Joe McDonald

Joe McDonald

Article by Alan Trout

Joseph McDonald rode 11 winners over jumps, spread over five seasons. His first success was at Plumpton on February 23, 1926, when the even-money favourite Gun Runner, trained by Harvey Leader at Newmarket, beat three rivals to land the Ringmer Novices’ Chase, beating Jimmy, the only other finisher, by five lengths. .  

From then on it was a case of two or three wins each season, including a dead heat at Plumpton on February 21, 1927, when his mount, Clash Morgan, and Dowser, ridden by George Rickaby, could not be separated at the end of the Hurstpierpoint Selling Hurdle. 

Joe’s last win – his first since losing his allowance – was at Leicester on January 20, 1930, when Tarsus beat 17 rivals to land the Hinckley Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths. It was his second ride on the six-year-old and he rode him three more times without being placed. 

His last mount was Cenobite who fell in the Melton Chase at Leicester on February 24, 1930. It is not known whether that fall ended his career prematurely. 

Joe McDonald’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Gun Runner, Plumpton, February 23, 1926

2. Navana, Huntingdon, April 5, 1926

3. Clash Morgan, Chelmsford, February 9, 1927

4. Clash Morgan, Plumpton, February 21, 1927 (dead heat)

5. Disposals, Bungay, March 30, 1927

6. Witness, Chelmsford, November 9, 1927

7. Morny, Chelmsford, February 8, 1928

8. Algoa, Chelmsford, March 20, 1929

9. Algoa, Huntingdon, April 1, 1929

10. Tarsus, Manchester, January 1, 1930

11. Tarsus, Leicester, January 20, 1930