John Roe
1938 - 2017
1938 - 2017
John Patrick Roe was born at Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on March 26, 1938.
John Patrick Roe was born at Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on March 26, 1938.
He became apprenticed to Seamus McGrath and rode his first winner, Chosen Star, at Naas, Ireland, on May 22, 1954.
He became apprenticed to Seamus McGrath and rode his first winner, Chosen Star, at Naas, Ireland, on May 22, 1954.
He was Champion Jockey in Ireland on nine occasions: 1963-64-66-67-68, 1971-72-73-74.
He was Champion Jockey in Ireland on nine occasions: 1963-64-66-67-68, 1971-72-73-74.
John rode one classic winner: Nocturnal Spree, 1975 1,000 Guineas.
John rode one classic winner: Nocturnal Spree, 1975 1,000 Guineas.
He also won the 1966 Royal Hunt Cup on Continuation, the 1974 Stewards' Cup on Red Alert and a host of other big race winners.
He also won the 1966 Royal Hunt Cup on Continuation, the 1974 Stewards' Cup on Red Alert and a host of other big race winners.
Johnny Roe was involved in a dramatic upset in the 1975 running of the 1,000 Guineas classic at Newmarket, England, on the unfancied Irish raider Nocturnal Spree.
Johnny Roe was involved in a dramatic upset in the 1975 running of the 1,000 Guineas classic at Newmarket, England, on the unfancied Irish raider Nocturnal Spree.
After winning the three-year-old April Maiden Stakes at the Curragh, Nocturnal Spree's owner Anne O'Kelly and Kildare-based trainer Stuart decided to step up in class and send her to the first English classic of the season.
After winning the three-year-old April Maiden Stakes at the Curragh, Nocturnal Spree's owner Anne O'Kelly and Kildare-based trainer Stuart decided to step up in class and send her to the first English classic of the season.
Roe was confident the lightly raced filly, which had taken part in only one other previous start, would acquit herself well - despite being priced at 14/1.
Roe was confident the lightly raced filly, which had taken part in only one other previous start, would acquit herself well - despite being priced at 14/1.
On the day, a strike by stable lads in pursuit of better pay led to an unseemly confrontation at the racecourse between the strikers and racegoers. This delayed the start of the race for 20 minutes and later deflected much of the media attention from the race itself.
On the day, a strike by stable lads in pursuit of better pay led to an unseemly confrontation at the racecourse between the strikers and racegoers. This delayed the start of the race for 20 minutes and later deflected much of the media attention from the race itself.
"She was an easy filly to ride," Roe said of Nocturnal Spree many years later. "She had an excellent temperament, but she was very green."
"She was an easy filly to ride," Roe said of Nocturnal Spree many years later. "She had an excellent temperament, but she was very green."
Lester Piggott, the undisputed master jockey of the era, was favourite on Rose Bowl but didn't get an opening, while Roe rode the perfect race coming through in the last stride to beat the French-trained Girl Friend by a short head, with Queen Elizabeth's horse Joking Apart coming in third. Piggott came fourth and was the subject of much criticism after the race.
Lester Piggott, the undisputed master jockey of the era, was favourite on Rose Bowl but didn't get an opening, while Roe rode the perfect race coming through in the last stride to beat the French-trained Girl Friend by a short head, with Queen Elizabeth's horse Joking Apart coming in third. Piggott came fourth and was the subject of much criticism after the race.
Although Roe rode and later trained more than 2,500 winners, the race at Newmarket was undoubtedly the high point of his racing career. "It was a great thrill and it came at a time where I could really appreciate it," he said.
Although Roe rode and later trained more than 2,500 winners, the race at Newmarket was undoubtedly the high point of his racing career. "It was a great thrill and it came at a time where I could really appreciate it," he said.
Roe, who came from a well-known farming family near Sandyford, south Dublin, was born on March 26, 1938. He started as an apprentice jockey at the nearby Glencairn Stables (now The Gallops housing estate) which was run by Seamus McGrath of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes family. Roe rode his first winner, Chosen Start, for the stable at Naas in 1954.
