Martin Quirke
Martin Quirke
Martin Quirke
1898-1988
1898-1988
Martin Quirke was one of the most famous Flat jockeys of his day. Champion Jockey in Ireland in 1923, he rode a total of nine Classic winners between 1919 and 1941.
Martin Quirke was one of the most famous Flat jockeys of his day. Champion Jockey in Ireland in 1923, he rode a total of nine Classic winners between 1919 and 1941.
Born in Lattin, Co. Tipperary on November 6, 1898, Edmund Martin Quirke was first spotted by Colonel Charles Moore, who lived at nearby Mooresfort. Colonel Moore was a steward of the Irish Turf Club and later racing manager to King George VI. At Moore’s instigation, Martin became apprenticed to trainer Phillie Behan at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh. However, with few riding opportunities on offer, he transferred his apprenticeship to James J, Parkinson’s Maddenstown Lodge stable, which at that time was one of the largest in Europe.
Born in Lattin, Co. Tipperary on November 6, 1898, Edmund Martin Quirke was first spotted by Colonel Charles Moore, who lived at nearby Mooresfort. Colonel Moore was a steward of the Irish Turf Club and later racing manager to King George VI. At Moore’s instigation, Martin became apprenticed to trainer Phillie Behan at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh. However, with few riding opportunities on offer, he transferred his apprenticeship to James J, Parkinson’s Maddenstown Lodge stable, which at that time was one of the largest in Europe.
Martin made an ideal start to his riding career, winning on his first ride in public, Spanish Knight, trained by Parkinson, in the Shankill Selling Handicap at Leopardstown on November 3, 1916, carrying 4 stone of lead. The following day, again at Leopardstown, he rode his second winner on Brave Symon when dead-heating with Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns’ mount in a one-mile selling race.
Martin made an ideal start to his riding career, winning on his first ride in public, Spanish Knight, trained by Parkinson, in the Shankill Selling Handicap at Leopardstown on November 3, 1916, carrying 4 stone of lead. The following day, again at Leopardstown, he rode his second winner on Brave Symon when dead-heating with Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns’ mount in a one-mile selling race.
Three years later, while still an apprentice, he gained his greatest success when winning the Irish Derby on Loch Lomond, also trained by Parkinson.
Three years later, while still an apprentice, he gained his greatest success when winning the Irish Derby on Loch Lomond, also trained by Parkinson.
Following a subsequent abrupt departure from Parkinson, vowing never to ride for him again, Martin rode successively for Michael Dawson, Colonel Arthur Blake and Roderick More O’Ferrall. He went on to become Ireland’s Champion Jockey in 1923 with a then record 86 winners, a record that stood until for almost half a century until Johnny Roe beat it by one in 1972.
Following a subsequent abrupt departure from Parkinson, vowing never to ride for him again, Martin rode successively for Michael Dawson, Colonel Arthur Blake and Roderick More O’Ferrall. He went on to become Ireland’s Champion Jockey in 1923 with a then record 86 winners, a record that stood until for almost half a century until Johnny Roe beat it by one in 1972.
His nine Irish Classic victories included three in 1929: the 2,000 Guineas on Salisbury, and the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks on Saloptic. He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas five times in all.
His nine Irish Classic victories included three in 1929: the 2,000 Guineas on Salisbury, and the 1,000 Guineas and Oaks on Saloptic. He won the Irish 2,000 Guineas five times in all.
He did ride occasionally in England, recording four wins on the Flat and one over hurdles. Indeed, his first mount in Britain was a successful one when Soft Nose, trained by Bob Colling, landed the Selling Nursery Handicap at Newmarket on November 6, 1917.
He did ride occasionally in England, recording four wins on the Flat and one over hurdles. Indeed, his first mount in Britain was a successful one when Soft Nose, trained by Bob Colling, landed the Selling Nursery Handicap at Newmarket on November 6, 1917.
