John Rafferty
Irish National Hunt jockey John James Rafferty lost more than four years of his career through injuries before achieving his peak in the early 1960s.
Irish National Hunt jockey John James Rafferty lost more than four years of his career through injuries before achieving his peak in the early 1960s.
Starting out as an apprentice on the Flat, he soon graduated to riding over jumps. He rode out his claim when winning the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle at Thurles on the Willy O’Grady-trained Ballinlee on September 18, 1951.
Starting out as an apprentice on the Flat, he soon graduated to riding over jumps. He rode out his claim when winning the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle at Thurles on the Willy O’Grady-trained Ballinlee on September 18, 1951.
He rode his first winner as a non-claimer the same afternoon, landing the Cashel Handicap Chase on Caherdaniel to give him a double on the day. He scored another double later that season, at Limerick in April, winning a handicap hurdle on Old Nick and a handicap chase on Roast Duck.
He rode his first winner as a non-claimer the same afternoon, landing the Cashel Handicap Chase on Caherdaniel to give him a double on the day. He scored another double later that season, at Limerick in April, winning a handicap hurdle on Old Nick and a handicap chase on Roast Duck.
That April, he also won the Thomond Chase on Roses Lime.
That April, he also won the Thomond Chase on Roses Lime.
In July 1952 he dead-heated for the Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle on Fair Soleil, the judge being unable to separate them from Eddie Newman’s mount Teapot II. Johnny ended the year with a score of 20 winners.
In July 1952 he dead-heated for the Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle on Fair Soleil, the judge being unable to separate them from Eddie Newman’s mount Teapot II. Johnny ended the year with a score of 20 winners.
He increased that tally to 22 in 1953, his wins that year including the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle at Thurles on High Velocity, two handicap hurdles on Let’s Face It at Tralee and Listowel in September, and the Park Chase at Powerstown Park (now called Clonmel) on Rathluirc. He also rode a few winners on the Flat that year, notably on Peter David in the North Wall Handicap at Phoenix Park in August.
He increased that tally to 22 in 1953, his wins that year including the Tipperary Handicap Hurdle at Thurles on High Velocity, two handicap hurdles on Let’s Face It at Tralee and Listowel in September, and the Park Chase at Powerstown Park (now called Clonmel) on Rathluirc. He also rode a few winners on the Flat that year, notably on Peter David in the North Wall Handicap at Phoenix Park in August.
Johnny’s career was progressing satisfactorily until, on December 18, 1954, he had a bad fall from a chaser named An Tostal at Naas that rendered him out of action for 15 months. It was March 1956 before he returned with two rides at Gowran Park. The following month he came close to recording his greatest success when finishing second on 20-1 shot Richardstown in the Irish Grand National. But then, just three weeks later, he suffered an even more serious fall from Suntown in the Drogheda Chase at Punchestown.
Johnny’s career was progressing satisfactorily until, on December 18, 1954, he had a bad fall from a chaser named An Tostal at Naas that rendered him out of action for 15 months. It was March 1956 before he returned with two rides at Gowran Park. The following month he came close to recording his greatest success when finishing second on 20-1 shot Richardstown in the Irish Grand National. But then, just three weeks later, he suffered an even more serious fall from Suntown in the Drogheda Chase at Punchestown.
Whether it was the extent of the injury or premature retirement is hard to say, but it was over three years, May 18, 1959, before he returned to the saddle, finishing sixth on his comeback mount Hopeful II in a maiden hurdle at Waterford & Tramore.
Whether it was the extent of the injury or premature retirement is hard to say, but it was over three years, May 18, 1959, before he returned to the saddle, finishing sixth on his comeback mount Hopeful II in a maiden hurdle at Waterford & Tramore.
