Golden Coast, Lingfield Park, January 2, 1992
7. No Near Miss, Worcester, April 13, 1994
7. No Near Miss, Worcester, April 13, 1994
8. Wizzy Lizzy, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1994
8. Wizzy Lizzy, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1994
9. Nemuro, Chepstow, April 17, 1995
9. Nemuro, Chepstow, April 17, 1995
10. Neat Feet, Worcester, September 9, 1995
10. Neat Feet, Worcester, September 9, 1995
11. Neat Feet, Sandown Park, November 4, 1995
11. Neat Feet, Sandown Park, November 4, 1995
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