Fred McKenna
Frederick William McKenna was born in Ireland on June 3, 1946. His father, Frank McKenna, was a successful Irish dual purpose jockey who had won the big ‘Galway double’ of the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle in 1950 and had come within a short head of landing the Irish 1,000 Guineas on a 100-1 shot.
Frederick William McKenna was born in Ireland on June 3, 1946. His father, Frank McKenna, was a successful Irish dual purpose jockey who had won the big ‘Galway double’ of the Galway Plate and Galway Hurdle in 1950 and had come within a short head of landing the Irish 1,000 Guineas on a 100-1 shot.
Frank had married a Dutch girl and their son was christened Fredorick Willem, but adopted English names.
Frank had married a Dutch girl and their son was christened Fredorick Willem, but adopted English names.
Fred was apprenticed to Paddy Norris in Ireland for three years and rode his first winner on his first ride over jumps, Carrigdown, owned and trained by Norris, in the mile-and-a-half Shannon Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon on May 12, 1964. Mile-and-a-half hurdle races were still common in Ireland at that time.
Fred was apprenticed to Paddy Norris in Ireland for three years and rode his first winner on his first ride over jumps, Carrigdown, owned and trained by Norris, in the mile-and-a-half Shannon Handicap Hurdle at Roscommon on May 12, 1964. Mile-and-a-half hurdle races were still common in Ireland at that time.
He rode his first British winner at Chepstow on Easter Monday, April 15, 1968, when 33-1 outsider Zendeal landed the Castle Maiden Hurdle (Division 2) beating the evens favourite Lipizzaner, the mount of Jeff King, by two lengths.
He rode his first British winner at Chepstow on Easter Monday, April 15, 1968, when 33-1 outsider Zendeal landed the Castle Maiden Hurdle (Division 2) beating the evens favourite Lipizzaner, the mount of Jeff King, by two lengths.
That was his sole success of the 1967/68 season, and he failed to register another in four of the next five seasons. But he did eventually have his moment on the big stage.
That was his sole success of the 1967/68 season, and he failed to register another in four of the next five seasons. But he did eventually have his moment on the big stage.
Fred’s greatest victory came at Cheltenham when he won the 1975 Triumph Hurdle on 20-1 shot Royal Epic for Stockbridge trainer Vernon Cross. The first day of that year’s Cheltenham National Hunt meeting had been abandoned due to a waterlogged course. Four races were saved, two being added to Wednesday’s card and two to Thursday’s.
Fred’s greatest victory came at Cheltenham when he won the 1975 Triumph Hurdle on 20-1 shot Royal Epic for Stockbridge trainer Vernon Cross. The first day of that year’s Cheltenham National Hunt meeting had been abandoned due to a waterlogged course. Four races were saved, two being added to Wednesday’s card and two to Thursday’s.
The Triumph Hurdle, the fourth race on Thursday, was run in attritional conditions. Royal Epic handled them better than most, taking the lead approaching the last hurdle and battling on up the hill to hold off 4-1 favourite Philominsky, the mount of Mick Wagner, by a diminishing head. After the following race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the remainder of the meeting was abandoned as the course was deemed unfit for racing.
The Triumph Hurdle, the fourth race on Thursday, was run in attritional conditions. Royal Epic handled them better than most, taking the lead approaching the last hurdle and battling on up the hill to hold off 4-1 favourite Philominsky, the mount of Mick Wagner, by a diminishing head. After the following race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the remainder of the meeting was abandoned as the course was deemed unfit for racing.
Fred won two races at Fontwell Park that season on Vernon Cross’s popular front-runner Eric, namely the Rank Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle in November 1974, and the Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday 1975.
Fred won two races at Fontwell Park that season on Vernon Cross’s popular front-runner Eric, namely the Rank Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle in November 1974, and the Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle on Whit Monday 1975.
Eric was also Fred’s last winner when making all to land Fontwell’s Arun Handicap Hurdle under 12st 7lb on August 13, 1975.
Eric was also Fred’s last winner when making all to land Fontwell’s Arun Handicap Hurdle under 12st 7lb on August 13, 1975.