Pat Mahoney
National Hint jockey Patrick Joseph Mahoney was born in Blarney, Co. Cork, on March 8, 1938. His career was dogged by injury but he did manage to win a big race when guiding Georgetown to victory over the Grand National fences in the 1967 Topham Trophy.
National Hint jockey Patrick Joseph Mahoney was born in Blarney, Co. Cork, on March 8, 1938. His career was dogged by injury but he did manage to win a big race when guiding Georgetown to victory over the Grand National fences in the 1967 Topham Trophy.
Having crossed the Irish Sea, Pat served his apprenticeship with J. A. Craig Brown at Bonnytoun, Linlithgow, West Lothian. Born in 1911, Brown had ridden in a number of point-to-points before 1938.
Having crossed the Irish Sea, Pat served his apprenticeship with J. A. Craig Brown at Bonnytoun, Linlithgow, West Lothian. Born in 1911, Brown had ridden in a number of point-to-points before 1938.
Pat rode his first winner on Sailing Skiff, trained by Craig Brown, in the six-furlong County Maiden Plate for three-year-olds at Ayr on May 18, 1957. This was the only winner he rode on the Flat. He went on to ride a further 13 over jumps:
Pat rode his first winner on Sailing Skiff, trained by Craig Brown, in the six-furlong County Maiden Plate for three-year-olds at Ayr on May 18, 1957. This was the only winner he rode on the Flat. He went on to ride a further 13 over jumps:
Moving south and basing himself in Newmarket, Pat took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence during the 1959/60 campaign and rode his first winner under that code on Grand Gloria, trained at Newmarket by Basil Foster, in the Chelsham Selling Handicap Chase at Lingfield park on March 16, 1960.
Moving south and basing himself in Newmarket, Pat took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence during the 1959/60 campaign and rode his first winner under that code on Grand Gloria, trained at Newmarket by Basil Foster, in the Chelsham Selling Handicap Chase at Lingfield park on March 16, 1960.
A second winner followed on Kate’s Blossom in the Brampton Hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday for fellow Newmarket trainer Percy Allden. Another Newmarket handler, Pat Moore, then provided him with his third and fourth successes on Shepherd’s Plaid at Fakenham (still known then as West Norfolk Hunt) on May 28 and Huntingdon on Whit Monday.
A second winner followed on Kate’s Blossom in the Brampton Hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday for fellow Newmarket trainer Percy Allden. Another Newmarket handler, Pat Moore, then provided him with his third and fourth successes on Shepherd’s Plaid at Fakenham (still known then as West Norfolk Hunt) on May 28 and Huntingdon on Whit Monday.
Four winners from just 15 rides constituted a reasonable start, but the following season yielded just one victory from 19 rides, that being selling hurdler Concordat at Stratford for yet another Newmarket trainer, Bill O’Gorman.
Four winners from just 15 rides constituted a reasonable start, but the following season yielded just one victory from 19 rides, that being selling hurdler Concordat at Stratford for yet another Newmarket trainer, Bill O’Gorman.
Shortly after that Stratford success, the injuries began to kick in. He broke a jaw in two places in a fall on the gallops at Newmarket and had to wear a brace for six months.
Shortly after that Stratford success, the injuries began to kick in. He broke a jaw in two places in a fall on the gallops at Newmarket and had to wear a brace for six months.
Pat’s first ride back the following season, Stonecrackers at Market Rasen on September 25, ended in a fall. That was followed by a much worse one at the same Lincolnshire’s course’s next meeting on October 14. His mount, novice chaser My Fair Laddie, fell and Pat broke a collarbone, splintered his spine and received head and stomach injuries. He was taken to St Geoge’s Hospital in Lincoln, where doctors advised him not to ride again that season.
Pat’s first ride back the following season, Stonecrackers at Market Rasen on September 25, ended in a fall. That was followed by a much worse one at the same Lincolnshire’s course’s next meeting on October 14. His mount, novice chaser My Fair Laddie, fell and Pat broke a collarbone, splintered his spine and received head and stomach injuries. He was taken to St Geoge’s Hospital in Lincoln, where doctors advised him not to ride again that season.
It was a long road back and it was not until linking up with West Horsley, Surrey trainer Ted Goddard that his luck changed, albeit temporarily, when riding five winners in three months, the first of them on novice hurdler Phenetto at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1963. He ended the season with a career-best five winners, all of them for Goddard, from 28 mounts.
