Michael Meagher
Former jump jockey and trainer Michael (Mick) Meagher is today best known as the long-serving racing manager to multimillionaire owner Trevor Hemmings, the man who counts Blackpool Tower among his properties.
Former jump jockey and trainer Michael (Mick) Meagher is today best known as the long-serving racing manager to multimillionaire owner Trevor Hemmings, the man who counts Blackpool Tower among his properties.
Mick was born in Ireland on August 5, 1962. He rode seven winners in his homeland before coming to England in 1983 and joining Ulverston trainer Roger Fisher. He achieved his first British success on Run Leah Run, trained by Roger Fisher, in the Eglington Maiden Hurdle at Ayr on 11 February 1984.
Mick was born in Ireland on August 5, 1962. He rode seven winners in his homeland before coming to England in 1983 and joining Ulverston trainer Roger Fisher. He achieved his first British success on Run Leah Run, trained by Roger Fisher, in the Eglington Maiden Hurdle at Ayr on 11 February 1984.
The following month he won a brace of novice chases at Haydock and Ayr aboard Great Head Boy, plus the Bobby O’Neill Novices’ Chase at Bangor on Optimum. Also that month he landed handicap hurdles at Ayr and Kelso on Burn Nooka. He rounded off the season by winning a Perth amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle on Good To See You and a Cartmel selling hurdle on Nimbo.
The following month he won a brace of novice chases at Haydock and Ayr aboard Great Head Boy, plus the Bobby O’Neill Novices’ Chase at Bangor on Optimum. Also that month he landed handicap hurdles at Ayr and Kelso on Burn Nooka. He rounded off the season by winning a Perth amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle on Good To See You and a Cartmel selling hurdle on Nimbo.
He turned professional the next season, 1984/85 and went on to ride a total of 48 winners in Britain, most of them trained by Roger Fisher. They included, in 1985/86, a pair of Bangor novice hurdles on Bunrannoch House, and novice hurdles at Ayr and Kelso on Dad’s Gamble.
He turned professional the next season, 1984/85 and went on to ride a total of 48 winners in Britain, most of them trained by Roger Fisher. They included, in 1985/86, a pair of Bangor novice hurdles on Bunrannoch House, and novice hurdles at Ayr and Kelso on Dad’s Gamble.
His successes in the 1986/87 campaign included Dad’s Gamble at Kelso; a pair of Ayr novice hurdles on Hassle Money; Ayr novice chases on Run Leah Run, Clannad and Flarey Sark; an Edinburgh handicap hurdle on Smart Jack; and a Warwick novices’ hurdle on Vale Of Secrecy; all of them trained by Roger Fisher.
His successes in the 1986/87 campaign included Dad’s Gamble at Kelso; a pair of Ayr novice hurdles on Hassle Money; Ayr novice chases on Run Leah Run, Clannad and Flarey Sark; an Edinburgh handicap hurdle on Smart Jack; and a Warwick novices’ hurdle on Vale Of Secrecy; all of them trained by Roger Fisher.
He gave up race-riding the following season and joined Mike O’Neill as assistant trainer, the pair gaining their greatest triumph with 50-1 outsider Joveworth in the 1989 Ayr Gold Cup.
He gave up race-riding the following season and joined Mike O’Neill as assistant trainer, the pair gaining their greatest triumph with 50-1 outsider Joveworth in the 1989 Ayr Gold Cup.
Mick took out a licence in his own name in 1993, based at Ormskirk at a yard owned by Malcolm Johnson. He gained his most important success when saddling 33-1 shot Precious Boy to win the 1994 Imperial Cup.
Mick took out a licence in his own name in 1993, based at Ormskirk at a yard owned by Malcolm Johnson. He gained his most important success when saddling 33-1 shot Precious Boy to win the 1994 Imperial Cup.
Sadly, just five days afterwards, Precious Boy broke a cannon bone when finishing tenth in the County Hurdle and later had to be put down. Mick never fully recovered from the blow.
Sadly, just five days afterwards, Precious Boy broke a cannon bone when finishing tenth in the County Hurdle and later had to be put down. Mick never fully recovered from the blow.
He trained Southwell specialist Ordog Mor to win five races, ridden in four of those by AP McCoy. He scored his first Flat races in June 1999 with Netherhall, who won all-weather contests at Wolverhampton and Southwell, ridden by Jimmy Quinn.
He trained Southwell specialist Ordog Mor to win five races, ridden in four of those by AP McCoy. He scored his first Flat races in June 1999 with Netherhall, who won all-weather contests at Wolverhampton and Southwell, ridden by Jimmy Quinn.
Later that same year, Mick relinquished his trainer’s licence. He went on to become racing manager to Trevor Hemmings and has gone on to enjoy conspicuous success over the years, most notably through Hemmings’ three Grand National winners – Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).
Later that same year, Mick relinquished his trainer’s licence. He went on to become racing manager to Trevor Hemmings and has gone on to enjoy conspicuous success over the years, most notably through Hemmings’ three Grand National winners – Hedgehunter (2005), Ballabriggs (2011) and Many Clouds (2015).