Phil McEntee
(1946 - 1998)
(1946 - 1998)
Philip Matthew McEntee was born in Ireland on March 25, 1946. He rode over 100 winners on the Flat and was champion Irish apprentice in 1966. His major wins included the 1965 Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh on Windfield Lily and, in 1966, the valuable Morny Wing Memorial Apprentices’ Handicap on Dante’s Hill for owner-trainer Seamus McGrath. He also rode winners on the beach at Laytown and at the Galway Festival during that championship year.
Philip Matthew McEntee was born in Ireland on March 25, 1946. He rode over 100 winners on the Flat and was champion Irish apprentice in 1966. His major wins included the 1965 Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh on Windfield Lily and, in 1966, the valuable Morny Wing Memorial Apprentices’ Handicap on Dante’s Hill for owner-trainer Seamus McGrath. He also rode winners on the beach at Laytown and at the Galway Festival during that championship year.
Philip then switched his attention to riding over hurdles, recording a double in that sphere on Rockmore Boy and Red Hanrahan for trainer John Daly at Limerick in July 1970. He subsequently decided to try his luck in Britain and joined Lambourn trainer Reg Akehurst. He rode three winners during the 1973/74 season, two of them on Akehurst’s novice hurdler All My Love, at Plumpton on Easter Monday and at Hereford in May.
Philip then switched his attention to riding over hurdles, recording a double in that sphere on Rockmore Boy and Red Hanrahan for trainer John Daly at Limerick in July 1970. He subsequently decided to try his luck in Britain and joined Lambourn trainer Reg Akehurst. He rode three winners during the 1973/74 season, two of them on Akehurst’s novice hurdler All My Love, at Plumpton on Easter Monday and at Hereford in May.
He rode two winners the following season, including Akehurst’s Lyon Del Mar at Windsor on New Year’s Eve 1974. His sole success of the 1975/76 campaign came on handicap hurdler Favedo, also for Akehurst, at Plumpton on Easter Monday.
He rode two winners the following season, including Akehurst’s Lyon Del Mar at Windsor on New Year’s Eve 1974. His sole success of the 1975/76 campaign came on handicap hurdler Favedo, also for Akehurst, at Plumpton on Easter Monday.
Favedo was also Philip’s last winner, in the Evening Argus Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30, 1976. His final ride, again on Favedo, was at Warwick on May 24, 1977, finishing unplaced.
Favedo was also Philip’s last winner, in the Evening Argus Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30, 1976. His final ride, again on Favedo, was at Warwick on May 24, 1977, finishing unplaced.
Philip returned to Ireland where he trained until 1986. Problems with non-paying owners led him to handing in his licence there, but it was always his ambition to train again. He came back to Britain and kept his eye in by riding out for Jeff Pearce and Tom Bill, while working 12-hour shifts six days a week in a factory to raise the necessary funds.
Philip returned to Ireland where he trained until 1986. Problems with non-paying owners led him to handing in his licence there, but it was always his ambition to train again. He came back to Britain and kept his eye in by riding out for Jeff Pearce and Tom Bill, while working 12-hour shifts six days a week in a factory to raise the necessary funds.
In 1991 he resumed his training career with a 14-horse string at a yard near Cannock in the West Midlands. He did not stay there long, moving to Lakeside Racing Stables at Winkfield, near Windsor in 1983, then to Cedar Farm Stables, near Maidenhead the following year, before finally settling at Beverley House Stables, Exning Road, Newmarket.
In 1991 he resumed his training career with a 14-horse string at a yard near Cannock in the West Midlands. He did not stay there long, moving to Lakeside Racing Stables at Winkfield, near Windsor in 1983, then to Cedar Farm Stables, near Maidenhead the following year, before finally settling at Beverley House Stables, Exning Road, Newmarket.
His son Philip Simon (Phil) McEntee rode for him as a conditional jockey and also for other Newmarket trainers including Willie Musson, for whom he won a pair of conditional jockeys’ hurdles at Cheltenham and Newbury on Authorship during the 1990/91 season.
His son Philip Simon (Phil) McEntee rode for him as a conditional jockey and also for other Newmarket trainers including Willie Musson, for whom he won a pair of conditional jockeys’ hurdles at Cheltenham and Newbury on Authorship during the 1990/91 season.
Philip Matthew McEntee died in May, 1998. His son took over the training licence, eventually relocating to Racefield Stables on Newmarket’s Hamilton Road, where he continues to train successfully today.
Philip Matthew McEntee died in May, 1998. His son took over the training licence, eventually relocating to Racefield Stables on Newmarket’s Hamilton Road, where he continues to train successfully today.
Phil famously saddled Spare Parts to win seven races in the first three months of 2018, including four within a fortnight in January. Along with Captain Lars, Spare Parts shared the £10,000 prize for the all-weather's winning-most horse of the 2017/18 season. He was also nominated for Outstanding All-Weather Horse at the 2018 Racehorse Owners Awards. Phil’s daughter Grace now rides as an apprentice.
Phil famously saddled Spare Parts to win seven races in the first three months of 2018, including four within a fortnight in January. Along with Captain Lars, Spare Parts shared the £10,000 prize for the all-weather's winning-most horse of the 2017/18 season. He was also nominated for Outstanding All-Weather Horse at the 2018 Racehorse Owners Awards. Phil’s daughter Grace now rides as an apprentice.