Steve Rooney
Steve Rooney
Steve Rooney
Born in 1936, the son of former amateur rider Barney Rooney, Stephen ‘Buster’ Rooney also began his career in the amateur ranks. He rode his first winner on Fair Play III, owned and trained by Dick Price, in the Defford Handicap Chase at Worcester on March 14, 1956.
Born in 1936, the son of former amateur rider Barney Rooney, Stephen ‘Buster’ Rooney also began his career in the amateur ranks. He rode his first winner on Fair Play III, owned and trained by Dick Price, in the Defford Handicap Chase at Worcester on March 14, 1956.
He rode 15 winners as an amateur before turning professional in 1960. Although progress was slow at first, his breakthrough season came in 1963/64 when he rode for Chepstow trainer Colin Davies and notched 14 winners. They included three on Shandrydan and two on Cotswold, a pair of promising chasers.
He rode 15 winners as an amateur before turning professional in 1960. Although progress was slow at first, his breakthrough season came in 1963/64 when he rode for Chepstow trainer Colin Davies and notched 14 winners. They included three on Shandrydan and two on Cotswold, a pair of promising chasers.
A dozen winners came his way during the 1964/65 campaign, including two divisions of Wolverhampton’s Bridgnorth Novices’ Hurdle on Djebway and Aureate on January 25, 1965. He finished the season with a victory on chaser Merry Knight at Hereford on Whit Monday.
A dozen winners came his way during the 1964/65 campaign, including two divisions of Wolverhampton’s Bridgnorth Novices’ Hurdle on Djebway and Aureate on January 25, 1965. He finished the season with a victory on chaser Merry Knight at Hereford on Whit Monday.
‘Buster’ rode 22 winners in 1965/66, most of them trained by Colin Davies, for whom was now stable jockey. They included three on novice chaser No Catch and doubles at Chepstow on Easter Monday and at Hereford on Whit Monday. He won the Harry Isaacs Challenge Cup Chase on Cotswold at Hereford on March 12, 1965, but they just failed to add a far bigger triumph in that year’s Welsh Grand National, run on the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting. Buster and Cotswold came with a sustained run from three out but could not quite peg back Kilburn, the mount of Tim Norman.
‘Buster’ rode 22 winners in 1965/66, most of them trained by Colin Davies, for whom was now stable jockey. They included three on novice chaser No Catch and doubles at Chepstow on Easter Monday and at Hereford on Whit Monday. He won the Harry Isaacs Challenge Cup Chase on Cotswold at Hereford on March 12, 1965, but they just failed to add a far bigger triumph in that year’s Welsh Grand National, run on the second day of Chepstow’s Easter meeting. Buster and Cotswold came with a sustained run from three out but could not quite peg back Kilburn, the mount of Tim Norman.
‘Buster’ was now at the height of his powers and, thanks to Colin Davies, had equalled his previous season’s score of 22 by Grand National Day, April 8, 1967. While Foinavon was galloping to an unlikely 100/1 triumph at Aintree, Steve was notching a double on novice hurdler Brandon Camp and Colin Davies’ handicap chaser Crown Scarlet at Worcester, taking his tally for the season to a career-best 24 winners. He took a fall in the last race but walked away unharmed.
‘Buster’ was now at the height of his powers and, thanks to Colin Davies, had equalled his previous season’s score of 22 by Grand National Day, April 8, 1967. While Foinavon was galloping to an unlikely 100/1 triumph at Aintree, Steve was notching a double on novice hurdler Brandon Camp and Colin Davies’ handicap chaser Crown Scarlet at Worcester, taking his tally for the season to a career-best 24 winners. He took a fall in the last race but walked away unharmed.
Four days later, he was leading a field of novice hurdlers at Worcester when his mount, Esk Water, crashed through the wing of the fourth flight. Again, Steve walked away unhurt.
Four days later, he was leading a field of novice hurdlers at Worcester when his mount, Esk Water, crashed through the wing of the fourth flight. Again, Steve walked away unhurt.
The following day, Thursday, April 13, he rode Brandon Camp in division one of the Spring (4yo) Hurdle, attempting to follow up his recent Worcester victory. They looked like doing so for much of the way, still being in front two out, but they’d faded into third when taking a crashing fall at the last.
The following day, Thursday, April 13, he rode Brandon Camp in division one of the Spring (4yo) Hurdle, attempting to follow up his recent Worcester victory. They looked like doing so for much of the way, still being in front two out, but they’d faded into third when taking a crashing fall at the last.
The legacy of that fall would bring his riding career to a premature end, although he did have two more rides, firstly on My Ambition, pulled up lame in the Newton Abbot Challenge Cup Maiden Hurdle at that course on May 5, followed by a never dangerous last of six finishers on Vulganique in the Woolhope Chase at Hereford on May 11, 1967.
The legacy of that fall would bring his riding career to a premature end, although he did have two more rides, firstly on My Ambition, pulled up lame in the Newton Abbot Challenge Cup Maiden Hurdle at that course on May 5, followed by a never dangerous last of six finishers on Vulganique in the Woolhope Chase at Hereford on May 11, 1967.
He retired having ridden a total of 91 winners, more than half of those in the last two seasons. He became a jockeys’ valet for a while. It is thought that he may later have immigrated to Canada.
He retired having ridden a total of 91 winners, more than half of those in the last two seasons. He became a jockeys’ valet for a while. It is thought that he may later have immigrated to Canada.