It was a long road back and it was not until linking up with West Horsley, Surrey trainer Ted Goddard that his luck changed, albeit temporarily, when riding five winners in three months, the first of them on novice hurdler Phenetto at Kempton Park on Boxing Day 1963. He ended the season with a career-best five winners, all of them for Goddard, from 28 mounts.
Sadly, more injuries intervened, resulting in a blank season in 1964/65 and just one win from 20 mounts in 1965/66, that coming on selling hurdler Neronton for Epsom trainer John Sutcliffe at Newton Abbot.
Sadly, more injuries intervened, resulting in a blank season in 1964/65 and just one win from 20 mounts in 1965/66, that coming on selling hurdler Neronton for Epsom trainer John Sutcliffe at Newton Abbot.
Following an Easter Monday winner at Fakenham for Newmarket trainer Maurice Moroney, Pat’s day in the sun finally arrived at Liverpool on April 6, 1967. Standing in for regular rider John Blair, who’d been injured in a fall at Wetherby nine days earlier, Pat rode the grey 100-8 shot Georgetown to victory in the Topham Trophy Chase, beating champion jockey Josh Gifford on Go-Pontinental by three-quarters of a length. Georgetown was one of a small string trained by former National Hunt jockey Noel Kusbish at Great Ouseburn, near York.
Following an Easter Monday winner at Fakenham for Newmarket trainer Maurice Moroney, Pat’s day in the sun finally arrived at Liverpool on April 6, 1967. Standing in for regular rider John Blair, who’d been injured in a fall at Wetherby nine days earlier, Pat rode the grey 100-8 shot Georgetown to victory in the Topham Trophy Chase, beating champion jockey Josh Gifford on Go-Pontinental by three-quarters of a length. Georgetown was one of a small string trained by former National Hunt jockey Noel Kusbish at Great Ouseburn, near York.
Sadly, that high-profile success was not an indication of better things to come, for Pat never rode another winner. He had a couple of early season rides for Noel Kusbish at Market Rasen on August 26, 1967, finishing eighth on juvenile hurdler Brora Light and fifth on handicap chaser Prince Blarney. They were among his final mounts. He retired in 1968.
Sadly, that high-profile success was not an indication of better things to come, for Pat never rode another winner. He had a couple of early season rides for Noel Kusbish at Market Rasen on August 26, 1967, finishing eighth on juvenile hurdler Brora Light and fifth on handicap chaser Prince Blarney. They were among his final mounts. He retired in 1968.
Pat Mahoney’s winners were, in chronological order:
Pat Mahoney’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Sailing Skiff, Ayr, May 18, 1957
1. Sailing Skiff, Ayr, May 18, 1957
2. Grand Gloria. Lingfield Park, March 16, 1960
2. Grand Gloria. Lingfield Park, March 16, 1960
3. Kate’s Blossom, Huntingdon, April 18, 1960
3. Kate’s Blossom, Huntingdon, April 18, 1960
4. Shepherd’s Plaid, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), May 28, 1960
4. Shepherd’s Plaid, West Norfolk Hunt (Fakenham), May 28, 1960
5. Shepherd’s Plaid, Huntingdon, June 6, 1960
5. Shepherd’s Plaid, Huntingdon, June 6, 1960
6. Concordat, Stratford-on-Avon, February 18, 1961
6. Concordat, Stratford-on-Avon, February 18, 1961
7. Phenetto, Kempton Park, December 26, 1963
7. Phenetto, Kempton Park, December 26, 1963
8. Tucson, Newbury, February 15, 1964
8. Tucson, Newbury, February 15, 1964
9. Odysseus, Windsor, February 27, 1964
9. Odysseus, Windsor, February 27, 1964
10. Tucson, Warwick, March 2, 1964
10. Tucson, Warwick, March 2, 1964
11. Odysseus, Plumpton, March 30, 1964
11. Odysseus, Plumpton, March 30, 1964
12. Neronton, Newton Abbot, May 13, 1966
12. Neronton, Newton Abbot, May 13, 1966
13. Me Darlin’, Fakenham, March 27, 1967
13. Me Darlin’, Fakenham, March 27, 1967
14. Georgetown, Liverpool, April 6, 1967
14. Georgetown, Liverpool, April 6, 1967
