Vince Mooney
Jump jockey Vince Mooney rode in Ireland for a decade before moving to Britain in 1944. He gained one of his earliest – and most important – victories when winning the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan aboard West Point on October 21, 1939. Just five days he guided West Point to a three-length win in the Tipperary Handicap Chase at Powerstown Park (today known as Clonmel).
Jump jockey Vince Mooney rode in Ireland for a decade before moving to Britain in 1944. He gained one of his earliest – and most important – victories when winning the Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan aboard West Point on October 21, 1939. Just five days he guided West Point to a three-length win in the Tipperary Handicap Chase at Powerstown Park (today known as Clonmel).
He won races on both days of Bellewstown’s annual fixture in July 1940, landing the Hill Handicap Chase on Minstrel Boy and the Leggan Hall Chase on Brown Admiral, both for leading jumps trainer Maxwell Arnott. In July 1941 he won the Windsor Lad Cup Handicap Chase on Clare County for Tim Hyde.
He won races on both days of Bellewstown’s annual fixture in July 1940, landing the Hill Handicap Chase on Minstrel Boy and the Leggan Hall Chase on Brown Admiral, both for leading jumps trainer Maxwell Arnott. In July 1941 he won the Windsor Lad Cup Handicap Chase on Clare County for Tim Hyde.
Having crossed the Irish Sea, Vince became associated with trainers Tommy Carey, Tommy Farmer, Alec Kilpatrick, Walter Nightingall, Bill Payne and Fulke Walwyn, and also rode for the Queen when she was Princess Elizabeth.
Having crossed the Irish Sea, Vince became associated with trainers Tommy Carey, Tommy Farmer, Alec Kilpatrick, Walter Nightingall, Bill Payne and Fulke Walwyn, and also rode for the Queen when she was Princess Elizabeth.
He rode 18 winners in the 1948/49 season, including two on Monaveen in December 1948, shortly before the horse was purchased for the then Queen and Princess Elizabeth, for whom he won several races until his untimely death at Hurst Park. Vince also won Kempton’s Emblem Handicap Chase on Sir John, trained by Alec Kilpatrick, on February 25, 1949.
He rode 18 winners in the 1948/49 season, including two on Monaveen in December 1948, shortly before the horse was purchased for the then Queen and Princess Elizabeth, for whom he won several races until his untimely death at Hurst Park. Vince also won Kempton’s Emblem Handicap Chase on Sir John, trained by Alec Kilpatrick, on February 25, 1949.
Altogether, Vince partnered around 300 winners before retiring in 1954. However, he continued to ride out for Epsom yards until 1975.
Altogether, Vince partnered around 300 winners before retiring in 1954. However, he continued to ride out for Epsom yards until 1975.
Vince Mooney died in Epsom Hospital on Tuesday, June 1, 1999, aged 78. He was survived by his wife, Eileen, and two daughters.
Vince Mooney died in Epsom Hospital on Tuesday, June 1, 1999, aged 78. He was survived by his wife, Eileen, and two daughters.
The funeral took place on Monday, June 7 – which would have been his birthday – at North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden Lane, Morden, at 3.30pm.
The funeral took place on Monday, June 7 – which would have been his birthday – at North East Surrey Crematorium, Lower Morden Lane, Morden, at 3.30pm.