Jack Maguire
Irish-born National Hunt jockey Jack Maguire scored his biggest successes on home soil, winning Ireland’s richest chase and most valuable hurdle race before coming to ride in Britain. In 1943 he won the Galway Hurdle on Erinox for Co. Kilkenny trainer John Kirwan.
Irish-born National Hunt jockey Jack Maguire scored his biggest successes on home soil, winning Ireland’s richest chase and most valuable hurdle race before coming to ride in Britain. In 1943 he won the Galway Hurdle on Erinox for Co. Kilkenny trainer John Kirwan.
Two years later he won the 1945 Irish Grand National on the 13-year-old Heirdom, also trained by Kirwan.
Two years later he won the 1945 Irish Grand National on the 13-year-old Heirdom, also trained by Kirwan.
By that time, John Patrick Maguire, always known as Jack, was John Kirwan’s well-established stable jockey. Back on July 2, 1940, he’d ridden a double for him at Waterford & Tramore, landing a handicap hurdle on Toirosse and a handicap chase on Mighty Atom II, neither race being worth more than £44 to the winner.
By that time, John Patrick Maguire, always known as Jack, was John Kirwan’s well-established stable jockey. Back on July 2, 1940, he’d ridden a double for him at Waterford & Tramore, landing a handicap hurdle on Toirosse and a handicap chase on Mighty Atom II, neither race being worth more than £44 to the winner.
In addition to winning the Irish Grand National he won five other races on Heirdom but he was unable to take the ride when he won the 1943 Leopardstown Chase, ridden that day by Jerry Fitzgerald, beating Tom Dreaper’s great champion Prince Regent by a head in receipt of 3 stone.
In addition to winning the Irish Grand National he won five other races on Heirdom but he was unable to take the ride when he won the 1943 Leopardstown Chase, ridden that day by Jerry Fitzgerald, beating Tom Dreaper’s great champion Prince Regent by a head in receipt of 3 stone.
As soon as the war was over, Jack came to England and rode for Ivor Anthony’s Wroughton stable, notching his first significant victory on Tregor in division two of the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham’s 1946 National Hunt meeting.
As soon as the war was over, Jack came to England and rode for Ivor Anthony’s Wroughton stable, notching his first significant victory on Tregor in division two of the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham’s 1946 National Hunt meeting.
At Cheltenham’s two-day April fixture in 1948, Jack won the valuable Cheltenham Hurdle on D.U.K.W. and rode a second day double on Stalbridge Rock over hurdles and Lucky Number in the Holman Cup Handicap Chase, all for Ivor Anthony.
At Cheltenham’s two-day April fixture in 1948, Jack won the valuable Cheltenham Hurdle on D.U.K.W. and rode a second day double on Stalbridge Rock over hurdles and Lucky Number in the Holman Cup Handicap Chase, all for Ivor Anthony.
Jack’s 13-winner haul in the 1948/49 season included victories on a quartet of decent chasers, all trained by Ivor Anthony, namely Klaxton, Battling Pedulas, Salmiana II and Proud Fancy.
Jack’s 13-winner haul in the 1948/49 season included victories on a quartet of decent chasers, all trained by Ivor Anthony, namely Klaxton, Battling Pedulas, Salmiana II and Proud Fancy.
He rode 16 winners in 1949/50, including Klaxton and Battling Pedulas again, plus Hurst Park’s Mark Time Hurdle on Harlech, who finished runner-up to Hatton’s Grace in the Champion Hurdle on his next start, ridden that day by Martin Molony rather than Jack.
He rode 16 winners in 1949/50, including Klaxton and Battling Pedulas again, plus Hurst Park’s Mark Time Hurdle on Harlech, who finished runner-up to Hatton’s Grace in the Champion Hurdle on his next start, ridden that day by Martin Molony rather than Jack.
He rode in four successive Grand Nationals but failed to get round in any of them, falling twice on Klaxton (1947 and 1950) and twice on Caddie II (1948 and 1949).
He rode in four successive Grand Nationals but failed to get round in any of them, falling twice on Klaxton (1947 and 1950) and twice on Caddie II (1948 and 1949).
Following his departure from Ivor Anthony’s stable, Jack rode as a freelance and his seasonal totals were in single figures for the remainder of his career. His best subsequent score was seven in 1956/57, the highlights being two hurdles and a chase on Colonel Bagwash, an Easter Monday double at Wincanton, and making all to win Kempton Park’s Christmas Handicap Hurdle on the Bill Wightman-trained Antony Wayne.
Following his departure from Ivor Anthony’s stable, Jack rode as a freelance and his seasonal totals were in single figures for the remainder of his career. His best subsequent score was seven in 1956/57, the highlights being two hurdles and a chase on Colonel Bagwash, an Easter Monday double at Wincanton, and making all to win Kempton Park’s Christmas Handicap Hurdle on the Bill Wightman-trained Antony Wayne.
His last winner was Colonel Bagwash at Devon & Exeter on August 22, 1957. He had his final ride when unplaced on Bonnie Bracken at Buckfastleigh on May 24, 1958, retiring at the end of the season.
His last winner was Colonel Bagwash at Devon & Exeter on August 22, 1957. He had his final ride when unplaced on Bonnie Bracken at Buckfastleigh on May 24, 1958, retiring at the end of the season.
After hanging up his boots, he had a spell as a private trainer in Aldbourne, before becoming head lad to Fulke Walwyn, remaining in that position for 16 years until his retirement in May 1987.
After hanging up his boots, he had a spell as a private trainer in Aldbourne, before becoming head lad to Fulke Walwyn, remaining in that position for 16 years until his retirement in May 1987.
Sadly, Jack Maguire died just a few months later in October 1987, aged 65, just four days after his wife Ann.
Sadly, Jack Maguire died just a few months later in October 1987, aged 65, just four days after his wife Ann.