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Denis Quirke
Denis Quirke
Denis Quirke, known as ‘Denny’, was born in County Tipperary on October 16, 1903 and, like his elder brother the Irish champion jockey Martin, was apprenticed to Senator James J. Parkinson at Maddenstown Lodge, the Curragh.
Denis Quirke, known as ‘Denny’, was born in County Tipperary on October 16, 1903 and, like his elder brother the Irish champion jockey Martin, was apprenticed to Senator James J. Parkinson at Maddenstown Lodge, the Curragh.
He did well as an apprentice in his native Ireland in the early 1920s, winning a pair of valuable six-furlong handicaps at the Curragh in 1922 on Wild Captive and Corfie, along with Baldoyle’ Malahide Handicap on Trim Gate. In 1924 he rode for Lord Derby in France.
He did well as an apprentice in his native Ireland in the early 1920s, winning a pair of valuable six-furlong handicaps at the Curragh in 1922 on Wild Captive and Corfie, along with Baldoyle’ Malahide Handicap on Trim Gate. In 1924 he rode for Lord Derby in France.
Combining riding on the Flat and over jumps, as did many Irish jockeys at that time, he had ridden enough winners to be unable to claim an allowance when having his first ride in England at Birmingham in November 1926.
Combining riding on the Flat and over jumps, as did many Irish jockeys at that time, he had ridden enough winners to be unable to claim an allowance when having his first ride in England at Birmingham in November 1926.
In 1928 he took part in the Grand National aboard 100-1 outsider Soldier’s Joy, only for their race to end in a fall. Soldier’s Joy was among 40 horses that failed to get round that year. Instead, it was another 100-1 shot, Tipperary Tim, who came home ahead of the remounted Billy Barton, they being the only two to complete the course.
In 1928 he took part in the Grand National aboard 100-1 outsider Soldier’s Joy, only for their race to end in a fall. Soldier’s Joy was among 40 horses that failed to get round that year. Instead, it was another 100-1 shot, Tipperary Tim, who came home ahead of the remounted Billy Barton, they being the only two to complete the course.
Denny achieved his first British victory a few months later when riding the Percy Woodland-trained Conby to land the Exeter Novices’ Chase at Devon & Exeter on August 30, 1928.
Denny achieved his first British victory a few months later when riding the Percy Woodland-trained Conby to land the Exeter Novices’ Chase at Devon & Exeter on August 30, 1928.
He rode six winners during the 1931/32 campaign but enjoyed his most successful season in 1932/33, recording seven wins when riding for John Cockton, who trained at Little Stukeley, near Huntingdon. They included handicap hurdler Ennistymon at Fontwell in September, selling chaser Letham at Towcester in October and, in December, novice hurdler Ardglass at Worcester and Angel Pavement in the Long-Distance Handicap Hurdle at Derby.
He rode six winners during the 1931/32 campaign but enjoyed his most successful season in 1932/33, recording seven wins when riding for John Cockton, who trained at Little Stukeley, near Huntingdon. They included handicap hurdler Ennistymon at Fontwell in September, selling chaser Letham at Towcester in October and, in December, novice hurdler Ardglass at Worcester and Angel Pavement in the Long-Distance Handicap Hurdle at Derby.
Denny took out a trainer’s licence in 1936, based at Ludbridge Mills Stables, East Hendred, near Wantage, while continuing to ride in races. He rode his 29th and last winner in Britain on the 7-4 favourite Yaouk, trained by John Beary, in the Chailey Maiden Hurdle at Plumpton on January 1, 1939.
Denny took out a trainer’s licence in 1936, based at Ludbridge Mills Stables, East Hendred, near Wantage, while continuing to ride in races. He rode his 29th and last winner in Britain on the 7-4 favourite Yaouk, trained by John Beary, in the Chailey Maiden Hurdle at Plumpton on January 1, 1939.
However, that was not the last time he finished first passed the post, and it must surely have been the most disappointing moment of his career. On March 13, 1940, Denny won the Broadway Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham’s famous National Hunt meeting. Riding 20-1 shot Golden Knight, he came in first, one and a half lengths clear of Frenchie Nicholson’s mount Iceberg II, only to be disqualified by the stewards and placed last for bumping and crossing the runner-up after the last fence.
