Alan Munro

Alan Keith Munro was born in York on January 14, 1967, the son of an electrical engineer with BAC (British Aircraft Corporation). Although born within sight of the Knavesmire, he spent his childhood in Stevenage.

He served his apprenticeship with Barry Hills in Lambourn from 1984 to 1986. Standing 5ft 2ins, he weighed just 5 stone when arriving at Hills’ stable. Moreover, he had never even sat on a horse. Yet just a year later, he rode his first winner, Sentimental Roses, in the Eve Apprentices’ Stakes at Yarmouth on August 21, 1985.

Alan completed his apprenticeship with Mel Brittain from 1986 to 1989. In 1990, while still officially an apprentice, he was appointed stable jockey to Newmarket trainer Bill O’Gorman, along with a second retainer for Linda Ramsden. 

He obtained his full jockey’s licence in 1991 and immediately sprang to prominence when replacing Paul Cole’s stable jockey Richard Quinn on the horses trained at Whatcombe for Saudi Arabian owner Prince Fahd Salman. Only weeks later the new triumvirate won the 1991 Derby with Generous. Before the summer was out, Generous had also won the Irish Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, becoming the first horse to complete that treble in the same season. 

In the interim, owner, trainer and jockey achieved a juvenile treble at Royal Ascot with Dilum (Coventry Stakes), Magic Ring (Norfolk Stakes) and Fair Cop (Chesham Stakes). Over the next couple of seasons the Whatcombe team had more juvenile success with Splendent (1992 Gimcrack Stakes) and Velvet Moon (1993 Lowther Stakes), plus major victories overseas. 

On July 2, 1993, Alan rode three winners at three different meetings: Sandown, Southwell and Beverley. His distinctive, low, American-style crouch made him an instantly recognisable figure in the saddle ahead of his time compared with most other European jockeys. 

In 1994, while continuing to ride as first jockey to Prince Fahd Salman – a position he would occupy until 2000 – Alan accepted a contract to ride in Hong Kong, returning there every year thereafter until 1999. He also rode regularly in Japan and South Africa.

In 2000, he signed a three-month contract to ride in South Africa. Though again successful, he decided in June that year that he wanted a break from racing and took a four-year sabbatical, during which he became a black belt in karate. He also became a convert to Taoism, an age-old Chinese philosophy. 

He resumed riding, taking a few mounts in New Zealand in 2005, then returned to England. That year, on the remarkable Sergeant Cecil, trained by Rod Millman, he won the Northumberland Plate, Ebor and Cesarewitch. Sergeant Cecil became the first horse to win all three races in the same season.

In 2006 Alan won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and Royal Ascot’s St James’s Palace Stakes on Araafa, plus the Norfolk Stakes on Dutch Art. However, in August, on a flight to Deauville to partner Dutch Art in the Prix Morny, he suffered a seizure, caused by a combination low blood pressure and dehydration. 

He was back in the saddle for the start of the 2008 season and the winners soon rolled in, with Langs Lash augmenting his record with two-year-olds at Royal Ascot when winning the Queen Mary Stakes. 

Classic winners

Derby: Generous (1991)

Irish Derby: Generous (1991)

Irish Two Thousand Guineas: Araafa (2006)

