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1925 - 2017
1925 - 2017
Martin Molony was the brother of five-times British NH champion jockey, Tim Molony.
Martin Molony was the brother of five-times British NH champion jockey, Tim Molony.
Born on July 20, 1925, he was apprenticed to Martin Hartigan and, when war broke out, returned to Ireland. He rode his first winner, aged 14, on the George Harris-trained Chitor, 201-1, at the Curragh Second October Meeting, 1939, on only his third ride.
Born on July 20, 1925, he was apprenticed to Martin Hartigan and, when war broke out, returned to Ireland. He rode his first winner, aged 14, on the George Harris-trained Chitor, 201-1, at the Curragh Second October Meeting, 1939, on only his third ride.
His first jumping success was appropriately at Galway - appropriate because his father's best chaser had won the big race there. Martin scored on Captain Harty's Knight of Veosas in the Ballybrit Steeplechase in 1942.
His first jumping success was appropriately at Galway - appropriate because his father's best chaser had won the big race there. Martin scored on Captain Harty's Knight of Veosas in the Ballybrit Steeplechase in 1942.
His first win in England came on Cloncarrig in the Molyneux Chase at Liverpool on 7 November 1947.
His first win in England came on Cloncarrig in the Molyneux Chase at Liverpool on 7 November 1947.
Other big races came his way: Princess Trudy (Irish 1,000 Guineas, 1950), Signal Box (Irish 2,000 Guineas, 1951) and Desert Drive (Irish Oaks, 1947). He was third in the Epsom Oaks on Stella Polaris (1950) and also came third on Signal Box in the Epsom Derby behind Arctic Prince (1951).
Other big races came his way: Princess Trudy (Irish 1,000 Guineas, 1950), Signal Box (Irish 2,000 Guineas, 1951) and Desert Drive (Irish Oaks, 1947). He was third in the Epsom Oaks on Stella Polaris (1950) and also came third on Signal Box in the Epsom Derby behind Arctic Prince (1951).
He won the Irish Grand National three times: Knight's Crest (1944), Golden View, (1946) and Dominick's Bar, (1950). He then took the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Silver Fame (1951).
He won the Irish Grand National three times: Knight's Crest (1944), Golden View, (1946) and Dominick's Bar, (1950). He then took the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Silver Fame (1951).
He suffered a horrific fall at Thurles when coming off Bursary (1951) and his riding career was over.
He suffered a horrific fall at Thurles when coming off Bursary (1951) and his riding career was over.
He had won six Irish champion jockey titles and had finished runner-up to his brother Tim in the British table of 1949-1950.
He had won six Irish champion jockey titles and had finished runner-up to his brother Tim in the British table of 1949-1950.
He rode no less than 186 winners in 1949 and his record number of 94 NH winners in a year stood until Charlie Swan broke it in 1992.
He rode no less than 186 winners in 1949 and his record number of 94 NH winners in a year stood until Charlie Swan broke it in 1992.
Strangely, the first time he sat on a pony, he was - aged six - frightened out of his wits. Bursting into tears he screamed 'TAKE ME OFF...!'
Strangely, the first time he sat on a pony, he was - aged six - frightened out of his wits. Bursting into tears he screamed 'TAKE ME OFF...!'
Below is John Oaksey's appraisal of Martin.
Below is John Oaksey's appraisal of Martin.
"Twelve years is not long to prove yourself the greatest all-round jockey there has ever been and Martin, needless to say, never dreamt of any such outlandish claim. But plenty of perfectly rational people have made it since on his behalf ....."
"Twelve years is not long to prove yourself the greatest all-round jockey there has ever been and Martin, needless to say, never dreamt of any such outlandish claim. But plenty of perfectly rational people have made it since on his behalf ....."
It is just over 50 years since a fall at Thurles races ended his short but amazing career at the age of 27.
It is just over 50 years since a fall at Thurles races ended his short but amazing career at the age of 27.
A career lasting only 12 years started in 1939, when Martin rode his first winner, Chitor, at the Curragh. Just five years later he rode Knight's Crest to defeat the mighty Prince Regent in the Irish Grand National. Two further Irish Grand Nationals followed, on Golden View II and Dominick's Bar. Then there were three Irish Classics, the 1000 Guineas on Princess Trudy, the Oaks on Desert Drive and the 2000 Guineas on Signal Box. Martin was also placed in both the Derby and the Oaks at Epson, in addition to winning the Phoenix 1500 on Abadan.
A career lasting only 12 years started in 1939, when Martin rode his first winner, Chitor, at the Curragh. Just five years later he rode Knight's Crest to defeat the mighty Prince Regent in the Irish Grand National. Two further Irish Grand Nationals followed, on Golden View II and Dominick's Bar. Then there were three Irish Classics, the 1000 Guineas on Princess Trudy, the Oaks on Desert Drive and the 2000 Guineas on Signal Box. Martin was also placed in both the Derby and the Oaks at Epson, in addition to winning the Phoenix 1500 on Abadan.
The Manister man was champion jockey in Ireland from 1946 until 1951, while also finishing second in the English National Hunt championship to his elder brother Tim, a five-times English champion.
The Manister man was champion jockey in Ireland from 1946 until 1951, while also finishing second in the English National Hunt championship to his elder brother Tim, a five-times English champion.
A short but glittering career ended on Tuesday, 18 September 1951, when a fall from Bursary left him close to death, the base of his skull was badly fractured in the fall. However such was his commanding lead in the jockey's championship, that he retained his Irish championship for the year.
A short but glittering career ended on Tuesday, 18 September 1951, when a fall from Bursary left him close to death, the base of his skull was badly fractured in the fall. However such was his commanding lead in the jockey's championship, that he retained his Irish championship for the year.
The previous year, 1950, Martin rode 116 winners in Ireland, his 70 National Hunt winners remained an Irish record until bettered by Charlie Swan, some 42 years later.
The previous year, 1950, Martin rode 116 winners in Ireland, his 70 National Hunt winners remained an Irish record until bettered by Charlie Swan, some 42 years later.
The book tells that also during this period Martin rode 61 winners in Britain, including 15 doubles and 4 trebles. Together with five winners in America, his total for the year was a truly staggering total of 182 winners.
The book tells that also during this period Martin rode 61 winners in Britain, including 15 doubles and 4 trebles. Together with five winners in America, his total for the year was a truly staggering total of 182 winners.
The author, Guy St John Williams, outlines that even fifty years on Martin Molony is still the benchmark to which all jump jockeys are compared.
The author, Guy St John Williams, outlines that even fifty years on Martin Molony is still the benchmark to which all jump jockeys are compared.
"He is what few can ever be - a great all-rounder, and as such he must be classed as one of the best in the history of the Turf".
"He is what few can ever be - a great all-rounder, and as such he must be classed as one of the best in the history of the Turf".
Martin Molony died on Monday, July 10, 2017, a few days before his 92nd birthday.
Martin Molony died on Monday, July 10, 2017, a few days before his 92nd birthday.
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Silver Fame (1951)
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner: Silver Fame (1951)
Other big winners:
Other big winners:
1944: Irish Grand National – Knight’s Crest
1944: Irish Grand National – Knight’s Crest
1946: Irish Grand National – Golden View II
1946: Irish Grand National – Golden View II
1948: Liverpool Handicap Hurdle – Rostel
1948: Liverpool Handicap Hurdle – Rostel
1949: Molyneux Chase – Cloncarrig
1949: Molyneux Chase – Cloncarrig
1950: Irish Grand National – Dominic’s Bar
1950: Irish Grand National – Dominic’s Bar
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