Matt McCourt
Matt McCourt
Matt McCourt
1928-1993
1928-1993
Matt McCourt held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1946 to 1966 and rode 103 winners, only one being on the Flat, the rest over jumps. He was the father of jockey Graham McCourt whose big race triumphs include the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 100/1 outsider Norton’s Coin and the Champion Hurdle on Royal Gait.
Matt McCourt held a National Hunt jockey’s licence from 1946 to 1966 and rode 103 winners, only one being on the Flat, the rest over jumps. He was the father of jockey Graham McCourt whose big race triumphs include the Cheltenham Gold Cup on 100/1 outsider Norton’s Coin and the Champion Hurdle on Royal Gait.
Matthew McCourt was born on January 8, 1928 in Stanullen, Co. Meath. He was apprenticed to the trainer Barney Nugent in Ireland and rode his first winner over jumps on Barney’s Link at Waterford & Tramore, trained by Nugent, on August 13, 1947.
Matthew McCourt was born on January 8, 1928 in Stanullen, Co. Meath. He was apprenticed to the trainer Barney Nugent in Ireland and rode his first winner over jumps on Barney’s Link at Waterford & Tramore, trained by Nugent, on August 13, 1947.
He moved to England early in 1951 and had his first success on British soil aboard Wansford, trained by Cliff Beechener, in a Southwell selling chase on May 22, 1951.
He moved to England early in 1951 and had his first success on British soil aboard Wansford, trained by Cliff Beechener, in a Southwell selling chase on May 22, 1951.
He rode four winners during the 1951/52 season but only one the next, that being handicap chaser Lonely Boy for Redditch trainer Dick Langley at Southwell on May 21, 1953. Lonely Boy was also responsible for four of Matt’s five wins in 1953/54, scoring three early season victories at Buckfastleigh, Newton Abbot and Devon & Exeter in August 1953 and at Hereford on Easter Monday 1954.
He rode four winners during the 1951/52 season but only one the next, that being handicap chaser Lonely Boy for Redditch trainer Dick Langley at Southwell on May 21, 1953. Lonely Boy was also responsible for four of Matt’s five wins in 1953/54, scoring three early season victories at Buckfastleigh, Newton Abbot and Devon & Exeter in August 1953 and at Hereford on Easter Monday 1954.
Frank Mann’s handicap hurdler Dandy Titch was Matt’s salvation for the 1954/55 campaign, supplying him with all his five wins that season. The winning partnership began at Ludlow on the September 30, 1954, following up at Uttoxeter two days later. They won again at Leicester on February 18, then at Warwick on March 14, and finally at Towcester on Easter Monday 1955.
Frank Mann’s handicap hurdler Dandy Titch was Matt’s salvation for the 1954/55 campaign, supplying him with all his five wins that season. The winning partnership began at Ludlow on the September 30, 1954, following up at Uttoxeter two days later. They won again at Leicester on February 18, then at Warwick on March 14, and finally at Towcester on Easter Monday 1955.
Frank Mann had been using Micky Lynn as his number one rider but following Lynn’s tragic death following a fall at Sandown in April 1955, Matt McCourt stepped into the role of stable jockey. He rode five winners during the 1955/56 campaign including two on Mann’s handicap hurdler Mr Traddles, at Cheltenham on October 12 and at Worcester on November 26. Mr Traddles would become a mainstay of Mann’s yard and provide Matt with further wins.
Frank Mann had been using Micky Lynn as his number one rider but following Lynn’s tragic death following a fall at Sandown in April 1955, Matt McCourt stepped into the role of stable jockey. He rode five winners during the 1955/56 campaign including two on Mann’s handicap hurdler Mr Traddles, at Cheltenham on October 12 and at Worcester on November 26. Mr Traddles would become a mainstay of Mann’s yard and provide Matt with further wins.
He enjoyed his most successful British season in 1956/57 with a tally of ten. It began with a double at Huntingdon on October 13 on Frank Mann’s selling chaser Eastern Gift and Mr Traddles. Other Mann-trained wins that season included two on Dandy Titch at Chepstow in October and Warwick in December, and selling hurdler Streetways at Wolverhampton in January. His scores then fell to three in both the 1957/58 and 58/59 seasons and then to just one in each of the next four.
He enjoyed his most successful British season in 1956/57 with a tally of ten. It began with a double at Huntingdon on October 13 on Frank Mann’s selling chaser Eastern Gift and Mr Traddles. Other Mann-trained wins that season included two on Dandy Titch at Chepstow in October and Warwick in December, and selling hurdler Streetways at Wolverhampton in January. His scores then fell to three in both the 1957/58 and 58/59 seasons and then to just one in each of the next four.
Matt’s penultimate winner inadvertently painted him as a villain for thwarting what would otherwise have been a piece of racing history. On September 27, 1961, he won the Onibury Selling Handicap Chase at Ludlow on his long-standing ally Mr Traddles, who was by then 13 years old. In so doing he prevented the runner-up, 21-year-old Creggmore Boy, from becoming the oldest winner of a race in modern times.
Matt’s penultimate winner inadvertently painted him as a villain for thwarting what would otherwise have been a piece of racing history. On September 27, 1961, he won the Onibury Selling Handicap Chase at Ludlow on his long-standing ally Mr Traddles, who was by then 13 years old. In so doing he prevented the runner-up, 21-year-old Creggmore Boy, from becoming the oldest winner of a race in modern times.
Matt’s final winner was on Powalgarh in the Rugeley Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, April 16, 1963 for local trainer Arthur Birch.
Matt’s final winner was on Powalgarh in the Rugeley Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter on Tuesday, April 16, 1963 for local trainer Arthur Birch.
He then became head lad to Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire trainer Jack Yeomans before taking over the stables on Yeomans’ death in 1968. The following year he relocated to Letcombe Regis, near Wantage and continued to train there for the rest of his life.
He then became head lad to Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire trainer Jack Yeomans before taking over the stables on Yeomans’ death in 1968. The following year he relocated to Letcombe Regis, near Wantage and continued to train there for the rest of his life.
His best horses were Belfort (who later became a successful sire), Van Laser, Misty For Me, Amerous and Bundaburg. Among the races he won as a trainer were the Ripon’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap and Ascot’s Bovis Stakes.
His best horses were Belfort (who later became a successful sire), Van Laser, Misty For Me, Amerous and Bundaburg. Among the races he won as a trainer were the Ripon’s Great St Wilfrid Handicap and Ascot’s Bovis Stakes.
Matt suffered a stroke just before Christmas 1992. He had been released from hospital and appeared to be recovering when he suffered a relapse and died at Wantage on April 28, 1993, aged 65. He left £110, 416. Following his death, his widow Mary was granted a temporary licence and duly took over the training operation.
Matt suffered a stroke just before Christmas 1992. He had been released from hospital and appeared to be recovering when he suffered a relapse and died at Wantage on April 28, 1993, aged 65. He left £110, 416. Following his death, his widow Mary was granted a temporary licence and duly took over the training operation.