Other big winners

1990: Lincoln Handicap – Evichstar 

1990: Chester Cup – Travelling Light 

1990 - Coventry Stakes – Mac's Imp

1990: Gosforth Park Cup – Superbrave 

1990: Richmond Stakes – Mac’s Imp

1990: Portland Handicap – Love Legend 

1991: Lingfield Oaks Trial – Ausherra 

1991: Diomed Stakes – Sylva Honda

1991 - Coventry Stakes – Dilum

1991: Chesham Stakes – Fair Cop 

1991: Norfolk Stakes – Magic Ring 

1991: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Generous 

1991: Scottish Classic – Zoman

1991 - Rose of Lancaster Stakes – Lord of Trustmore

1991: Richmond Stakes – Dilum 

1991: Cornwallis Stakes – Magic Ring

1991: Princess Royal Stakes – Always Friendly 

1991 - St. Simon Stakes – Up Anchor

1992: Gimcrack Stakes – Splendent 

1992 - Acomb Stakes – Woodchat

1992 - Champagne Stakes – Perfect Halo

1993 - Cammidge Trophy – Regal Chimes

1993: Lowther Stakes – Velvet Moon 

1993 - September Stakes – Sparteen Shareef

1994: Victoria Cup – Face North 

1994: Royal Hunt Cup – Face North 

1997 - Gosforth Park Cup – Moonstrike

2005 - Cornwallis Stakes – Hunter Street

2005 - Upavon Fillies Stakes – La Persiana

2005 - Bahrain Trophy – Mr. Vegas

2005 - John Smiths’ Stakes – Star of Light

2005: Northumberland Plate – Sergeant Cecil 

2005: Ebor Handicap – Sergeant Cecil 

2005: Cesarewitch Handicap – Sergeant Cecil 

2006: St James’s Palace Stakes – Araafa 

2006: Norfolk Stakes – Dutch Art 

2008: Queen Mary Stakes – Langs Lash 

In Ireland 

1990 - Heinz 57 - Mac's Imp

1991 - Tattersalls Gold Cup - Zoman 

2005 - Tattersalls Ireland Sales Race - Wake Up Maggie

In France

1992 - Prix D’Ispahan - Zoman

In Italy 

1993 - Premio Presidente Della Republicca - Great Palm

1993 - Italian Oaks - Bright Generation

1992 - Primo Guido Berardelli - Jape 

1992 - Prix Guillaurie D'Ornano - Great Palm 

1991 - Italian St. Leger - Jape

1994 - Premio Ambrosiano - Visto si Stampo

1994 - Criterium Di Roma - Statum

In Germany 

1994 - Holsten Trophy - Sharp Prod

1994 - Grosser Preis Der Dortmunder Wirtschaft - Vincenzo

1994 - Arthur Von Weinburg-Rennen - Vorsabia

In Spain

1990 - Spanish Derby - Akelarre

1990 - Spanish Grand Prix – Akelarre

In America

1992 - Budweiser International - Zoman

In Hong Kong

1997 - Hong Kong Champion & Charter Cup - Indigenous

1997 - The Happy Valley Trophy - Fastest Star

1998 - Sha Tin Vase - Astimonti 

2000 - Hong Kong Gold Cup - Industrialist--

2000 - Queen Elizabeth II Cup - Industrialist 

In Japan 

1994 - The Fuchu Hima Stakes - Hokkie Serris

Various career milestones

1990 - Rode Timeless Times to a record-equalling 16 wins for a two-year-old in one turf season.

1991 - Rode 100 winners in a season, on turf, for the first time.

1991 - Rode six winners in one day.

1993 - Rode a winner at three different racetracks on the same day – the 5th jockey to achieve this.

1994 - Granted a three-month licence to ride in Japan; the first overseas rider to secure a contract in Japan. Rode 14 wins including one Group 3, six Listed and one Pattern race.

1995 - Club Jockey for The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Six-month contract, January to June – 13 wins including five Class 1 races.

1995 - South Africa three-month contract - 20 wins including seven Listed wins.

1995 - Granted a three-month licence to ride in Japan - 11 wins of which seven were Listed wins.

1996 - Club Jockey for The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club. Six-month contract, January to June. Injury and a one-year suspension.

1997 - Club Jockey for The Hong Kong Jockey Club - March to June - 14 wins including one Group 1 win.

1997 - Treble at Macau whilst representing England, at their International Jockeys' Invitational Race Meeting.

1997 – Back in England for one month - five wins including two major handicaps.

1997 - Spain August Festival Meeting. Three wins including one Listed win.

1997 - Hong Kong full season 1997/98. Retained as first jockey by Wong Sui Tan - 31 wins.

1998 - Hong Kong full season 1998/99. Retained as first jockey by David Oughton.

1999 - Japan three-month contract - one day’s racing - one win. Contract stopped due to fall and injury.

1999 - Hong Kong full season Club Jockey 1999/2000 - 15 wins including a Group 1, an International Group 2 and a Group 3.

2000 – June: Decides to take a four-year sabbatical.

2005 – January: Rides in New Zealand before re-launching career in UK.

2005 – Finishes second in the Epsom Derby on Walk In The Park.

2005 - Completes historic handicap treble on Sergeant Cecil.