Pierce Murphy
Pierce Murphy
Pierce Murphy
c1919 - 1950
c1919 - 1950
Pierce Joseph Murphy’s early life was spent in farming in County Cork. He was a cousin of National Hunt jockey Willie O’Grady. This made up his mind to give racing a go.
Pierce Joseph Murphy’s early life was spent in farming in County Cork. He was a cousin of National Hunt jockey Willie O’Grady. This made up his mind to give racing a go.
Known by all as Joe, he began as an amateur and had his first two wins on Owen Mor, starting with the First Autumn Handicap Hurdle at Proudstown Park (known today as Navan) on September 11, 1937, beating Willie O’Grady’s mount Golden Toff by a length. His second victory, also on Owen Mor, came later that month in the North Kerry Plate, a hurdle race, at Listowel on September 29, again beating Willie O’Grady, this time on Glen Obi, by a short head.
Known by all as Joe, he began as an amateur and had his first two wins on Owen Mor, starting with the First Autumn Handicap Hurdle at Proudstown Park (known today as Navan) on September 11, 1937, beating Willie O’Grady’s mount Golden Toff by a length. His second victory, also on Owen Mor, came later that month in the North Kerry Plate, a hurdle race, at Listowel on September 29, again beating Willie O’Grady, this time on Glen Obi, by a short head.
He turned professional before Owen Mor’s next start at Proudstown Park on October 23, finishing unplaced, but it was that same horse that gave him his first win as a professional when taking the Proudstown Handicap Chase at that course on February 26, 1938, beating Jimmy Brogan on Atco by two lengths.
He turned professional before Owen Mor’s next start at Proudstown Park on October 23, finishing unplaced, but it was that same horse that gave him his first win as a professional when taking the Proudstown Handicap Chase at that course on February 26, 1938, beating Jimmy Brogan on Atco by two lengths.
Joe came to England in 1946 to ride for Noel Murless, then based at Hambleton, before teaming up with Jack Fawcus when Murless moved south. He rode a total of 61 British winners, beginning with Knight’s Crest, trained by Murless, in the Rudgate Handicap Chase at Wetherby on March 23, 1946. He rode Knight’s Crest in that year’s Grand National but they were among the fallers, as were five of Joe’s six subsequent rides over the Liverpool fences.
Joe came to England in 1946 to ride for Noel Murless, then based at Hambleton, before teaming up with Jack Fawcus when Murless moved south. He rode a total of 61 British winners, beginning with Knight’s Crest, trained by Murless, in the Rudgate Handicap Chase at Wetherby on March 23, 1946. He rode Knight’s Crest in that year’s Grand National but they were among the fallers, as were five of Joe’s six subsequent rides over the Liverpool fences.
He had one treble, also at Wetherby, on November 29, 1947, all three winners being trained by Fawcus, and twice rode 19 winners in a season, in 1947/48 and 1948/49.
He had one treble, also at Wetherby, on November 29, 1947, all three winners being trained by Fawcus, and twice rode 19 winners in a season, in 1947/48 and 1948/49.
He rated Cool Customer, on whom he won the inaugural running of the Great Yorkshire Chase in 1948, as the best horse he ever rode. He partnered Cool Customer in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, falling at the first fence in 1948 – the first time the horse had ever fallen – then finishing a close second in 1949, overhauled on the run-in by Aubrey Brabazon on Cottage Rake, the race being run that year in April, the scheduled Gold Cup day in March having been abandoned due to frost.
He rated Cool Customer, on whom he won the inaugural running of the Great Yorkshire Chase in 1948, as the best horse he ever rode. He partnered Cool Customer in two Cheltenham Gold Cups, falling at the first fence in 1948 – the first time the horse had ever fallen – then finishing a close second in 1949, overhauled on the run-in by Aubrey Brabazon on Cottage Rake, the race being run that year in April, the scheduled Gold Cup day in March having been abandoned due to frost.
Two days before that Gold Cup defeat, Joe had finished second in the Scottish Grand National on Brighter Sandy, beaten a length behind all-the-way winner Wot No Sun, ridden by Arthur Thompson.
Two days before that Gold Cup defeat, Joe had finished second in the Scottish Grand National on Brighter Sandy, beaten a length behind all-the-way winner Wot No Sun, ridden by Arthur Thompson.
What proved to be Joe’s last win was among his most important, forcing Hal o’ The Wynd up in the last stride to collar Johnny Gilbert’s mount Joe The Marine by a short head in the Liverpool Hurdle on March 24, 1950. Hal o’ The Wynd was trained by Jack Fawcus, and Joe had been on board when they finished second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier that month.
What proved to be Joe’s last win was among his most important, forcing Hal o’ The Wynd up in the last stride to collar Johnny Gilbert’s mount Joe The Marine by a short head in the Liverpool Hurdle on March 24, 1950. Hal o’ The Wynd was trained by Jack Fawcus, and Joe had been on board when they finished second in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham earlier that month.
On Easter Monday, April 10, 1950, Joe had a fall on Troonbay in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase. He died just five days later (April 15), aged 31, from a haemorrhage. His doctor was of the view that the Wetherby fall had not contributed to his death. He left £3,171.
On Easter Monday, April 10, 1950, Joe had a fall on Troonbay in the valuable Wetherby Handicap Chase. He died just five days later (April 15), aged 31, from a haemorrhage. His doctor was of the view that the Wetherby fall had not contributed to his death. He left £3,171.
His seven rides over the Liverpool fences were as follows:
His seven rides over the Liverpool fences were as follows:
Knight’s Crest, 1946 Grand National – fell
Knight’s Crest, 1946 Grand National – fell
Group Leader, 1946 Becher Chase – last of five to finish
Group Leader, 1946 Becher Chase – last of five to finish
Permutations, 1946 Molyneux Chase – fell
Permutations, 1946 Molyneux Chase – fell
Family Gathering, 1946 Valentine Chase – fell
Family Gathering, 1946 Valentine Chase – fell
Largo, 1947 Becher Chase – fell
Largo, 1947 Becher Chase – fell
Manchurian, 1947 Molyneux Chase – fell
Manchurian, 1947 Molyneux Chase – fell
Loyal Knight, 1949 Topham Trophy Chase – fell
Loyal Knight, 1949 Topham Trophy Chase – fell