Tommy Moran
1879 -1924
1879 -1924
Tommy Moran won the Irish Derby while still an apprentice. When switching to riding over jumps, he won the Irish Grand National and become the country’s champion jockey. In addition, he rode 55 winners in Britain including the Champion Chase over the Grand National fences.
Tommy Moran won the Irish Derby while still an apprentice. When switching to riding over jumps, he won the Irish Grand National and become the country’s champion jockey. In addition, he rode 55 winners in Britain including the Champion Chase over the Grand National fences.
Thomas Moran was born at Kildysart, Co. Clare in 1879. On leaving school he became apprenticed to joint trainers Frederick F. Cullen and Robert Exshaw at Rossmore Lodge, the Curragh and rode his first winner on Hollypark in the Durrow Selling Handicap at the Curragh on August 31, 1897.
Thomas Moran was born at Kildysart, Co. Clare in 1879. On leaving school he became apprenticed to joint trainers Frederick F. Cullen and Robert Exshaw at Rossmore Lodge, the Curragh and rode his first winner on Hollypark in the Durrow Selling Handicap at the Curragh on August 31, 1897.
On Wednesday, June 29, 1898 Tommy rode 7-2 second favourite Noble Howard, owned and bred by Sebastian M. Nolan and trained by Exshaw, to win the Irish Derby by three lengths. Just weeks after that Derby triumph, Exshaw suffered a heavy fall at Rossmore Lodge and though his injuries were initially not thought overly serious, he died as a result of them less than two months later.
On Wednesday, June 29, 1898 Tommy rode 7-2 second favourite Noble Howard, owned and bred by Sebastian M. Nolan and trained by Exshaw, to win the Irish Derby by three lengths. Just weeks after that Derby triumph, Exshaw suffered a heavy fall at Rossmore Lodge and though his injuries were initially not thought overly serious, he died as a result of them less than two months later.
Shortly afterwards, Tommy was forced by increasing weight to begin riding over jumps. The following year he became associated with M. J. Harty’s Alston stable and became champion jockey in 1899, in which year he accomplished the unusual feat of riding the winners of a two-year-old race, a Flat handicap, a hurdle and a steeplechase at the same meeting. He also won that year’s Galway Plate on Tipperary Boy and landed two Flat races on the same day’s card.
Shortly afterwards, Tommy was forced by increasing weight to begin riding over jumps. The following year he became associated with M. J. Harty’s Alston stable and became champion jockey in 1899, in which year he accomplished the unusual feat of riding the winners of a two-year-old race, a Flat handicap, a hurdle and a steeplechase at the same meeting. He also won that year’s Galway Plate on Tipperary Boy and landed two Flat races on the same day’s card.
Trained by Harty, Tipperary Boy was one of the best steeplechasers of his era. Unusually, for a chaser, he was still an entire and had not been gelded. In 1901, Tommy rode him to an easy 10-length success in the Irish Grand National. Reunited with Tipperary Boy three weeks later, they did a double stint at Leopardstown, winning a two-mile chase on the first day of the meeting and following up the very next day with a runaway success in the valuable Irish International Handicap Chase. In August they added a second Galway Plate, winning by 15 lengths.
Trained by Harty, Tipperary Boy was one of the best steeplechasers of his era. Unusually, for a chaser, he was still an entire and had not been gelded. In 1901, Tommy rode him to an easy 10-length success in the Irish Grand National. Reunited with Tipperary Boy three weeks later, they did a double stint at Leopardstown, winning a two-mile chase on the first day of the meeting and following up the very next day with a runaway success in the valuable Irish International Handicap Chase. In August they added a second Galway Plate, winning by 15 lengths.
Earlier that year, Tommy had ridden in Britain for the first time, finishing second on Nanki Poo in the Warrington Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on March 1, 1901. He achieved his first British success on 11-8 favourite Well Fort in the Trafford Park Handicap Chase at Manchester on January 16, 1902, scraping home by a neck. He rode Tipperary Boy in the 1902 Grand National, finishing sixth to the mare Shannon Lass.
Earlier that year, Tommy had ridden in Britain for the first time, finishing second on Nanki Poo in the Warrington Handicap Hurdle at Haydock Park on March 1, 1901. He achieved his first British success on 11-8 favourite Well Fort in the Trafford Park Handicap Chase at Manchester on January 16, 1902, scraping home by a neck. He rode Tipperary Boy in the 1902 Grand National, finishing sixth to the mare Shannon Lass.
