Peadar Matthews

1935 - 2021

Irish classic-winning jockey Peadar Matthews served his apprenticeship with Mick Hurley at Osborne Lodge, the Curragh, from where Hurley had sent out 50-1 outsider Zarathustra to win the 1954 Irish Derby. He was a useful apprentice, seeing his claim reduced from 7lb to 5lb on July 14, 1956 when winning the Sir Thomas Dixon Perpetual Challenge Cup Handicap at Leopardstown on Maelsheachlainn for his boss.

He sprang to prominence in 1957, forging a highly productive association with Hurley’s three-year-old filly After The Show, on whom he’d won the Tyros Plate at the Curragh the previous year when still a 7lb claimer. In 1957 he rode her to win the Athasi Stakes in April, the Gallinule Stakes in June and the Pretty Polly Stakes in July. They also finished second, beaten a length, in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and fourth behind the top-class Silken Glider in the Irish Oaks.

Peadar finished that season with 20 winners from 110 rides. That would prove to be his best year numerically. His career took a downward turn with the loss of his apprentice allowance and his annual winning totals dropped to single figures.

However, having forged a link with the mighty Paddy Prendergast stable, riding as the yard’s second jockey behind Garnet Bougoure, he returned to the big stage when winning the 1962 Irish St Leger on 40-1 outsider Arctic Vale. The following year he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on another 40-1 chance, Linacre, also trained by Prendergast. Then, for good measure he added the 1963 Leopardstown November Handicap on Portail Rouge for trainer Aubrey Brabazon.

He had very few rides in England but managed to finish third in the 1964 Derby on Paddy Prendergast’s 100-1 longshot Dilettante II. Having been in the leading pair rounding Tattenham Corner, Dilettante II stayed on well to be beaten one length and two lengths by Santa Claus and Indiana.

Peadar rode 18 winners in Ireland that year and recorded the same total in 1965, when he achieved further big race success for Prendergast on two-year-old Young Emperor in the 1965 Marble Hill Stakes.

In 1977 he was associated with yet another shock winner, this time for Vincent O'Brien who supplied three of the seven runners in the Royal Whip at the Curragh. Lester Piggott was on the favourite Valinsky, Tommy Murphy rode Meneval, and Peadar was on 33-1 outsider Alleged. Valinsky struck the front as they came into the straight and looked certain to win, but then Alleged cruised up to him and beat him comfortably. The brilliant dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner was certainly the best horse Peadar rode during his years as a jockey.

He took up training after his retirement from riding. He was a highly popular figure on the Curragh, and it was a great occasion when he recorded a Pattern race success, saddling Quintiliani, the 16-1 outsider of four and ridden by John Egan, to upset the odds-on Ridgewood Ben in the Group 3 Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh in 1994.

His best horse over jumps was Fishin Joella, with whom he won bumpers on her first two starts at Leopardstown and Gowran Park in January 1996. He also trained the mare to win over hurdles before she joined Noel Meade. Fishin Joella subsequently became the dam of Royal Ascot winner Jennies Jewel.

His son, Peter Matthews, became the Irish Horse Racing Board’s Head of Stewarding.

Peadar Matthews passed away at Beech Park Nursing Home in Co Kildare in January 2021, aged 85. Predeceased by his wife Maura in November 2020, he is survived by sons Peter and Derek, and daughters Marie, Paula, Caroline, Suzanne and Christine.

A private family funeral took place on February 1, 2021. He was buried in St Conleth's Cemetery, in Kildare town.