Joe Sheehan
Joe Sheehan
Joe Sheehan
Joseph Timothy Sheehan, aged 32, fell with Great Barrington in a hurdle race on hard ground at Folkestone on September 5, 1949. His injuries included extensive fractures of the ribs and a broken collarbone. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Folkestone where he died the next day.
Joseph Timothy Sheehan, aged 32, fell with Great Barrington in a hurdle race on hard ground at Folkestone on September 5, 1949. His injuries included extensive fractures of the ribs and a broken collarbone. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Folkestone where he died the next day.
Joe was a well-known jockey around the southern courses and rode mainly for Epsom trainers. He won six chases on Black Jennifer (disqualified once) which he also rode in the 1947 Grand National, falling at Becher’s on the first circuit.
Joe was a well-known jockey around the southern courses and rode mainly for Epsom trainers. He won six chases on Black Jennifer (disqualified once) which he also rode in the 1947 Grand National, falling at Becher’s on the first circuit.
Before coming to England, Joe rode several winners in his native Ireland in the late 1930s. Among them was Ontario, on which he won at least four races, including the Thurles Handicap Hurdle at Powerstown Park (known today as Clonmel) on July 15, 1937, and the Strand Handicap Chase at Waterford & Tramore on April 10, 1939. He also had at least three wins on the hurdler Steel Blade.
Before coming to England, Joe rode several winners in his native Ireland in the late 1930s. Among them was Ontario, on which he won at least four races, including the Thurles Handicap Hurdle at Powerstown Park (known today as Clonmel) on July 15, 1937, and the Strand Handicap Chase at Waterford & Tramore on April 10, 1939. He also had at least three wins on the hurdler Steel Blade.
He began his career in Britain by finishing eighth on Robin Redvest, having been among the leaders for a long way, in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Taunton on November 22, 1945. It was not until the Saturday of Plumpton’s Easter meeting, April 20, 1946, that he registered a win, when Sugar Loaf landed the Chailey Handicap Hurdle (Division 1) by three lengths.
He began his career in Britain by finishing eighth on Robin Redvest, having been among the leaders for a long way, in the Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Taunton on November 22, 1945. It was not until the Saturday of Plumpton’s Easter meeting, April 20, 1946, that he registered a win, when Sugar Loaf landed the Chailey Handicap Hurdle (Division 1) by three lengths.
He had six wins in the 1946/47 season, including a double at Plumpton in November, then five the next, but his most successful campaign was 1948/49 when he rode 11 wins from 92 mounts. They included victories on horses trained by both Ron and Vic Smyth. He also had rides in the Welsh Grand National and the Imperial Cup, although his mounts, Angel Hill and Almaviva, were unplaced.
He had six wins in the 1946/47 season, including a double at Plumpton in November, then five the next, but his most successful campaign was 1948/49 when he rode 11 wins from 92 mounts. They included victories on horses trained by both Ron and Vic Smyth. He also had rides in the Welsh Grand National and the Imperial Cup, although his mounts, Angel Hill and Almaviva, were unplaced.
His final win was on Splash in the Bickerton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on May 27, 1949, beating 16 rivals and scoring by three-quarters of a length from Johnny Gilbert on Rumpus.
His final win was on Splash in the Bickerton Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on May 27, 1949, beating 16 rivals and scoring by three-quarters of a length from Johnny Gilbert on Rumpus.
Joe Sheehan’s British winners were, in chronological order:
Joe Sheehan’s British winners were, in chronological order:
1. Sugar Loaf, Plumpton, April 20, 1946
1. Sugar Loaf, Plumpton, April 20, 1946
2. Black Jennifer, Plumpton, September 30, 1946
2. Black Jennifer, Plumpton, September 30, 1946
3. Black Jennifer, Cheltenham, October 18, 1946
3. Black Jennifer, Cheltenham, October 18, 1946
4. Black Jennifer, Plumpton, November 27, 1946
4. Black Jennifer, Plumpton, November 27, 1946
5. Agricus, Plumpton, November 27, 1946
5. Agricus, Plumpton, November 27, 1946
6. Steel Mark, Plumpton, December 14, 1946
6. Steel Mark, Plumpton, December 14, 1946
7. Black Jennifer, Fontwell Park, March 19, 1947
7. Black Jennifer, Fontwell Park, March 19, 1947
8, Black Jennifer, Plumpton, September 29, 1947
8, Black Jennifer, Plumpton, September 29, 1947
9. Steel Mark, Windsor, January 9, 1948
9. Steel Mark, Windsor, January 9, 1948
10. Steel Mark, Plumpton, January 28, 1948
10. Steel Mark, Plumpton, January 28, 1948
11. Steel Mark, Lingfield Park, February 13, 1948
11. Steel Mark, Lingfield Park, February 13, 1948
12. Try Over, Wye, April 5, 1948
12. Try Over, Wye, April 5, 1948
13. Lord Barney, Newton Abbot, August 20, 1948
13. Lord Barney, Newton Abbot, August 20, 1948
14. Master Bidar, Sandown Park, November 26, 1948
14. Master Bidar, Sandown Park, November 26, 1948
15. Blue Boy II, Kempton Park, December 3, 1948
15. Blue Boy II, Kempton Park, December 3, 1948
16. Royal Tour, Plumpton, December 15, 1948
16. Royal Tour, Plumpton, December 15, 1948
17. Clonee Friar, Windsor, January 8, 1949
17. Clonee Friar, Windsor, January 8, 1949
18. Waistcoat, Wye, March 14, 1949
18. Waistcoat, Wye, March 14, 1949
19. Clonee Friar, Fontwell Park, March 24, 1949
19. Clonee Friar, Fontwell Park, March 24, 1949
20. Shining Kopje, Sandown Park, April 5, 1949
20. Shining Kopje, Sandown Park, April 5, 1949
21. Waistcoat, Huntingdon, April 18, 1949
21. Waistcoat, Huntingdon, April 18, 1949
22. Sulphurous, Southwell, May 17, 1949
22. Sulphurous, Southwell, May 17, 1949
23. Splash, Newton Abbot, May 27, 1949
23. Splash, Newton Abbot, May 27, 1949