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Eamon McKinley
Eamon McKinley
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Eamon Matthew McKinley rode winners in his native Ireland prior to achieving his first British victory at Worcester on October 9, 1987, when Sherwood Forest was successful in a field of 23 for the Railway Selling Hurdle.
Eamon Matthew McKinley rode winners in his native Ireland prior to achieving his first British victory at Worcester on October 9, 1987, when Sherwood Forest was successful in a field of 23 for the Railway Selling Hurdle.
That Worcester victory left him just one short of riding out his claim. He did so when making all on the enigmatic Vodkatini to land the Wally Coomes Handicap Chase at Fontwell Park on December 8, 1987. That was the first of ten wins on horses trained by the great Josh Gifford, with whom Eamon was then based.
That Worcester victory left him just one short of riding out his claim. He did so when making all on the enigmatic Vodkatini to land the Wally Coomes Handicap Chase at Fontwell Park on December 8, 1987. That was the first of ten wins on horses trained by the great Josh Gifford, with whom Eamon was then based.
Vodkatini was one of those recalcitrant horses who would dig his toes in and refuse to race or pull himself up more often than not. Something of an equine cause celebre, he was capable of high-class form when the mood took him. He won good handicap chases around Ascot and Cheltenham and finished third behind Desert Orchid in the 1988 King George VI Chase.
Vodkatini was one of those recalcitrant horses who would dig his toes in and refuse to race or pull himself up more often than not. Something of an equine cause celebre, he was capable of high-class form when the mood took him. He won good handicap chases around Ascot and Cheltenham and finished third behind Desert Orchid in the 1988 King George VI Chase.
Eamon had no more wins that season and just three in 1988/89, although they included the valuable Steel Plate and Sections Young Chasers Novices’ Chase Final at Cheltenham on the Josh Gifford-trained Pin’s Pride, beating the favourite Blueberry King by eight lengths.
Eamon had no more wins that season and just three in 1988/89, although they included the valuable Steel Plate and Sections Young Chasers Novices’ Chase Final at Cheltenham on the Josh Gifford-trained Pin’s Pride, beating the favourite Blueberry King by eight lengths.
That was Eamon’s last victory for over 18 months but, after winning again on Pin’s Pride, this time at Folkestone, he recorded seven wins for the 1988/89 campaign. Sadly, he was unable to build on that and had only one success in each of the next two seasons. One of those, however, was on Bradbury Star, who went on to win several good races including the 1994 Mackeson Gold Cup.
That was Eamon’s last victory for over 18 months but, after winning again on Pin’s Pride, this time at Folkestone, he recorded seven wins for the 1988/89 campaign. Sadly, he was unable to build on that and had only one success in each of the next two seasons. One of those, however, was on Bradbury Star, who went on to win several good races including the 1994 Mackeson Gold Cup.
Former jump jockey Gareth Charles-Jones trained Eamon’s final winner, Pigeon Island, who came through to lead at the final fence and land the ‘Poethlyn’ Novices’ Chase at Plumpton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, 1992. Eamon did have one more outing on him but the ten-year-old did his best impression of Vodkatini and refused to start. Although Eamon had around 50 rides up to the end of the 1993/94 season there were no more wins. .
Former jump jockey Gareth Charles-Jones trained Eamon’s final winner, Pigeon Island, who came through to lead at the final fence and land the ‘Poethlyn’ Novices’ Chase at Plumpton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31, 1992. Eamon did have one more outing on him but the ten-year-old did his best impression of Vodkatini and refused to start. Although Eamon had around 50 rides up to the end of the 1993/94 season there were no more wins. .
Eamon McKinley’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Eamon McKinley’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Sherwood Forest, Worcester, October 9, 1987
1. Sherwood Forest, Worcester, October 9, 1987
2. Vodkatini, Fontwell Park, December 8, 1987
2. Vodkatini, Fontwell Park, December 8, 1987
3. Zamil, Windsor, March 6, 1989
3. Zamil, Windsor, March 6, 1989
4. Yale, Huntingdon, March 27, 1989
4. Yale, Huntingdon, March 27, 1989
5. Pin’s Pride, Cheltenham, April 19, 1989
5. Pin’s Pride, Cheltenham, April 19, 1989
6. Pin’s Pride, Folkestone, November 26, 1990
6. Pin’s Pride, Folkestone, November 26, 1990
7. Bollinger, Worcester, December 2, 1990
7. Bollinger, Worcester, December 2, 1990
8. Pragada, Fontwell Park, December 28, 1990
8. Pragada, Fontwell Park, December 28, 1990
9. Maestro, Warwick, December 29, 1990
9. Maestro, Warwick, December 29, 1990
10. Beau Charm, Towcester, January 31, 1991
10. Beau Charm, Towcester, January 31, 1991
11. Beau Charm, Uttoxeter, March 16, 1991
11. Beau Charm, Uttoxeter, March 16, 1991
12. Andy Boy, Plumpton, April 1, 1991
12. Andy Boy, Plumpton, April 1, 1991
13. Bradbury Star, Warwick, November 2, 1991
13. Bradbury Star, Warwick, November 2, 1991
14. Pigeon Island, Plumpton, August 31, 1992
14. Pigeon Island, Plumpton, August 31, 1992
Eamon McKinley's final winner: Pigeon Island, Plumpton, August 31, 1992
Eamon McKinley's final winner: Pigeon Island, Plumpton, August 31, 1992
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