Dennis McKay

Dennis James McKay was born in West Ham, London on December 19, 1945. He was apprenticed to Jimmy Walsh at Ascot and had his best season in 1969 with 30 winners. He was also apprenticed to Peter Ashworth.

He had his first ride in public on Happy Tune at Yarmouth on September 17, 1963, and won his first race five years later on July 16, 1968, riding Regnal Ranger at Kempton Park.

Big races won include two Cesarewitches (Floridian, 1969 & Scoria, 1970), Lincoln Handicap (Blustery, 1977), Goodwood Stakes (Sea Kestrel, 1977) and two Wokingham Stakes (Virginia Boy, 1970 & Whistling Fool, 1971).

Dennis liked spending his winters abroad, and in 1970 was champion jockey in Jamaica and, in 1973, champion in Trinidad.

His last winner was Bold Habit in the Fruehalf Trailer Handicap on the all-weather at Lingfield on 29 November 1990.

He lived for a time at 1, Millers Field, Great Shefford, Newbury and, on November 6, 1971, married Margaret Anne Macgregor.

Big winners

1969: Bunbury Cup – Woolley

1969: Cesarewitch Handicap – Floridian

1970: Wokingham Stakes – Virginia Boy

1970: Portland Handicap – Virginia Boy

1970: Cesarewitch Handicap – Scoria

1971: Wokingham Stakes – Whistling Fool

1977: Lincoln Handicap – Blustery

1977: Goodwood Stakes – Sea Kestrel

1981: Northern Goldsmith’s Handicap – Bunter

1982: November Handicap – Turkoman (dead-heat)

1983: Carlisle Bell – Vain Deb

1986: Victoria Cup – Ready Wit