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Richard McElroy
Richard McElroy
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Having ridden at least two winners over jumps in Ireland, Richard McElroy came to Britain in 1955 and had three victories within the space of six months.
Having ridden at least two winners over jumps in Ireland, Richard McElroy came to Britain in 1955 and had three victories within the space of six months.
His first British ride was on Duffle at Worcester on October 28, 1955, finishing seventh of 19 starters, having been prominent in third place turning for home. He enjoyed his first British success when War Drum, trained by Major John Perry at Cirencester, won the George Britten Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on Easter Monday, April 2, 1956, beating Urchin City by three lengths.
His first British ride was on Duffle at Worcester on October 28, 1955, finishing seventh of 19 starters, having been prominent in third place turning for home. He enjoyed his first British success when War Drum, trained by Major John Perry at Cirencester, won the George Britten Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on Easter Monday, April 2, 1956, beating Urchin City by three lengths.
They followed up at Wincanton on April 19 when War Drum proved too good for his 20 rivals in the Hinton Parva Handicap Hurdle, this time beating Fairpark, the mount of leading amateur rider Gay Kindersley, by two lengths. He ended the season with just those two successes, four seconds and five thirds from a total of 42 mounts.
They followed up at Wincanton on April 19 when War Drum proved too good for his 20 rivals in the Hinton Parva Handicap Hurdle, this time beating Fairpark, the mount of leading amateur rider Gay Kindersley, by two lengths. He ended the season with just those two successes, four seconds and five thirds from a total of 42 mounts.
Although Richard kept the ride it was another horse of Major Perry’s that gave him his third and final British winner when Soko narrowly took the Paignton Novices’ Hurdle at Newton Abbot on October 19, 1955. Tom Dearie, beaten a neck on the runner-up Oakleigh Way, objected to the winner on grounds of “crossing before and after the last flight of hurdles” but this was overruled.
Although Richard kept the ride it was another horse of Major Perry’s that gave him his third and final British winner when Soko narrowly took the Paignton Novices’ Hurdle at Newton Abbot on October 19, 1955. Tom Dearie, beaten a neck on the runner-up Oakleigh Way, objected to the winner on grounds of “crossing before and after the last flight of hurdles” but this was overruled.
Although Richard had plenty more rides that season, 41 in all, including two placed efforts on Soko, there were no more wins and he returned to Ireland at the end of the campaign.
Although Richard had plenty more rides that season, 41 in all, including two placed efforts on Soko, there were no more wins and he returned to Ireland at the end of the campaign.
He was back in action there by the summer of 1957 and registered his first win since leaving Britain when Nash’s Gorse won a maiden hurdle at Thurles on April 17, 1958.
He was back in action there by the summer of 1957 and registered his first win since leaving Britain when Nash’s Gorse won a maiden hurdle at Thurles on April 17, 1958.
Richard McElroy's final winner: Soko at Newton Abbot, October 19, 1955
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