Michael McNaughton
Michael McNaughton
Michael McNaughton
c1883-1923
c1883-1923
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Michael McNaughton rode four winners on the Flat, two in 1900 and two in 1903, plus one over jumps in 1904.
Michael McNaughton rode four winners on the Flat, two in 1900 and two in 1903, plus one over jumps in 1904.
Born in about 1883, he was apprenticed to Dick Dawson, who had just begun what was to prove a long and successful training career. According to the ‘Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing’, Dawson’s head lad McNaughton was the official trainer for the first few years of Dawson’s tenure, hence it is likely that Michael was a relative, most probably a son.
Born in about 1883, he was apprenticed to Dick Dawson, who had just begun what was to prove a long and successful training career. According to the ‘Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Flat Racing’, Dawson’s head lad McNaughton was the official trainer for the first few years of Dawson’s tenure, hence it is likely that Michael was a relative, most probably a son.
He had his first ride in public at Sandown Park on September 1, 1900, when unplaced on St. Jacob, trained by Dawson, in the Selling High-weight Handicap. Michael claimed his first victory at Leicester on October 3, when Nameless Lady took the Rawcliffe Selling Plate by a length and a half. He then doubled his score when Little Kath won the Netherton Nursery Handicap at Wolverhampton on October 22, again by a length and a half.
He had his first ride in public at Sandown Park on September 1, 1900, when unplaced on St. Jacob, trained by Dawson, in the Selling High-weight Handicap. Michael claimed his first victory at Leicester on October 3, when Nameless Lady took the Rawcliffe Selling Plate by a length and a half. He then doubled his score when Little Kath won the Netherton Nursery Handicap at Wolverhampton on October 22, again by a length and a half.
Although Michael had rides in the next two seasons, he did not add to his total until the first day of the 1903 season. At Lincoln on March 23, he won the third race on the card, the Chaplin Stakes, when three-year-old St. Emilion, owned by Lord Caernarvon, proved too good for his rivals, beating Girton Girl, ridden by champion jockey Willie Lane, by three lengths.
Although Michael had rides in the next two seasons, he did not add to his total until the first day of the 1903 season. At Lincoln on March 23, he won the third race on the card, the Chaplin Stakes, when three-year-old St. Emilion, owned by Lord Caernarvon, proved too good for his rivals, beating Girton Girl, ridden by champion jockey Willie Lane, by three lengths.
On July 6, another of Lord Caernarvon’s three-year-olds, the filly Pinwheel, gave Michael his final win on the Flat when landing the Chatham Maiden Plate at Folkestone in a canter by six lengths on her first start of the year.
On July 6, another of Lord Caernarvon’s three-year-olds, the filly Pinwheel, gave Michael his final win on the Flat when landing the Chatham Maiden Plate at Folkestone in a canter by six lengths on her first start of the year.
He did not ride on the Flat after that season but did have mounts over jumps in 1904, starting with an unplaced effort on Merry Hackle, making her debut under National Hunt rules, in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Sandown Park on October 22. The filly clearly benefitted from the experience as next time out she provided Michael with his final win when landing the Juvenile Hurdle at Hurst Park on November 3 by a length and a half.
He did not ride on the Flat after that season but did have mounts over jumps in 1904, starting with an unplaced effort on Merry Hackle, making her debut under National Hunt rules, in the Three-Year-Old Hurdle at Sandown Park on October 22. The filly clearly benefitted from the experience as next time out she provided Michael with his final win when landing the Juvenile Hurdle at Hurst Park on November 3 by a length and a half.
The five-year-old Black Biddy gave Michael a difficult last ride over jumps at Bungay on April 5, 1905, first falling, then refusing after being remounted, and finally pulling up in the Eastern Counties Selling Chase.
The five-year-old Black Biddy gave Michael a difficult last ride over jumps at Bungay on April 5, 1905, first falling, then refusing after being remounted, and finally pulling up in the Eastern Counties Selling Chase.
Having not ridden in public for 17 years, he took out a licence to ride on the Flat in 1922 but does not appear to have had any mounts. He died the following year.
Having not ridden in public for 17 years, he took out a licence to ride on the Flat in 1922 but does not appear to have had any mounts. He died the following year.
Michael McNaughton’s winners were, in chronological order:
Michael McNaughton’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Nameless Lady, Leicester, October 3, 1900
1. Nameless Lady, Leicester, October 3, 1900
2. Little Kath, Wolverhampton, October 22, 1900
2. Little Kath, Wolverhampton, October 22, 1900
3. St. Emilion, Lincoln, March 23, 1903
3. St. Emilion, Lincoln, March 23, 1903
4. Pinwheel, Folkestone, July 6, 1903
4. Pinwheel, Folkestone, July 6, 1903
5. Merry Hackle, Hurst Park, November 3, 1904
5. Merry Hackle, Hurst Park, November 3, 1904
Michael McNaughton's first winner: Nameless Lady, Leicester, October 3, 1900
Michael McNaughton's first winner: Nameless Lady, Leicester, October 3, 1900