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Bryan McMahon
Bryan McMahon
1937-2025
1937-2025
Far better known as a successful trainer, Brian Arthur McMahon was born on October 25, 1937. He left home at 15 and started his racing career as apprentice with Jack Waugh at Newmarket and recorded his solitary success on Versant in the Ward End Handicap at Birmingham on August 30, 1955, making all the running to beat Frankie Durr’s mount, the odds-on favourite Siren Light, by two lengths.
Far better known as a successful trainer, Brian Arthur McMahon was born on October 25, 1937. He left home at 15 and started his racing career as apprentice with Jack Waugh at Newmarket and recorded his solitary success on Versant in the Ward End Handicap at Birmingham on August 30, 1955, making all the running to beat Frankie Durr’s mount, the odds-on favourite Siren Light, by two lengths.
He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1962/63 season but had few opportunities. Among them was 33-1 shot Soloway Hill, a faller in the 32-runner Hylton Novices’ Hurdle Division 1 at Worcester on Grand National day 1963. He also held a licence for the 1964/65 campaign but, again, had very few chances.
He held a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1962/63 season but had few opportunities. Among them was 33-1 shot Soloway Hill, a faller in the 32-runner Hylton Novices’ Hurdle Division 1 at Worcester on Grand National day 1963. He also held a licence for the 1964/65 campaign but, again, had very few chances.
He began training in 1967, based at Woodside Farm, Hopwas Hill, Tamworth, where he remained for his entire training career. His first winner was Police Cadet, ridden by Josh Gifford, in a Ludlow selling hurdle on October 11, 1967.
He began training in 1967, based at Woodside Farm, Hopwas Hill, Tamworth, where he remained for his entire training career. His first winner was Police Cadet, ridden by Josh Gifford, in a Ludlow selling hurdle on October 11, 1967.
He registered his first big race success when Cashew King, ridden by Trevor Wall, won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1988. Cashew King also won the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Ascot in 1990, the same year in which Peanuts Pet landed the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster. Peanuts Pet added the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown the following year.
He registered his first big race success when Cashew King, ridden by Trevor Wall, won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 1988. Cashew King also won the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Ascot in 1990, the same year in which Peanuts Pet landed the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster. Peanuts Pet added the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown the following year.
At the other end of the scale, he trained a horse called Bunty Boo to win a sprint race in Sweden. It marked a gradual switch of focus from jumping to the Flat.
At the other end of the scale, he trained a horse called Bunty Boo to win a sprint race in Sweden. It marked a gradual switch of focus from jumping to the Flat.
His career was at its height in the 1990s, achieving his first notable Flat race success with Band On The Run in the 1992 Victoria Cup at Ascot. He trained Look Who’s Here to win Haydock’s Sandy Lane Handicap in 1993, and saddled Roving Minstrel to land the 1995 Lincoln Handicap.
His career was at its height in the 1990s, achieving his first notable Flat race success with Band On The Run in the 1992 Victoria Cup at Ascot. He trained Look Who’s Here to win Haydock’s Sandy Lane Handicap in 1993, and saddled Roving Minstrel to land the 1995 Lincoln Handicap.
His colt Jack Jennings finished third in York’s Dante Stakes in 1996 and came seventh in the Derby at Epsom, beaten six lengths by Shaamit. Numerically, his most successful season was in 1997 with 33 winners.
His colt Jack Jennings finished third in York’s Dante Stakes in 1996 and came seventh in the Derby at Epsom, beaten six lengths by Shaamit. Numerically, his most successful season was in 1997 with 33 winners.
In 1998 he won the Palace House Stakes with Yorkies Boy, the Dahlia Stakes with Yabint El Sultan, and the Firth of Clyde Stakes with Evening Promise.
In 1998 he won the Palace House Stakes with Yorkies Boy, the Dahlia Stakes with Yabint El Sultan, and the Firth of Clyde Stakes with Evening Promise.
In 2003 he trained Needwood Blade to land the Abernant Stakes and the Palace House Stakes. His final Group race winner was Castelletto in the 2004 Cornwallis Stakes.
In 2003 he trained Needwood Blade to land the Abernant Stakes and the Palace House Stakes. His final Group race winner was Castelletto in the 2004 Cornwallis Stakes.
The following year he handed over the licence to his son, Ed, who continued training until quitting in 2017.
The following year he handed over the licence to his son, Ed, who continued training until quitting in 2017.
Bryan McMahon died on November 26, 2025, aged 88.
Bryan McMahon died on November 26, 2025, aged 88.
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