Tommy’s career drifted a little after his association with Tipperary Boy and he had brief, unsuccessful spells riding in Austria and Hungary. In England he rode 20-1 chance Kilmallog in the 1903 Grand National but there was a tragic outcome when the horse fell and broke a leg.
Tommy’s career drifted a little after his association with Tipperary Boy and he had brief, unsuccessful spells riding in Austria and Hungary. In England he rode 20-1 chance Kilmallog in the 1903 Grand National but there was a tragic outcome when the horse fell and broke a leg.
On April 1, 1905, Tommy won the Champion Chase over Liverpool’s Grand National fences on Apollino. The following year he began riding in England full-time and rode 19 winners. They included a first-day double at Carmarthenshire Hunt on January 30 aboard Aerostat in the Harkforward Hurdle and Huntly in the Llanelly Hurdle, turning out again on Huntly the next day to land the Bronwydd Hurdle. He was actually first past the post 25 times during 1906 but six of his wins were disqualified on technical grounds. Among those lost winners was a second successive Champion Chase on Apollino, who won by 12 lengths but was disqualified for carrying the wrong weight.
On April 1, 1905, Tommy won the Champion Chase over Liverpool’s Grand National fences on Apollino. The following year he began riding in England full-time and rode 19 winners. They included a first-day double at Carmarthenshire Hunt on January 30 aboard Aerostat in the Harkforward Hurdle and Huntly in the Llanelly Hurdle, turning out again on Huntly the next day to land the Bronwydd Hurdle. He was actually first past the post 25 times during 1906 but six of his wins were disqualified on technical grounds. Among those lost winners was a second successive Champion Chase on Apollino, who won by 12 lengths but was disqualified for carrying the wrong weight.
He rode 16 winners in 1907 but the nearest he came to winning a major race was when finishing fourth on Lochryan in the Liverpool Hurdle. He had his third and last Grand National ride that year on 50-1 chance York II but was among the fallers.
He rode 16 winners in 1907 but the nearest he came to winning a major race was when finishing fourth on Lochryan in the Liverpool Hurdle. He had his third and last Grand National ride that year on 50-1 chance York II but was among the fallers.
Tommy was aboard the 3-1 favourite in the 1908 Welsh Grand National, Prince Hatzfelot’s chaser The Leek II, and led after two miles but his mount flattered to deceive and faded to finish fourth. He rode 11 winners in Britain that year, the last of them on Compton Toy for trainer Aubrey Hastings in the Gloucestershire Chase at Cheltenham on May 20, 1908. He had his final mount in Britain when falling on Li Hung in the Doveridge Handicap Hurdle at Derby on March 15, 1909.
Tommy was aboard the 3-1 favourite in the 1908 Welsh Grand National, Prince Hatzfelot’s chaser The Leek II, and led after two miles but his mount flattered to deceive and faded to finish fourth. He rode 11 winners in Britain that year, the last of them on Compton Toy for trainer Aubrey Hastings in the Gloucestershire Chase at Cheltenham on May 20, 1908. He had his final mount in Britain when falling on Li Hung in the Doveridge Handicap Hurdle at Derby on March 15, 1909.
Having retired from the hazards of steeplechasing to the comparative safety of running a public house in Clonmel, Tommy Moran was killed in a tragic accident when shooting cormorants from a boat in Dunmore Harbour on May 14, 1924.
Having retired from the hazards of steeplechasing to the comparative safety of running a public house in Clonmel, Tommy Moran was killed in a tragic accident when shooting cormorants from a boat in Dunmore Harbour on May 14, 1924.
Biggest wins:
Biggest wins:
1898: Irish Derby – Noble Howard
1898: Irish Derby – Noble Howard
1899: Galway Plate – Tipperary Boy
1899: Galway Plate – Tipperary Boy
1901: Irish Grand National – Tipperary Boy
1901: Irish Grand National – Tipperary Boy
1901: Irish International Handicap Chase – Tipperary Boy
1901: Irish International Handicap Chase – Tipperary Boy
1901: Galway Plate – Tipperary Boy
1901: Galway Plate – Tipperary Boy
1905: Champion Chase – Apollino
1905: Champion Chase – Apollino
Tommy 'disappeared' in July, 1907
Tommy 'disappeared' in July, 1907
