Ernest McKay
Ernest ‘Jock’ McKay was born in Glasgow in 1948, the son of a Scottish miner. He was apprenticed to Peter Nelson at Lambourn and rode his first winner on Toosin Tack in an apprentices’ handicap at Chepstow on May 31, 1966.
Ernest ‘Jock’ McKay was born in Glasgow in 1948, the son of a Scottish miner. He was apprenticed to Peter Nelson at Lambourn and rode his first winner on Toosin Tack in an apprentices’ handicap at Chepstow on May 31, 1966.
It was Chepstow that was to prove the venue for the highlight of Jock’s career later that summer. On what was just his fifth ride in public and his second winner, he landed the W. D. & H. O. Wills Trophy, a one-mile three-year-old handicap, on 100-8 shot Irish Minstrel.
It was Chepstow that was to prove the venue for the highlight of Jock’s career later that summer. On what was just his fifth ride in public and his second winner, he landed the W. D. & H. O. Wills Trophy, a one-mile three-year-old handicap, on 100-8 shot Irish Minstrel.
His third winner that year came courtesy of Nimble Joe in a Leicester apprentices’ race in September. Nimble Joe’s previous start had been when winning the last ever Flat race to take place at Worcester.
His third winner that year came courtesy of Nimble Joe in a Leicester apprentices’ race in September. Nimble Joe’s previous start had been when winning the last ever Flat race to take place at Worcester.
Having ridden three winners from nine rides that year, all of them for Peter Nelson, his indentures were transferred to Surrey-based trainer Pat Taylor in 1967. Jock rode his first winner for his new master when making all on Tyrone Blaze to score by four lengths in a Brighton apprentices’ race in August.
Having ridden three winners from nine rides that year, all of them for Peter Nelson, his indentures were transferred to Surrey-based trainer Pat Taylor in 1967. Jock rode his first winner for his new master when making all on Tyrone Blaze to score by four lengths in a Brighton apprentices’ race in August.
That arrangement only lasted one year. In 1968 Jock returned to his old guvnor Peter Nelson, for whom he registered his sole success from just three rides in 1969, on Pallarco, who made all to win an apprentice’s race at an Alexandra Park evening meeting on a Tuesday night in July.
That arrangement only lasted one year. In 1968 Jock returned to his old guvnor Peter Nelson, for whom he registered his sole success from just three rides in 1969, on Pallarco, who made all to win an apprentice’s race at an Alexandra Park evening meeting on a Tuesday night in July.
The following year, Alexandra Park’s name disappeared from the fixture list, as did Jock McKay’s from the list of apprentice jockeys.
The following year, Alexandra Park’s name disappeared from the fixture list, as did Jock McKay’s from the list of apprentice jockeys.
Ernest ‘Jock’ McKay’s winners were, in chronological order:
Ernest ‘Jock’ McKay’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Toosin Tack, Chepstow, May 31, 1966
1. Toosin Tack, Chepstow, May 31, 1966
2. Irish Minstrel, Chepstow, August 6, 1966
2. Irish Minstrel, Chepstow, August 6, 1966
3. Nimble Joe, Leicester, September 19, 1966
3. Nimble Joe, Leicester, September 19, 1966
4. Tyrone Blaze, Brighton, August 3, 1967
4. Tyrone Blaze, Brighton, August 3, 1967
5. Pallarco, Alexandra Park, July 22, 1969.
5. Pallarco, Alexandra Park, July 22, 1969.