Seamus O'Neill
Jump jockey Seamus Joseph O'Neill was born at the Curragh on 26 September 1954. Surprisingly for someone born at the headquarters of Irish racing, there was no family connection with the sport, his father having served as a soldier for 27 years. (The Curragh Camp military base is adjacent to the racecourse.)
Jump jockey Seamus Joseph O'Neill was born at the Curragh on 26 September 1954. Surprisingly for someone born at the headquarters of Irish racing, there was no family connection with the sport, his father having served as a soldier for 27 years. (The Curragh Camp military base is adjacent to the racecourse.)
Growing up in the heart of Ireland’s training quarters, however, an interest in racing quickly developed, leading to him serving a five-year apprenticeship with Mick Rogers, for whom he had “about a dozen” rides on the Flat.
Growing up in the heart of Ireland’s training quarters, however, an interest in racing quickly developed, leading to him serving a five-year apprenticeship with Mick Rogers, for whom he had “about a dozen” rides on the Flat.
His first winner was Yellow Sam in a novice riders’ handicap hurdle at Wexford on 7 July 1975. Two weeks earlier, the horse had been the subject of an audacious betting coup pulled off by Barney Curley in a hurdle race at Bellewstown, a sting so meticulously planned that it made headlines throughout the racing world and netted Curley a princely sum in winning bets.
His first winner was Yellow Sam in a novice riders’ handicap hurdle at Wexford on 7 July 1975. Two weeks earlier, the horse had been the subject of an audacious betting coup pulled off by Barney Curley in a hurdle race at Bellewstown, a sting so meticulously planned that it made headlines throughout the racing world and netted Curley a princely sum in winning bets.
Shortly after that first success, Seamus came to England and joined Ray Peacock, who trained at Tarporley, Cheshire. He eventually went freelance and remained so throughout his career, achieving his two biggest successes on Fealty in the 1984 Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Tom Sharp in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle in 1986.
Shortly after that first success, Seamus came to England and joined Ray Peacock, who trained at Tarporley, Cheshire. He eventually went freelance and remained so throughout his career, achieving his two biggest successes on Fealty in the 1984 Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Tom Sharp in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle in 1986.
He had his first Grand National mount in 1988 on the Michael Chapman-trained Preben Fur, who gave him “a good, safe ride for a circuit” before pulling up at Becher’s second time. Two years later he partnered Mick’s Star for Jenny Pitman, completing the course 19th of the 20 finishers. His third National ride came in 1991 on New Halen but the pair parted company at the fence after Becher’s second time.
He had his first Grand National mount in 1988 on the Michael Chapman-trained Preben Fur, who gave him “a good, safe ride for a circuit” before pulling up at Becher’s second time. Two years later he partnered Mick’s Star for Jenny Pitman, completing the course 19th of the 20 finishers. His third National ride came in 1991 on New Halen but the pair parted company at the fence after Becher’s second time.
His fourth and last Grand National mount was on Ginger McCain’s front-running Sure Metal in the infamous void race fiasco of 1993.
His fourth and last Grand National mount was on Ginger McCain’s front-running Sure Metal in the infamous void race fiasco of 1993.
Not having seen the recall flag – if it was ever raised – Seamus kicked his mount Sure Metal into the lead which he disputed with the Andy Orkney-ridden Howe Street throughout the first circuit.
Not having seen the recall flag – if it was ever raised – Seamus kicked his mount Sure Metal into the lead which he disputed with the Andy Orkney-ridden Howe Street throughout the first circuit.
Seamus never considered pulling up, thinking that with horses racing to his left and right, everything was as it should be. Approaching the Chair, someone ran out in front of him. Seamus assumed it was one of those “animal rights fanatics” and kept going, jumping the fence and then the water jump and setting out on the second circuit.
Seamus never considered pulling up, thinking that with horses racing to his left and right, everything was as it should be. Approaching the Chair, someone ran out in front of him. Seamus assumed it was one of those “animal rights fanatics” and kept going, jumping the fence and then the water jump and setting out on the second circuit.
Sure Metal and Howe Street were still disputing the lead when both fell independently two fences before Becher’s. Neither jockey was hurt.
Sure Metal and Howe Street were still disputing the lead when both fell independently two fences before Becher’s. Neither jockey was hurt.
A groundsman in his car stopped to pick Seamus up. Listening to the car radio, he heard Peter Bromley’s Radio 5 commentary. He heard him say it was a void race.
A groundsman in his car stopped to pick Seamus up. Listening to the car radio, he heard Peter Bromley’s Radio 5 commentary. He heard him say it was a void race.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled later. “That was the first I knew of it.”
“I couldn’t believe it,” he recalled later. “That was the first I knew of it.”
Before the next season started, Seamus had decided to retire. A broken thumb sustained in a fall at Ludlow had taken three months to heal and helped make up his mind.
Before the next season started, Seamus had decided to retire. A broken thumb sustained in a fall at Ludlow had taken three months to heal and helped make up his mind.
Approaching his 39th birthday and with his best years behind him, he decided it was time to call it a day. He had ridden over 300 winners and had had great fun doing so, but time marches on.
Approaching his 39th birthday and with his best years behind him, he decided it was time to call it a day. He had ridden over 300 winners and had had great fun doing so, but time marches on.
“I didn’t want to get to the stage where my boots were hung up and I was still in them,” he wryly observed.
“I didn’t want to get to the stage where my boots were hung up and I was still in them,” he wryly observed.
Seamus spent 12 month as assistant trainer to Frank Lloyd, a permit holder from Bangor-on-Dee, then got a job selling saddlery for as sales company. In 2000 he took up a Jockey Club post as an assistant starter, eventually becoming a full-time starter.
Seamus spent 12 month as assistant trainer to Frank Lloyd, a permit holder from Bangor-on-Dee, then got a job selling saddlery for as sales company. In 2000 he took up a Jockey Club post as an assistant starter, eventually becoming a full-time starter.