Ron O'Leary
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Ron O’Leary rode over jumps for trainer Jimmy FitzGerald in the early 1980s. He was second jockey to Mark Dwyer and rode over 50 winners during his four seasons in Britain.
Ron O’Leary rode over jumps for trainer Jimmy FitzGerald in the early 1980s. He was second jockey to Mark Dwyer and rode over 50 winners during his four seasons in Britain.
Ronald Martin O’Leary was born in Ireland in 1955 and started off in racing as a 7st 7lb apprentice with Mick Hurley at the Curragh. He rode three winners on the Flat before increasing weight made him move to jumps trainer John Crowley’s stables in Cork.
Ronald Martin O’Leary was born in Ireland in 1955 and started off in racing as a 7st 7lb apprentice with Mick Hurley at the Curragh. He rode three winners on the Flat before increasing weight made him move to jumps trainer John Crowley’s stables in Cork.
He rode over 50 winners in Ireland, including the 1980 Kerry National at Listowel on Perspex Pride. In 1982, along with Mark Dwyer, he crossed the Irish Sea to Yorkshire to ride for Jimmy FitzGerald.
He rode over 50 winners in Ireland, including the 1980 Kerry National at Listowel on Perspex Pride. In 1982, along with Mark Dwyer, he crossed the Irish Sea to Yorkshire to ride for Jimmy FitzGerald.
Although he never achieved the same level of success as his friend and countryman Dwyer, he nonetheless managed more than a half century of winners. Among the many good horses he won on for FitzGerald was Galway Blaze, on whom he landed the J. H. Rowe Challenge Trophy Handicap Chase at Stratford on December 29, 1983. He also won races on Androma, and Strands of Gold.
Although he never achieved the same level of success as his friend and countryman Dwyer, he nonetheless managed more than a half century of winners. Among the many good horses he won on for FitzGerald was Galway Blaze, on whom he landed the J. H. Rowe Challenge Trophy Handicap Chase at Stratford on December 29, 1983. He also won races on Androma, and Strands of Gold.
He gained his biggest success on Bucko in the Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Hurdle Final at Newbury on Bucko on March 3, 1984. He also won a novice chase on Bucko on the horse’s only start the following season.
He gained his biggest success on Bucko in the Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Hurdle Final at Newbury on Bucko on March 3, 1984. He also won a novice chase on Bucko on the horse’s only start the following season.
He was definitely a man to follow on Boxing Day, achieving doubles and a treble in three successive years. In 1983 he had a hat-trick at Market Rasen, including the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy Chase on Androma. In 1984 he registered a double there, including a second victory in the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy on
He was definitely a man to follow on Boxing Day, achieving doubles and a treble in three successive years. In 1983 he had a hat-trick at Market Rasen, including the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy Chase on Androma. In 1984 he registered a double there, including a second victory in the Bruce Carr Memorial Trophy on
Zamandra. On Boxing Day 1985 he landed a double at Wetherby, completed by Strands Of Gold (left) in the John Haggas Memorial Novices’ Chase, beating the useful Cross Master by three lengths.
Zamandra. On Boxing Day 1985 he landed a double at Wetherby, completed by Strands Of Gold (left) in the John Haggas Memorial Novices’ Chase, beating the useful Cross Master by three lengths.
Ron announced his retirement in the summer of 1986, aged 29, deciding not to undertake the annual battle with the scales, which necessitated him shedding almost two stone to get down to his usual riding weight of around 10st 2lb.
Ron announced his retirement in the summer of 1986, aged 29, deciding not to undertake the annual battle with the scales, which necessitated him shedding almost two stone to get down to his usual riding weight of around 10st 2lb.
He expanded his livery yard located close to Peter Easterby’s stables in the Ryedale village of Great Habton, upgrading it from seven boxes to seventeen. He also maintained his links with Jimmy FitzGerald by breaking in horses for him.
He expanded his livery yard located close to Peter Easterby’s stables in the Ryedale village of Great Habton, upgrading it from seven boxes to seventeen. He also maintained his links with Jimmy FitzGerald by breaking in horses for him.
He subsequently returned to Ireland and set up as a trainer there, based at Willow Farm Stables, near Killaloe, County Clare.
He subsequently returned to Ireland and set up as a trainer there, based at Willow Farm Stables, near Killaloe, County Clare.