However, that was not the last time he finished first passed the post, and it must surely have been the most disappointing moment of his career. On March 13, 1940, Denny won the Broadway Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham’s famous National Hunt meeting. Riding 20-1 shot Golden Knight, he came in first, one and a half lengths clear of Frenchie Nicholson’s mount Iceberg II, only to be disqualified by the stewards and placed last for bumping and crossing the runner-up after the last fence.
By the end of the year he had relinquished both his trainer’s and jockey’s licences and returned to Ireland, where, in July 1942, he won the Kingsbridge Handicap Hurdle at Phoenix Park on Bluster, followed three months later by victory in the Osborne Handicap Hurdle at the Curragh on Slieve Bernagh. Both horses were trained by Barney Nugent. (Phoenix Park and the Curragh, although essentially Flat courses, also staged the occasional hurdle race in those days.)
By the end of the year he had relinquished both his trainer’s and jockey’s licences and returned to Ireland, where, in July 1942, he won the Kingsbridge Handicap Hurdle at Phoenix Park on Bluster, followed three months later by victory in the Osborne Handicap Hurdle at the Curragh on Slieve Bernagh. Both horses were trained by Barney Nugent. (Phoenix Park and the Curragh, although essentially Flat courses, also staged the occasional hurdle race in those days.)
He was assistant trainer to his brother at Mountjoy Lodge on the Curragh for ten years and also trained and farmed in County Wicklow.
He was assistant trainer to his brother at Mountjoy Lodge on the Curragh for ten years and also trained and farmed in County Wicklow.
He returned to England in 1956, aged 53, and renewed both his trainer’s licence and his jockey’s licence for the 1956/57 National Hunt season.
He returned to England in 1956, aged 53, and renewed both his trainer’s licence and his jockey’s licence for the 1956/57 National Hunt season.
His comeback rides, one on each day of Lingfield’s two-day fixture on 16 and 17 January 1957, were both on horses he trained. He finished last of eight finishers on Sleigh Leap in a four-year-old selling hurdle on the first day, then was seventh on Swing High in a novices’ hurdle on day two.
His comeback rides, one on each day of Lingfield’s two-day fixture on 16 and 17 January 1957, were both on horses he trained. He finished last of eight finishers on Sleigh Leap in a four-year-old selling hurdle on the first day, then was seventh on Swing High in a novices’ hurdle on day two.
His next rides were on Sleigh Leap and The Gnat at Plumpton on January 28, finishing last on the former but a more promising fifth on the latter. He finished tenth on The Gnat next time out at Windsor in February.
His next rides were on Sleigh Leap and The Gnat at Plumpton on January 28, finishing last on the former but a more promising fifth on the latter. He finished tenth on The Gnat next time out at Windsor in February.
Denny Quirke’s riding comeback proved a short-lived affair, ending with a sixth flight fall from Swing High in the Canterbury Hurdle at Wye on March 4, 1957.
Denny Quirke’s riding comeback proved a short-lived affair, ending with a sixth flight fall from Swing High in the Canterbury Hurdle at Wye on March 4, 1957.
His training comeback was equally brief. He took out a Flat licence in 1957 but does not appear in that year’s Horses in Training or in any subsequent editions. It is possible that he trained at Wadhurst, in Sussex, however that is mere speculation, based on the fact that a permit holder later trained there and numbered The Gnat among his string.
His training comeback was equally brief. He took out a Flat licence in 1957 but does not appear in that year’s Horses in Training or in any subsequent editions. It is possible that he trained at Wadhurst, in Sussex, however that is mere speculation, based on the fact that a permit holder later trained there and numbered The Gnat among his string.
What is known is that he was back in Ireland by the mid-1960s. In 1965 he established the Bert House Stud at Athy which he also managed for a few years, having previously owned and managed the Ballyrogan Stud.
What is known is that he was back in Ireland by the mid-1960s. In 1965 he established the Bert House Stud at Athy which he also managed for a few years, having previously owned and managed the Ballyrogan Stud.
His nephew Stephen Quirke became a successful trainer at Mountjoy Lodge.
His nephew Stephen Quirke became a successful trainer at Mountjoy Lodge.
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