Roe, who came from a well-known farming family near Sandyford, south Dublin, was born on March 26, 1938. He started as an apprentice jockey at the nearby Glencairn Stables (now The Gallops housing estate) which was run by Seamus McGrath of the Irish Hospital Sweepstakes family. Roe rode his first winner, Chosen Start, for the stable at Naas in 1954.
Soon afterwards he emigrated to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where he spent a number of years as a senior jockey. He came back to Ireland in the early 1960s and became the most successful Irish jockey for almost a decade claiming the champion jockey title nine times between 1963 and 1974.
Soon afterwards he emigrated to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where he spent a number of years as a senior jockey. He came back to Ireland in the early 1960s and became the most successful Irish jockey for almost a decade claiming the champion jockey title nine times between 1963 and 1974.
He was stable jockey to Dermot Weld, John Oxx Snr and later Vincent O'Brien, turning out a string of winners for each of them. He was universally liked by his fellow jockeys and, according to one racing journalist, "wasn't a man who courted a headline, he went about business in his usual understated way".
He was stable jockey to Dermot Weld, John Oxx Snr and later Vincent O'Brien, turning out a string of winners for each of them. He was universally liked by his fellow jockeys and, according to one racing journalist, "wasn't a man who courted a headline, he went about business in his usual understated way".
Apart from the English 1,000 Guineas, Roe rode Royal Danseuse to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas for McGrath (1964) and Pampalina to win the Irish Oaks for Oxx Snr in 1967. In 1970, he won the Pretty Polly Stakes for Sir Hugh Nugent and the National Stakes the following year on Roberto for O'Brien. He repeated the performance for O'Brien on Chamozzle in 1972, a year in which he had 87 winners and broke the Irish flat record set in 1923.
Apart from the English 1,000 Guineas, Roe rode Royal Danseuse to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas for McGrath (1964) and Pampalina to win the Irish Oaks for Oxx Snr in 1967. In 1970, he won the Pretty Polly Stakes for Sir Hugh Nugent and the National Stakes the following year on Roberto for O'Brien. He repeated the performance for O'Brien on Chamozzle in 1972, a year in which he had 87 winners and broke the Irish flat record set in 1923.
Like many others in the racing business, he regarded O'Brien as "number one" because of his attention to detail and his knowledge of the horses under his care.
Like many others in the racing business, he regarded O'Brien as "number one" because of his attention to detail and his knowledge of the horses under his care.
"He was a very forceful hands-and-heels rider. He wasn't a whip jockey," Roe's former boss Weld said following his death last Sunday.
"He was a very forceful hands-and-heels rider. He wasn't a whip jockey," Roe's former boss Weld said following his death last Sunday.
Roe rode Highest Trump and Red Alert to wins at Royal Ascot for Weld in 1974.
Roe rode Highest Trump and Red Alert to wins at Royal Ascot for Weld in 1974.
He left Ireland again in the late 1970s and worked as a jockey in Hong Kong and the United States before retiring in 1980 and moving to Macau, where he became a trainer for five years. A plunge in the stock market led Roe to return to Ireland and set up his own bloodstock agency, buying and selling horses on the international market - mainly in the US, Hong Kong and Macau, where he remained very well-regarded.
He left Ireland again in the late 1970s and worked as a jockey in Hong Kong and the United States before retiring in 1980 and moving to Macau, where he became a trainer for five years. A plunge in the stock market led Roe to return to Ireland and set up his own bloodstock agency, buying and selling horses on the international market - mainly in the US, Hong Kong and Macau, where he remained very well-regarded.
He died in Dublin on Sunday, 23 April, 2017. He was 79.
He died in Dublin on Sunday, 23 April, 2017. He was 79.
Roe, who lived in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, is survived by his wife Helen and sons Michael and Brian. After his funeral in Sandyford last Wednesday, he was buried in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow.
