Daniel O'Shea
1909 - 1992
1909 - 1992
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Flat jockey Daniel O’Shea was born on September 28, 1909. He was apprenticed to Fred Darling at Beckhampton between 1924 and 1929 but had only a few rides.
Flat jockey Daniel O’Shea was born on September 28, 1909. He was apprenticed to Fred Darling at Beckhampton between 1924 and 1929 but had only a few rides.
He served in the RAF from 1940 until the end of the war in 1945 and then resumed his riding career. At the comparatively advanced age of 37 he finally rode his first winner, a three-year-old filly named Margie in a one-mile handicap at Worcester on Tuesday, April 22, 1947.
He served in the RAF from 1940 until the end of the war in 1945 and then resumed his riding career. At the comparatively advanced age of 37 he finally rode his first winner, a three-year-old filly named Margie in a one-mile handicap at Worcester on Tuesday, April 22, 1947.
In 1948 he won twice on the grey gelding Alizarene, trained by Ken Cundell at Compton. The first of those was a shock 20-1 victory in a Chepstow maiden on June 26; the second (right) when a more fancied 7-4 chance in the one-mile race at Bath on August 12.
In 1948 he won twice on the grey gelding Alizarene, trained by Ken Cundell at Compton. The first of those was a shock 20-1 victory in a Chepstow maiden on June 26; the second (right) when a more fancied 7-4 chance in the one-mile race at Bath on August 12.
He rode two more winners in 1949, the last of them constituting the highlight of his career, when setting a British record for one mile on Alizarene at Chepstow on Tuesday, June 28. The ground that day was officially ‘hard’ and the ground was rattling fast. Alizarene’s winning time was 1 minute 32.6 seconds.
He rode two more winners in 1949, the last of them constituting the highlight of his career, when setting a British record for one mile on Alizarene at Chepstow on Tuesday, June 28. The ground that day was officially ‘hard’ and the ground was rattling fast. Alizarene’s winning time was 1 minute 32.6 seconds.
Daniel rode no more winners after that 1949 season even though he continued to ride for another 14 years. Among his last rides was Canadair, unplaced in two back-end Newbury maidens on September 20 and October 21, 1961. He was 54 when finally announcing his retirement in 1963.
Daniel rode no more winners after that 1949 season even though he continued to ride for another 14 years. Among his last rides was Canadair, unplaced in two back-end Newbury maidens on September 20 and October 21, 1961. He was 54 when finally announcing his retirement in 1963.
He had no hesitation in nominating the 1953 Oaks heroine Ambiguity as the best he had ridden during his career. He rode her just once, on her racecourse debut in the Theale Maiden Plate at Newbury on October 24, 1952, finishing unplaced but running a “fair race” (according to the form book notes) for an obviously backward filly.
He had no hesitation in nominating the 1953 Oaks heroine Ambiguity as the best he had ridden during his career. He rode her just once, on her racecourse debut in the Theale Maiden Plate at Newbury on October 24, 1952, finishing unplaced but running a “fair race” (according to the form book notes) for an obviously backward filly.
In August 1936 Daniel had married Miss Lilian Lawton. They had one daughter, Judith, who did them proud by obtaining an honours degree in history at London University.
In August 1936 Daniel had married Miss Lilian Lawton. They had one daughter, Judith, who did them proud by obtaining an honours degree in history at London University.
Daniel O’Shea died on November 15, 1992, aged 83.
Daniel O’Shea died on November 15, 1992, aged 83.