‘Hopeful’ is about as much as Johnny could have felt, given those setbacks, yet the tide was about to turn in his favour. On October 26, 1959 he rode his first winner for almost five years when guiding Robapi to victory in the New Ross Handicap Chase at Wexford. On November 5 he won on Iona Que at Powerstown Park, the pair following up seven days later in the Molony Cup at Thurles. He won again on Robapi at Leopardstown later that month. He then rode three winners for Willy O’Grady at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, a novice chase on Loch May, a maiden hurdle on Solfen, and a handicap chase on Iona Que. Johnny was on his way back.
‘Hopeful’ is about as much as Johnny could have felt, given those setbacks, yet the tide was about to turn in his favour. On October 26, 1959 he rode his first winner for almost five years when guiding Robapi to victory in the New Ross Handicap Chase at Wexford. On November 5 he won on Iona Que at Powerstown Park, the pair following up seven days later in the Molony Cup at Thurles. He won again on Robapi at Leopardstown later that month. He then rode three winners for Willy O’Grady at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, a novice chase on Loch May, a maiden hurdle on Solfen, and a handicap chase on Iona Que. Johnny was on his way back.
He rode 24 winners in 1960, beginning with Solfen in the Dundrum Chase at Leopardstown in January. Robapi provided him with three more successes, at Leopardstown in February and twice at Limerick Junction (now called Tipperary) in April and June. He also scored three times on Iona Que that summer, winning at Wexford in June, Killarney in July and Powerstown Park in August.
He rode 24 winners in 1960, beginning with Solfen in the Dundrum Chase at Leopardstown in January. Robapi provided him with three more successes, at Leopardstown in February and twice at Limerick Junction (now called Tipperary) in April and June. He also scored three times on Iona Que that summer, winning at Wexford in June, Killarney in July and Powerstown Park in August.
Johnny recorded his highest total for a single year in 1961 with 32 wins – the Irish season was still based on the calendar year in those days, as many of the jockeys were dual-purpose, riding on the Flat and over jumps. His wins that year included the Ticknock Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown in January on Rouge Scot; three in a row on Willy O’Grady’s Royal Moon in a Powerstown Park chase in April, a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in May and a Nass handicap chase in June; and a hurdle race double at Limerick Junction in May on Irish Diamond and Old Mull. In October he won a Powerstown Park novice chase on a promising horse named Groomsman.
Johnny recorded his highest total for a single year in 1961 with 32 wins – the Irish season was still based on the calendar year in those days, as many of the jockeys were dual-purpose, riding on the Flat and over jumps. His wins that year included the Ticknock Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown in January on Rouge Scot; three in a row on Willy O’Grady’s Royal Moon in a Powerstown Park chase in April, a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in May and a Nass handicap chase in June; and a hurdle race double at Limerick Junction in May on Irish Diamond and Old Mull. In October he won a Powerstown Park novice chase on a promising horse named Groomsman.
He made a good start to 1962 when winning the valuable Proudstown Handicap Hurdle at Navan on January 20 aboard Rouge Scot. Groomsman provided him with two more wins, the Sandymount Handicap Chase at Leopardstown in February – a day when Johnny just failed to win the prestigious Leopardstown Chase on Fredith’s Son, being beaten three-quarters of a length by Liam McLoughlin’s mount Kerforo – and the Limerick Junction Handicap Chase in April. Later that year he won a Limerick maiden hurdle in October and a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on Willy O’Grady’s Dance On. He finished the year having ridden 20 winners
He made a good start to 1962 when winning the valuable Proudstown Handicap Hurdle at Navan on January 20 aboard Rouge Scot. Groomsman provided him with two more wins, the Sandymount Handicap Chase at Leopardstown in February – a day when Johnny just failed to win the prestigious Leopardstown Chase on Fredith’s Son, being beaten three-quarters of a length by Liam McLoughlin’s mount Kerforo – and the Limerick Junction Handicap Chase in April. Later that year he won a Limerick maiden hurdle in October and a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on Willy O’Grady’s Dance On. He finished the year having ridden 20 winners
Johnny had a short spell in England during the first part of the 1962/63 season, riding mainly for Verly Bewicke. He rode just one winner from 13 mounts during that time, that being on Trinity Fair in the Novices’ Chase at Sandown on November 9, 1962.
