Michael Murphy
National Hunt jockey Michael Patrick Francis Murphy was born in Ireland on March 2, 1949. His British racing career began in Richmond, Yorkshire with trainer Anthony Kemp. Kemp provided Michael with his first winner in Britain, Baltizar in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on January 6, 1972.
National Hunt jockey Michael Patrick Francis Murphy was born in Ireland on March 2, 1949. His British racing career began in Richmond, Yorkshire with trainer Anthony Kemp. Kemp provided Michael with his first winner in Britain, Baltizar in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on January 6, 1972.
Michael subsequently joined Grand National-winning jockey Pat Buckley, who was setting out as a trainer at Malton following a successful riding career. Michael rode as a conditional jockey for Buckley for several seasons but winners were few and far between.
Michael subsequently joined Grand National-winning jockey Pat Buckley, who was setting out as a trainer at Malton following a successful riding career. Michael rode as a conditional jockey for Buckley for several seasons but winners were few and far between.
He rode two winners from 40 mounts in the 1975/76 season, namely selling hurdler Sweet Dough for Pat Buckley at Catterick on New Year’s Day and selling chaser Sally’s Choice for Taffy Williams at Teesside Park on February 16, 1976.
He rode two winners from 40 mounts in the 1975/76 season, namely selling hurdler Sweet Dough for Pat Buckley at Catterick on New Year’s Day and selling chaser Sally’s Choice for Taffy Williams at Teesside Park on February 16, 1976.
He again rode two winners the following season, this time from just 24 mounts, they being Peter Poston’s stable star Homefield in a handicap hurdle at Ayr on November 22, 1976 and Captive Knight for Newmarket trainer Hugh Collingridge at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1977.
He again rode two winners the following season, this time from just 24 mounts, they being Peter Poston’s stable star Homefield in a handicap hurdle at Ayr on November 22, 1976 and Captive Knight for Newmarket trainer Hugh Collingridge at Market Rasen on Easter Monday 1977.
Michael joined another Yorkshire trainer, Chris Thornton, in 1979 and spent three seasons riding for him. Again, winners were hard to come by, though he registered a score of five winners from 56 mounts for the 1978/79 season. They included two high-profile successes on Steve Nesbitt’s good chaser Red Earl, firstly in the Market Rasen Chamber of Trade Cup Chase on September 30 and then what was to be by far Michael biggest victory in the Charisma Records Gold Cup at Kempton on October 23, 1978. His winners for Chris Thornton that season included handicap hurdler Bobby Kempinski at Ayr on December 6.
Michael joined another Yorkshire trainer, Chris Thornton, in 1979 and spent three seasons riding for him. Again, winners were hard to come by, though he registered a score of five winners from 56 mounts for the 1978/79 season. They included two high-profile successes on Steve Nesbitt’s good chaser Red Earl, firstly in the Market Rasen Chamber of Trade Cup Chase on September 30 and then what was to be by far Michael biggest victory in the Charisma Records Gold Cup at Kempton on October 23, 1978. His winners for Chris Thornton that season included handicap hurdler Bobby Kempinski at Ayr on December 6.
Michael scored an early season success for 1980/81 when landing the Aveling-Barford Invicta Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on August 16, 1980 aboard the Basil Richmond-trained Rebecca Maid. However, his only other win that season came on novice hurdler Scotsezo for Market Drayton trainer Peter Brookshaw on the Saturday of Southwell’s Easter meeting, April 18, 1981.
Michael scored an early season success for 1980/81 when landing the Aveling-Barford Invicta Handicap Hurdle at Market Rasen on August 16, 1980 aboard the Basil Richmond-trained Rebecca Maid. However, his only other win that season came on novice hurdler Scotsezo for Market Drayton trainer Peter Brookshaw on the Saturday of Southwell’s Easter meeting, April 18, 1981.
That Southwell victory may have been the last of Michael’s career. He moved south to Newmarket the following season, riding as a freelance, but does not appear to have ridden any more winners.
That Southwell victory may have been the last of Michael’s career. He moved south to Newmarket the following season, riding as a freelance, but does not appear to have ridden any more winners.