His first – and only – ride under British National Hunt rules was also a winner, aboard Philip’s Fancy, on which he had won at Leopardstown four days earlier, in the Castle Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1936.
His first – and only – ride under British National Hunt rules was also a winner, aboard Philip’s Fancy, on which he had won at Leopardstown four days earlier, in the Castle Selling Handicap Hurdle at Manchester on New Year’s Day 1936.
The two English wins he recorded in 1937 were both on Irish-trained raiders. At Haydock Park on May 12, the five-year-old Westport landed the Grand Stand High-Weight Handicap. The following month at Ascot, he dead-heated on Spot Barred in the Waterford Stakes, for three-year-olds, sharing the spoils with Bobby Jones on Flag Of Truce.
The two English wins he recorded in 1937 were both on Irish-trained raiders. At Haydock Park on May 12, the five-year-old Westport landed the Grand Stand High-Weight Handicap. The following month at Ascot, he dead-heated on Spot Barred in the Waterford Stakes, for three-year-olds, sharing the spoils with Bobby Jones on Flag Of Truce.
Westport provided him with his final British success when taking the Cramond Handicap at Edinburgh on July 11, 1938, despite conceding more than two stone to his four rivals.
Westport provided him with his final British success when taking the Cramond Handicap at Edinburgh on July 11, 1938, despite conceding more than two stone to his four rivals.
Martin’s last winner was gained on Tiffin Belle in the Mountjoy Maiden Plate for two-year-olds at Naas on November 1, 1946. Eight days later he rode for the final time when finishing unplaced on Geraldine in Ballysax Maiden Plate, also for two-year-olds, at the Curragh.
Martin’s last winner was gained on Tiffin Belle in the Mountjoy Maiden Plate for two-year-olds at Naas on November 1, 1946. Eight days later he rode for the final time when finishing unplaced on Geraldine in Ballysax Maiden Plate, also for two-year-olds, at the Curragh.
The following year he began training, based at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh, (where he had served the early years of his apprenticeship), having acquired the premises in 1938 on the death of his original mentor Phillie Behan. His only Classic winner as a trainer was with Jack Ketch in the 1957 Irish 2,000 Guineas.
The following year he began training, based at Mountjoy Lodge, the Curragh, (where he had served the early years of his apprenticeship), having acquired the premises in 1938 on the death of his original mentor Phillie Behan. His only Classic winner as a trainer was with Jack Ketch in the 1957 Irish 2,000 Guineas.
In 1962 Martin handed over the training licence to his son Stephen, who won the same Irish Classic in successive years with Atherstone Wood (1967) and Mistigo (1968) before going on to becoming a stewards’ secretary with the Irish Turf Club.
In 1962 Martin handed over the training licence to his son Stephen, who won the same Irish Classic in successive years with Atherstone Wood (1967) and Mistigo (1968) before going on to becoming a stewards’ secretary with the Irish Turf Club.
Martin Quirke died on October 19, 1988, just 18 days short of his 90th birthday. He had been in poor health for some time and spent the last four years of his life in the Curragh’s Drogheda Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
Martin Quirke died on October 19, 1988, just 18 days short of his 90th birthday. He had been in poor health for some time and spent the last four years of his life in the Curragh’s Drogheda Memorial Hospital, where he passed away.
Martin Quirke’s Irish Classic winners were:
Martin Quirke’s Irish Classic winners were:
1919: Irish Derby – Loch Lomond
1919: Irish Derby – Loch Lomond
1929: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Salisbury
1929: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Salisbury
1929: Irish 1,000 Guineas – Saloptic
1929: Irish 1,000 Guineas – Saloptic
1929: Irish Oaks – Saloptic
1929: Irish Oaks – Saloptic
1930: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Glannarg
1930: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Glannarg
1932: Irish Oaks – Santaria
1932: Irish Oaks – Santaria
1935: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Museum
1935: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Museum
1938: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Nearchus
1938: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Nearchus
1941: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Khosro
1941: Irish 2,000 Guineas – Khosro