Johnny had a short spell in England during the first part of the 1962/63 season, riding mainly for Verly Bewicke. He rode just one winner from 13 mounts during that time, that being on Trinity Fair in the Novices’ Chase at Sandown on November 9, 1962.
Britain was already suffering the effects of the ‘Big Freeze’ at the start of 1963 but it wasn’t quite so bad in Ireland. Johnny rode Dance On to win the Ticknock Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 10, a picture of which appeared in the following Monday’s Daily Mirror. While Britain continued to freeze, he teamed up with Dance On again on February 14 to win the Shaun Spadah Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park. Back at Gowran later that year, Johnny scored a big race triumph in H.E. The President’s Handicap Hurdle on Soltest. He also won the Terenure Novice Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on the Aubrey Brabazon-trained Moonsun.
Britain was already suffering the effects of the ‘Big Freeze’ at the start of 1963 but it wasn’t quite so bad in Ireland. Johnny rode Dance On to win the Ticknock Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 10, a picture of which appeared in the following Monday’s Daily Mirror. While Britain continued to freeze, he teamed up with Dance On again on February 14 to win the Shaun Spadah Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park. Back at Gowran later that year, Johnny scored a big race triumph in H.E. The President’s Handicap Hurdle on Soltest. He also won the Terenure Novice Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting on the Aubrey Brabazon-trained Moonsun.
Brabazon’s chaser Quintin Bay proved a friend to Johnny in the summer of 1964, winning the Windsor Lad Cup at Killarney and the Mr What Perpetual Challenge Cup at Tuam in July. He finished the year with a score of 15 wins.
Brabazon’s chaser Quintin Bay proved a friend to Johnny in the summer of 1964, winning the Windsor Lad Cup at Killarney and the Mr What Perpetual Challenge Cup at Tuam in July. He finished the year with a score of 15 wins.
However, by then was struggling badly from the effects of a combination of drink and drugs. Trainer Willy O’Grady picked him out of the gutter several times and stuck by him. In June 1965 Johnny rode three winners within a week: Northlander for Cornelius O’Keeffe in the Stand Handicap Chase at Thurles on June 10; Cardinal’s Hat in the Wee County Handicap Hurdle at Dundalk on June 14; and Northlander again in the Lee Handicap Hurdle at Mallow on June 16. They were his last.
However, by then was struggling badly from the effects of a combination of drink and drugs. Trainer Willy O’Grady picked him out of the gutter several times and stuck by him. In June 1965 Johnny rode three winners within a week: Northlander for Cornelius O’Keeffe in the Stand Handicap Chase at Thurles on June 10; Cardinal’s Hat in the Wee County Handicap Hurdle at Dundalk on June 14; and Northlander again in the Lee Handicap Hurdle at Mallow on June 16. They were his last.
The following week he had what proved to be his final two rides, both on the ironically-named No Good Johnny at Sligo’s two-day meeting, finishing fourth on the Tuesday, then trailing in last of six finishers in the Yeats County Handicap Chase on Wednesday, June 23. Just a few days after riding those three winners in a week, his injury-plagued career was at an end.
The following week he had what proved to be his final two rides, both on the ironically-named No Good Johnny at Sligo’s two-day meeting, finishing fourth on the Tuesday, then trailing in last of six finishers in the Yeats County Handicap Chase on Wednesday, June 23. Just a few days after riding those three winners in a week, his injury-plagued career was at an end.
The next day, Thursday, 24 June 1965, struggling with his addictions, Johnny Rafferty took an overdose of sleeping tablets. A tragic life thrown away.
The next day, Thursday, 24 June 1965, struggling with his addictions, Johnny Rafferty took an overdose of sleeping tablets. A tragic life thrown away.
