Emmet Quinlan

Emmet Quinlan

Article by Alan Trout

Irish-born Emmet Michael Quinlan had his first ride in England when Sarum Lass was unplaced in the Chudleigh Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Devon & Exeter on August 26, 1948. 

More than two years elapsed before he registered his sole victory. This came at Chepstow on October 18, 1950, when Cape Light, owned by Sir Humphrey de Trafford and trained by Ivor Anthony, won the Monmouth Handicap Hurdle, holding off the challenge of Johnny Bullock on Tant Pis by a length. 

Emmet was never given another chance on Cape Light, and although he continued to hold a licence for all bar one of the next five seasons, he did not visit the winner’s enclosure again. 

One of the few occasions he was placed was when finishing third on Hunter’s King in the Charles Campbell Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Perth on April 19, 1951. His last ride ended in a fall from Brooksby Lad in the Coleshill Selling Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on March 10, 1956.