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David Moorhead rode for five seasons in Britain in the early 1970s, notching 34 winners, having previously enjoyed plenty of success in his native Ireland.
David Moorhead rode for five seasons in Britain in the early 1970s, notching 34 winners, having previously enjoyed plenty of success in his native Ireland.
Born on February 24, 1951, David Joseph Moorhead started his racing career as an amateur rider with Paddy Sleator, going on to become the country’s champion amateur. After five years as an amateur, he turned professional and rode a good number of winners before being lured to Scotland to ride as stable jockey for Ken Oliver.
Born on February 24, 1951, David Joseph Moorhead started his racing career as an amateur rider with Paddy Sleator, going on to become the country’s champion amateur. After five years as an amateur, he turned professional and rode a good number of winners before being lured to Scotland to ride as stable jockey for Ken Oliver.
He rode his first British winner on Tregarron in a novices’ hurdle at Ayr on October 11, 1971. His second came three days later on Polar Prince in the Percy Bewicke Cup Handicap Chase at Hexham.
He rode his first British winner on Tregarron in a novices’ hurdle at Ayr on October 11, 1971. His second came three days later on Polar Prince in the Percy Bewicke Cup Handicap Chase at Hexham.
In addition to riding for Ken Oliver, he formed an association with Lincolnshire trainer Jim Leigh, winning three in a row on his two-mile chaser Eagle’s Nest, beginning at Market Rasen’s Christmas meeting and following up at Doncaster and Catterick in January 1972. He rode Oliver’s Sir Roger to win the Hugh Joicey Memorial Chase at Hexham on March 25, then landed a novice chase on Tregarron at Market Rasen’s Easter Monday fixture.
In addition to riding for Ken Oliver, he formed an association with Lincolnshire trainer Jim Leigh, winning three in a row on his two-mile chaser Eagle’s Nest, beginning at Market Rasen’s Christmas meeting and following up at Doncaster and Catterick in January 1972. He rode Oliver’s Sir Roger to win the Hugh Joicey Memorial Chase at Hexham on March 25, then landed a novice chase on Tregarron at Market Rasen’s Easter Monday fixture.
He notched 15 winners in the 1972/73 season, beginning with Dixie’s Double at Sedgefield on September 9, followed by wins on both days of Perth’s September meeting on Wolverhampton and Dixies Double again. Wolverhampton scored a second time for him at Ayr in October. He landed a double at Ayr on December 6 aboard Tregarron and novice chaser Pan-Man, then Eagle’s Next repeated his previous year’s victory at Market Rasen over Christmas. In the new year he won a pair of novice chases at Teesside Park and Ayr on Ken Oliver’s Startwell, and in March landed handicap chases at Sedgefield and Hexham on Pan-Man.
He notched 15 winners in the 1972/73 season, beginning with Dixie’s Double at Sedgefield on September 9, followed by wins on both days of Perth’s September meeting on Wolverhampton and Dixies Double again. Wolverhampton scored a second time for him at Ayr in October. He landed a double at Ayr on December 6 aboard Tregarron and novice chaser Pan-Man, then Eagle’s Next repeated his previous year’s victory at Market Rasen over Christmas. In the new year he won a pair of novice chases at Teesside Park and Ayr on Ken Oliver’s Startwell, and in March landed handicap chases at Sedgefield and Hexham on Pan-Man.
Pan-Man got David off the mark for the following season when winning at Ayr on October 15, 1973. He also forged links with Alnwick, Northumberland trainer Barney Cross and won a pair of novice hurdles on a horse destined to become far better known as a chaser, Sebastian V, at Kelso on October 20 and at Newcastle 11 days later. Pan-Man won for him again on December 5, landing the Vulmidas Trophy Chase. At Ayr. He also won twice on the Barney Cross-trained chaser Border Gloria, at Kelso in January and at Sedgefield in March 1974.
Pan-Man got David off the mark for the following season when winning at Ayr on October 15, 1973. He also forged links with Alnwick, Northumberland trainer Barney Cross and won a pair of novice hurdles on a horse destined to become far better known as a chaser, Sebastian V, at Kelso on October 20 and at Newcastle 11 days later. Pan-Man won for him again on December 5, landing the Vulmidas Trophy Chase. At Ayr. He also won twice on the Barney Cross-trained chaser Border Gloria, at Kelso in January and at Sedgefield in March 1974.
By that time, Colin Tinkler was riding the majority of Ken Oliver’s horses. Consequently, David had ridden just three winners all season by the spring of 1975, when a bad fall from a novice chaser named Rough Diamond at Perth on April 23 was to foreshorten his career.
By that time, Colin Tinkler was riding the majority of Ken Oliver’s horses. Consequently, David had ridden just three winners all season by the spring of 1975, when a bad fall from a novice chaser named Rough Diamond at Perth on April 23 was to foreshorten his career.
His first ride the following season was a winning one, Jim Leigh’s Arctic Glen in a Market Rasen novice chase on October 17, 1975. It was also his last ride, for after dismounting from the winner he complained of feeling unwell and subsequently called time on his career. At least he’d retired on a winning note.
His first ride the following season was a winning one, Jim Leigh’s Arctic Glen in a Market Rasen novice chase on October 17, 1975. It was also his last ride, for after dismounting from the winner he complained of feeling unwell and subsequently called time on his career. At least he’d retired on a winning note.
David took out a trainer’s licence in 1979, based at Tow Law, County Durham, with a string of around a dozen horses. In 1982 he moved his training operation to Horle, in Northumberland, and in 1984 moved again to Warwick Lodge, Middleham. He relinquished his licence in 1986.
David took out a trainer’s licence in 1979, based at Tow Law, County Durham, with a string of around a dozen horses. In 1982 he moved his training operation to Horle, in Northumberland, and in 1984 moved again to Warwick Lodge, Middleham. He relinquished his licence in 1986.
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