Brendan McGiff
Northern-based jockey Brendan McGiff rode winners on the Flat and over jumps before quitting the saddle, aged 25, in 1992 to work in a factory after finding it impossible to eke out a living.
Northern-based jockey Brendan McGiff rode winners on the Flat and over jumps before quitting the saddle, aged 25, in 1992 to work in a factory after finding it impossible to eke out a living.
Born and bred in Malton, Brendon had been in racing since leaving school, going on to ride a total of 43 winners, 13 on the Flat and 30 over jumps. Having started on the Flat, he switched to the National Hunt game as his weight increased and rode his first winner on Beau Rose in division one of the Haswell Novices’ Hurdle at Sedgefield on January 4, 1989.
Born and bred in Malton, Brendon had been in racing since leaving school, going on to ride a total of 43 winners, 13 on the Flat and 30 over jumps. Having started on the Flat, he switched to the National Hunt game as his weight increased and rode his first winner on Beau Rose in division one of the Haswell Novices’ Hurdle at Sedgefield on January 4, 1989.
He enjoyed his best campaign in the 1989/90 season, when riding primarily for Doncaster trainer Richard Beever. He rode 18 winners that term, including two victories on Sally Hall’s four-year-old Going On, who followed a winning racecourse debut in a Market Rasen
He enjoyed his best campaign in the 1989/90 season, when riding primarily for Doncaster trainer Richard Beever. He rode 18 winners that term, including two victories on Sally Hall’s four-year-old Going On, who followed a winning racecourse debut in a Market Rasen
bumper in March by landing the Seagram Supreme N.H. Flat Race (right) on the opening day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, Thursday, April 5, 1990, giving Brendan the biggest success of his career.
bumper in March by landing the Seagram Supreme N.H. Flat Race (right) on the opening day of Aintree’s Grand National meeting, Thursday, April 5, 1990, giving Brendan the biggest success of his career.
He rode just two winners from 87 mounts the following season, causing him to return to Malton, get his weight down to 8st and start riding on the Flat again. He partnered two winners from 45 rides during the 1991 Flat campaign, both trained by Geoff Oldroyd, namely Master Glen in a Nottingham seller on April 30, and Lodging in the Trimoco Vehicle Leasing Handicap at Ripon (right) on July 20.
He rode just two winners from 87 mounts the following season, causing him to return to Malton, get his weight down to 8st and start riding on the Flat again. He partnered two winners from 45 rides during the 1991 Flat campaign, both trained by Geoff Oldroyd, namely Master Glen in a Nottingham seller on April 30, and Lodging in the Trimoco Vehicle Leasing Handicap at Ripon (right) on July 20.
He tried his luck back over jumps for the 1991/92 season but had had just one winner – Riverain for David Barron in an all-weather selling hurdle at Southwell on October 24, 1991 – from only four rides all season when deciding, after much thought, to draw stumps and hang up his riding boots.
He tried his luck back over jumps for the 1991/92 season but had had just one winner – Riverain for David Barron in an all-weather selling hurdle at Southwell on October 24, 1991 – from only four rides all season when deciding, after much thought, to draw stumps and hang up his riding boots.
“I could keep my weight at around 8st, but where’s the incentive when you’re struggling for rides? It’s a catch 22 situation,” he reflected.
“I could keep my weight at around 8st, but where’s the incentive when you’re struggling for rides? It’s a catch 22 situation,” he reflected.
“We all have our dreams and think things are going to get better, but you can’t keep kidding yourself when you’re not earning enough to pay one bill, never mind a handful of bills. It’s not fair on anyone, least of all your family and I’ve got responsibilities to my wife, Joanne, and my year-old son Michael.”
“We all have our dreams and think things are going to get better, but you can’t keep kidding yourself when you’re not earning enough to pay one bill, never mind a handful of bills. It’s not fair on anyone, least of all your family and I’ve got responsibilities to my wife, Joanne, and my year-old son Michael.”