Terry McKeown

c1950 - 2021

The son of a dairy worker, Terence Patrick McKeown was born in Scotland circa 1950 and was apprenticed to Geoffrey Brooke and Doug Smith.

His first winner was Unbiased, trained by Smith, in the Egerton Apprentices Stakes at Newbury on 31 August 1968.

Apprenticed from 1965, he became a leading young rider and made a lot of money.

Sadly, he lost it all through alcoholism.

His biggest wins came in the 1974 Ebor (Anji), the 1976 Portland (He'land Jamie) and the 1972 City & Suburban (Owen Anthony). He also rode Gentilhombre to dead-heat for France's top five-furlong sprint, the Prix de l'Abbaye, in 1976.

Terry McKeown died in June 2021, aged 71.

Big winners

1972: City and Suburban Handicap – Owen Anthony

1973: Usher-Vaux Brewery Gold Tankard – Tripper

1974: Ebor Handicap – Anji

1976: Portland Handicap – Hei’land Jamie

1976: Prix de l'Abbaye - Gentilhombre (dead-heat)

Article courtesy Chas Hammond