Mick O'Shea
1946 - 2018
1946 - 2018
National Hunt jockey Michael David (Mick) O’Shea was born on August 3, 1946. He spent his entire riding career with trainer Basil Richmond, based at Wellingore, Lincolnshire, graduating to become Richmond’s stable jockey.
National Hunt jockey Michael David (Mick) O’Shea was born on August 3, 1946. He spent his entire riding career with trainer Basil Richmond, based at Wellingore, Lincolnshire, graduating to become Richmond’s stable jockey.
Mick held a licence from 1968 to 1981 and rode a total of 29 winners from over 1,000 rides, though never achieving a double figure score in a single season.
Mick held a licence from 1968 to 1981 and rode a total of 29 winners from over 1,000 rides, though never achieving a double figure score in a single season.
He rode his first winner on Gold Piece in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 25, 1970. He had two winners from 20 mounts the following season, 1970/71, both in selling hurdles, aboard Gold Piece at Market Rasen on August 3, and 13-year-old Dollwyn at Catterick Bridge on December 21, 1970.
He rode his first winner on Gold Piece in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 25, 1970. He had two winners from 20 mounts the following season, 1970/71, both in selling hurdles, aboard Gold Piece at Market Rasen on August 3, and 13-year-old Dollwyn at Catterick Bridge on December 21, 1970.
He failed to ride a winner during the 1971/72 campaign but managed three from just 16 mounts 1972/73, including a walkover on I Like It at Perth on September 20 and a Hexham selling hurdle on the now 15-year-old Dollwyn on October 12, 1972. He rode Dollwyn in the horse’s final race, as a 16-year-old, pulling up in a Market Rasen selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1973.
He failed to ride a winner during the 1971/72 campaign but managed three from just 16 mounts 1972/73, including a walkover on I Like It at Perth on September 20 and a Hexham selling hurdle on the now 15-year-old Dollwyn on October 12, 1972. He rode Dollwyn in the horse’s final race, as a 16-year-old, pulling up in a Market Rasen selling hurdle on Easter Monday 1973.
His two wins from 31 mounts in the 1973/74 season, both in selling hurdles, were I Like It at Sedgefield on September 28, 1973 and Markus at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. The 1974/75 campaign brought two more wins from 48 rides, beginning with yet another selling hurdler, Taybar, at Market Rasen on August 24, 1974.
His two wins from 31 mounts in the 1973/74 season, both in selling hurdles, were I Like It at Sedgefield on September 28, 1973 and Markus at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 15, 1974. The 1974/75 campaign brought two more wins from 48 rides, beginning with yet another selling hurdler, Taybar, at Market Rasen on August 24, 1974.
It was the end of February before Mick got off the mark for the 1975/76 season, on Last Attempt in the Lucy Glitters Handicap Hurdle at Teesside Park (Stockton) on February 27, 1976. He rode two more winners that season from a total of 64 rides, they being selling hurdler Pasko at Southwell on May 29 and novice hurdler My Ribero at Market Rasen on June 5, the last day of the season.
It was the end of February before Mick got off the mark for the 1975/76 season, on Last Attempt in the Lucy Glitters Handicap Hurdle at Teesside Park (Stockton) on February 27, 1976. He rode two more winners that season from a total of 64 rides, they being selling hurdler Pasko at Southwell on May 29 and novice hurdler My Ribero at Market Rasen on June 5, the last day of the season.
By contrast, Mick made a flying start to the 1976/77 campaign, winning a Market Rasen selling hurdle on Pasko on the second day of the season, August 2, 1976. He then won on Gusty Somers at Fakenham on September 11. His next win came on selling hurdler Harry’s Fizzale at Southwell on March 14, 1977. He finished the season with a score of four wins.
By contrast, Mick made a flying start to the 1976/77 campaign, winning a Market Rasen selling hurdle on Pasko on the second day of the season, August 2, 1976. He then won on Gusty Somers at Fakenham on September 11. His next win came on selling hurdler Harry’s Fizzale at Southwell on March 14, 1977. He finished the season with a score of four wins.
Mick continued to ply his trade into the 1980s. He partnered Gorsky, trained by Basil Richmond, to win the General Refrigeration Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1980. He rode what proved to be his final winner on Paisley Jack, also trained by Richmond, in a Fakenham selling hurdle on September 26, 1980.
Mick continued to ply his trade into the 1980s. He partnered Gorsky, trained by Basil Richmond, to win the General Refrigeration Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham on Easter Monday 1980. He rode what proved to be his final winner on Paisley Jack, also trained by Richmond, in a Fakenham selling hurdle on September 26, 1980.
After retiring from race-riding, Mick moved to Newmarket and worked as travelling head lad to Paul Kelleway and Geoff Huffer before acting as Luca Cumani’s head lad for nine years. He also spent time as an instructor at the British Racing School.
After retiring from race-riding, Mick moved to Newmarket and worked as travelling head lad to Paul Kelleway and Geoff Huffer before acting as Luca Cumani’s head lad for nine years. He also spent time as an instructor at the British Racing School.
A well-known figure in Newmarket and on Britain’s racecourses for many years, Mick died on September 19, 2018 following a long illness, aged 72. His funeral took place on October 8 at West Suffolk Crematorium, Bury St Edmunds.
A well-known figure in Newmarket and on Britain’s racecourses for many years, Mick died on September 19, 2018 following a long illness, aged 72. His funeral took place on October 8 at West Suffolk Crematorium, Bury St Edmunds.