Johnny O'Hara
1932 - 2006
1932 - 2006
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey John Gerard O’Hara was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on October 9, 1932, the son of a farmer and horse breeder.
National Hunt jockey John Gerard O’Hara was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on October 9, 1932, the son of a farmer and horse breeder.
He rode his first winner on Pappa’s Pride, trained by John Barclay at Lockerbie, in division one of the Carterside Novices’ Hurdle at the annual Rothbury fixture on Saturday, April 8, 1961. He won on Pappa’s Pride again at Perth later that month and then rode a winner over fences on Hefty Lad for Cumberland permit holder Len Jackson at Cartmel on Whit Monday.
He rode his first winner on Pappa’s Pride, trained by John Barclay at Lockerbie, in division one of the Carterside Novices’ Hurdle at the annual Rothbury fixture on Saturday, April 8, 1961. He won on Pappa’s Pride again at Perth later that month and then rode a winner over fences on Hefty Lad for Cumberland permit holder Len Jackson at Cartmel on Whit Monday.
Easily the best horse he rode was Kapeno, who was in training with John Barclay at the time. Johnny won four races on him in the early part of 1962 prior to the horse being sold and sent to be trained by Peter Cazalet, for whom he then won the valuable Mackeson Novices’ Chase at Wetherby on his first start for his new stable and progressed to become a high-class handicap chaser.
Easily the best horse he rode was Kapeno, who was in training with John Barclay at the time. Johnny won four races on him in the early part of 1962 prior to the horse being sold and sent to be trained by Peter Cazalet, for whom he then won the valuable Mackeson Novices’ Chase at Wetherby on his first start for his new stable and progressed to become a high-class handicap chaser.
Another useful horse with which Johnny was associated, again trained by John Barclay, was Vulmidas, on whom he won a brace of novice hurdles in October 1962, the second of which was Johnny’s tenth, resulting in his claim being cut from 7lb to 5lb. Vulmidas went on to win a string of two-mile chases, often partnered by amateur rider Terry Pinner.
Another useful horse with which Johnny was associated, again trained by John Barclay, was Vulmidas, on whom he won a brace of novice hurdles in October 1962, the second of which was Johnny’s tenth, resulting in his claim being cut from 7lb to 5lb. Vulmidas went on to win a string of two-mile chases, often partnered by amateur rider Terry Pinner.
It was seventeen months before Johnny next visited the winner’s enclosure, on John Barclay’s novice Kyrenia at Ayr in March 1964, but another followed at Carlisle later that month. His fourteenth and final winner came on the Dick Curran-trained Spear Fir in the Durdar Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1965. His career was ended by a crushing injury sustained in a fall from novice hurdler Cold Cascade at Newcastle on February 5, 1966.
It was seventeen months before Johnny next visited the winner’s enclosure, on John Barclay’s novice Kyrenia at Ayr in March 1964, but another followed at Carlisle later that month. His fourteenth and final winner came on the Dick Curran-trained Spear Fir in the Durdar Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1965. His career was ended by a crushing injury sustained in a fall from novice hurdler Cold Cascade at Newcastle on February 5, 1966.
Following his retirement, Johnny, who had listed his interests as breaking and schooling young horses and riding to hounds, became assistant to Carlisle trainer Bill Atkinson before opening a saddlery shop in Carlisle, where leading trainers Nicky Richards and Len Lungo were among his customers.
Following his retirement, Johnny, who had listed his interests as breaking and schooling young horses and riding to hounds, became assistant to Carlisle trainer Bill Atkinson before opening a saddlery shop in Carlisle, where leading trainers Nicky Richards and Len Lungo were among his customers.
One of the Injured Jockeys Funds’s longest-standing beneficiaries, Johnny died in Carlisle Hospital in November 2006, aged 74, following a battle with cancer. His son Liam, born on January 11, 1968, was also a jump jockey.
One of the Injured Jockeys Funds’s longest-standing beneficiaries, Johnny died in Carlisle Hospital in November 2006, aged 74, following a battle with cancer. His son Liam, born on January 11, 1968, was also a jump jockey.
Johnny O’Hara’s winners were, in chronological order:
Johnny O’Hara’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Pappa’s Pride, Rothbury, April 8, 1961
1. Pappa’s Pride, Rothbury, April 8, 1961
2. Pappa’s Pride, Perth, April 26, 1961
2. Pappa’s Pride, Perth, April 26, 1961
3. Hefty Lad, Cartmel, May 22, 1961
3. Hefty Lad, Cartmel, May 22, 1961
4. Kapeno, Catterick Bridge, February 16, 1962
4. Kapeno, Catterick Bridge, February 16, 1962
5. Kapeno, Perth, April 19, 1962 (dead-heat)
5. Kapeno, Perth, April 19, 1962 (dead-heat)
6. Kapeno, Carlisle, April 21, 1962
6. Kapeno, Carlisle, April 21, 1962
7. Kapeno, Kelso, May 3, 1962
7. Kapeno, Kelso, May 3, 1962
8. Bold Buccleugh, Carlisle, October 6, 1962
8. Bold Buccleugh, Carlisle, October 6, 1962
9. Vulmidas, Ayr, October 13, 1962
9. Vulmidas, Ayr, October 13, 1962
10. Vulmidas, Kelso, October 20, 1962
10. Vulmidas, Kelso, October 20, 1962
11. Kyrenia, Ayr, March 16, 1964
11. Kyrenia, Ayr, March 16, 1964
12. Till Ten, Carlisle, March 29, 1964
12. Till Ten, Carlisle, March 29, 1964
13. Angus M, Ayr, October 17, 1964
13. Angus M, Ayr, October 17, 1964
14. Spear Fir, Carlisle, April 19, 1965
14. Spear Fir, Carlisle, April 19, 1965