Roe, who lived in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, is survived by his wife Helen and sons Michael and Brian. After his funeral in Sandyford last Wednesday, he was buried in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow.
Classic winner:
Classic winner:
One Thousand Guineas: Nocturnal Spree (1975)
One Thousand Guineas: Nocturnal Spree (1975)
Other big winners in Britain:
Other big winners in Britain:
1965: Thirsk Hunt Cup – Mandamus
1965: Thirsk Hunt Cup – Mandamus
1965: William Hill Gold Cup – Mandamus
1965: William Hill Gold Cup – Mandamus
1966: Royal Hunt Cup – Continuation
1966: Royal Hunt Cup – Continuation
1966: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Current Coin
1966: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Current Coin
1966: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Panic
1966: Queen Alexandra Stakes – Panic
1974: Queen Mary Stakes – Highest Trump
1974: Queen Mary Stakes – Highest Trump
1974: Jersey Stakes – Red Alert
1974: Jersey Stakes – Red Alert
1974: Stewards Cup – Red Alert
1974: Stewards Cup – Red Alert
1975: Palace House Stakes – Hot Spark
1975: Palace House Stakes – Hot Spark
In Ireland:
In Ireland:
1964: Irish One Thousand Guineas – Royal Danseuse
1964: Irish One Thousand Guineas – Royal Danseuse
1966: Athasi Stakes – Loyalty
1966: Athasi Stakes – Loyalty
1966: Railway Stakes – Adrian’s Path
1966: Railway Stakes – Adrian’s Path
1966: Royal Whip Stakes – Wedding Present
1966: Royal Whip Stakes – Wedding Present
1967: Irish Oaks – Pampalina
1967: Irish Oaks – Pampalina
1967: Park Stakes – Windy Gay
1967: Park Stakes – Windy Gay
1968: Greenlands Stakes – Polar Gold
1968: Greenlands Stakes – Polar Gold
1970: Pretty Polly Stakes – Place D’Etoile
1970: Pretty Polly Stakes – Place D’Etoile
1970: Park Stakes – Three Roses
1970: Park Stakes – Three Roses
1971: National Stakes – Roberto
1971: National Stakes – Roberto
1971: Vauxhall Stakes – Grenfall
1971: Vauxhall Stakes – Grenfall
1971: Gallinule Stakes – Grenfall
1971: Gallinule Stakes – Grenfall
1971: Blandford Stakes – Wenceslas
1971: Blandford Stakes – Wenceslas
1971: Beresford Stakes – Boucher
1971: Beresford Stakes – Boucher
1971: Royal Whip Stakes – Tantoul
1971: Royal Whip Stakes – Tantoul
1971: Larkspur Stakes – Buckstopper
1971: Larkspur Stakes – Buckstopper
1971: Anglesey Stakes – Roberto
1971: Anglesey Stakes – Roberto
1972: Vauxhall Stakes – Roberto
1972: Vauxhall Stakes – Roberto
1972: Athasi Stakes – Arkadina
1972: Athasi Stakes – Arkadina
1971: Railway Stakes – Open Season
1971: Railway Stakes – Open Season
1972: National Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: National Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: Blandford Stakes – Manitoulin
1972: Blandford Stakes – Manitoulin
1972: Beresford Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: Beresford Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: Curragh Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: Curragh Stakes – Chamozzle
1972: Tetrarch Stakes – Home Guard
1972: Tetrarch Stakes – Home Guard
1972: Greenlands Stakes – Abergwaun
1972: Greenlands Stakes – Abergwaun
1972: Desmond Stakes – Boucher
1972: Desmond Stakes – Boucher
1973: Larkspur Stakes – Primed
1973: Larkspur Stakes – Primed
1974: Royal Whip Stakes – Klairvimy
1974: Royal Whip Stakes – Klairvimy
1975: Pretty Polly Stakes – Miss Toshiba
1975: Pretty Polly Stakes – Miss Toshiba
1975: Tattersalls Gold Cup – Hurry Harriet
1975: Tattersalls Gold Cup – Hurry Harriet