Pat O'Leary
Flat jockey Patrick O’Leary was born circa 1933 and served his apprenticeship with Staff Ingham at Epsom. He rode his first winner on Cheyne for fellow Epsom trainer Stanley Wootton, in the Apprentices’ Plate at his ‘home track’ Epsom on August 5, 1950. That race was over one mile four furlongs and eventually became the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, also known as the ‘Apprentices’ Derby’.
Flat jockey Patrick O’Leary was born circa 1933 and served his apprenticeship with Staff Ingham at Epsom. He rode his first winner on Cheyne for fellow Epsom trainer Stanley Wootton, in the Apprentices’ Plate at his ‘home track’ Epsom on August 5, 1950. That race was over one mile four furlongs and eventually became the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, also known as the ‘Apprentices’ Derby’.
He didn’t ride another winner until the 1953 campaign, when he scored six times from 19 rides, including wins on both days of Folkestone’s meeting on 20th and 21st July. He again failed to score in 1954 but bounced back with seven winners in 1955, culminating in the £972 10s to the winner September Nursery at Brighton on Staff Ingham’s juvenile colt Totland.
He didn’t ride another winner until the 1953 campaign, when he scored six times from 19 rides, including wins on both days of Folkestone’s meeting on 20th and 21st July. He again failed to score in 1954 but bounced back with seven winners in 1955, culminating in the £972 10s to the winner September Nursery at Brighton on Staff Ingham’s juvenile colt Totland.
He came out of his time in 1956 and found life tough without an allowance, riding just one winner in the next four seasons, that being Tommy Carey’s Persian Flight in the Star and Garter (Two-Year-Old) Stakes at Hurst Park in March 1958. Pat left to ride abroad the following year.
He came out of his time in 1956 and found life tough without an allowance, riding just one winner in the next four seasons, that being Tommy Carey’s Persian Flight in the Star and Garter (Two-Year-Old) Stakes at Hurst Park in March 1958. Pat left to ride abroad the following year.
He renewed his licence in 1973 but had to wait until August 1978 before Silari gave him his first British winner for fully 20 years, in a Brighton seller. That was his sole success of the season and he again rode just one winner the following year, the Jack O’Donoghue-trained Rema at Folkestone in May 1979.
He renewed his licence in 1973 but had to wait until August 1978 before Silari gave him his first British winner for fully 20 years, in a Brighton seller. That was his sole success of the season and he again rode just one winner the following year, the Jack O’Donoghue-trained Rema at Folkestone in May 1979.
On July 6, 1983, Pat was seriously injured in a fall at Brighton. He suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone when his mount Star Of Salford fell at halfway during a mile-and-a-half seller. It ruled him out for the remainder of the season and took several months before he was able to ride again.
On July 6, 1983, Pat was seriously injured in a fall at Brighton. He suffered head injuries and a broken collarbone when his mount Star Of Salford fell at halfway during a mile-and-a-half seller. It ruled him out for the remainder of the season and took several months before he was able to ride again.
Aged 51 and one of the oldest jockeys still holding a licence, he was fighting fit and ready to go again in 1984. The veteran jockey made regular visits to Jersey that year, finishing third in the Channel Island’s One Thousand Guineas and winning a seven-furlong maiden race on the ex-Fulke John Houghton inmate Kalyoub.
Aged 51 and one of the oldest jockeys still holding a licence, he was fighting fit and ready to go again in 1984. The veteran jockey made regular visits to Jersey that year, finishing third in the Channel Island’s One Thousand Guineas and winning a seven-furlong maiden race on the ex-Fulke John Houghton inmate Kalyoub.
Although Pat was eager to get back in the swing, Jack O’Donoghue, his guvnor at Reigate, had only two Flat horses and he struggled for outside rides. He finally retired from the saddle in 1987, by which time he was in his mid-50s. In retirement, he worked as a tour guide at the British Horseracing Museum at Newmarket.
Although Pat was eager to get back in the swing, Jack O’Donoghue, his guvnor at Reigate, had only two Flat horses and he struggled for outside rides. He finally retired from the saddle in 1987, by which time he was in his mid-50s. In retirement, he worked as a tour guide at the British Horseracing Museum at Newmarket.
Pat O’Leary’s British winners were:
Pat O’Leary’s British winners were:
1. Cheyne, Epsom, August 5, 1950
1. Cheyne, Epsom, August 5, 1950
2. Mixture, Newbury, April 10, 1953
2. Mixture, Newbury, April 10, 1953
3. Flow, Hurst Park, May 26, 1953
3. Flow, Hurst Park, May 26, 1953
4. Umpire, Bath, July 16, 1953
4. Umpire, Bath, July 16, 1953
5. Milsa, Folkestone, July 20, 1953
5. Milsa, Folkestone, July 20, 1953
6. Turnpike, Folkestone, July 21, 1953
6. Turnpike, Folkestone, July 21, 1953
7. Willy L, Wolverhampton, August 3, 1953
7. Willy L, Wolverhampton, August 3, 1953
8. Plymouth Fair, Warwick, April 9, 1955
8. Plymouth Fair, Warwick, April 9, 1955
9. Desert Way, Hurst Park, May 30, 1955
9. Desert Way, Hurst Park, May 30, 1955
10. Esquire Girl, Lincoln, June 8, 1955
10. Esquire Girl, Lincoln, June 8, 1955
11. Contralto, Brighton, June 28, 1955
11. Contralto, Brighton, June 28, 1955
12. Plymouth Fair, Redcar, August 6, 1955
12. Plymouth Fair, Redcar, August 6, 1955
13. Totland, Salisbury, August 11, 1955
13. Totland, Salisbury, August 11, 1955
14. Totland, Brighton, September 20, 1955
14. Totland, Brighton, September 20, 1955
15. Persian Flight, Hurst Park, March 29, 1958
15. Persian Flight, Hurst Park, March 29, 1958
16. Silari, Brighton, August 22, 1978
16. Silari, Brighton, August 22, 1978
17. Rema, Folkestone, May 15, 1979
17. Rema, Folkestone, May 15, 1979