John McCarthy

John McCarthy rode winners over jumps in Ireland from 1918 onwards and also had nine wins in England during the late 1920s, starting with a victory at Cheltenham in which he beat two former champion National Hunt jockeys. . 

He was relatively successful in Ireland, where his winners included the New Year Handicap Hurdle at Baldoyle on January 1, 1923 aboard Dr Barney, and the Tuam Handicap Chase at that course on August 1, 1924 on White Eyes. He rode in the Irish Grand National six times between 1921 and 1930, coming closest when fourth on King’s Courier in 1923.  

He contested two major races in the spring of 1927, pulling up on Odd Cat in the Stanley Chase over the Liverpool fences and finishing unplaced on D.B.B. in the Welsh Grand National at Cardiff. 

It was on April 7, 1927 that John registered his first success un England, when Maxfli won the Cirencester Handicap Chase, beating Eric Foster on Jim Langford by six lengths, with Ted Leader on General Advance three lengths further away in third.

He won three chases on Royal Toy in 1929, notably the Wetherby Handicap Chase on Easter Monday 1929. It was the mare’s second victory in the race, having won it in 1927. With a winner’s prize of £492 on offer, it was a relatively big pot for a steeplechase in those days. Remarkably, she was reunited with John just 48 hours later to win the £195 to the winner Tarporley Handicap Chase at that Cheshire venue, defying a 20lb penalty for her Wetherby success, raising her wight to 12st 4lb, yet she still won by six lengths.  

Royal Toy remains one of the forgotten heroines from the inter-war period. Foaled in 1918 by Ardoon out of Santoi’s Queen, her racing career spanned four months short of 13 years. She made her debut when unplaced in a Ludlow maiden hurdle in October 1922 and finished second in her final race, a Huntingdon selling chase, at the grand old age of 17 in June 1935.

She ran in a total of 137 races, winning 34, finishing second 17 times, third 26 times, and 14 times fourth. She was a course specialist at Shirley Park, running there 15 times, winning seven, finishing second three times and third once. 

Royal Toy was John’s final win when taking the Earlswood Handicap Chase at her beloved Shirley Park on September 9, 1929. He had already ridden his last winner in Ireland three months earlier on Maureen Aroon at Rathkeale.

Sadly, his last ride ended badly when Test Match broke a pastern in the Town Chase at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, April 6, 1931.