Eddie Newman
Eddie Newman
Eddie Newman
Eddie Newman was Tom Dreaper’s stable jockey between Tim Hyde and Pat Taaffe. He won the 1949 Irish Grand National for Dreaper on Jimmy Rank’s horse Shagreen.
Eddie Newman was Tom Dreaper’s stable jockey between Tim Hyde and Pat Taaffe. He won the 1949 Irish Grand National for Dreaper on Jimmy Rank’s horse Shagreen.
Like Tim Hyde, Eddie was unlucky to have been born at the wrong time for a jockey. Because of World War II, Eddie, according to Pat Taaffe in his autobiography ‘My Life – And Arkle’s’, “never really achieved the recognition he deserved.” Taaffe added: “No more genuine jockey ever existed and certainly he was no easy man for me to follow.”
Like Tim Hyde, Eddie was unlucky to have been born at the wrong time for a jockey. Because of World War II, Eddie, according to Pat Taaffe in his autobiography ‘My Life – And Arkle’s’, “never really achieved the recognition he deserved.” Taaffe added: “No more genuine jockey ever existed and certainly he was no easy man for me to follow.”
Eddie registered his first success on English soil on 10-1 chance Clonbur in the Headley Handicap Chase at Wetherby on February 2, 1946. The following month he guided Green Mansions to a 15-length victory at the same course. His third win was his most important victory in England, on Jimmy Rank’s nine-year-old Keep Faith in the 1947 Becher Chase over the Grand National fences.
Eddie registered his first success on English soil on 10-1 chance Clonbur in the Headley Handicap Chase at Wetherby on February 2, 1946. The following month he guided Green Mansions to a 15-length victory at the same course. His third win was his most important victory in England, on Jimmy Rank’s nine-year-old Keep Faith in the 1947 Becher Chase over the Grand National fences.
His tally of 18 winners for 1947 in Ireland increased to a career-best 26 in 1948, culminating in a double at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. He then kicked off 1949 in style with another double at Baldoyle on New Year’s Day. All four winners were trained by Tom Dreaper.
His tally of 18 winners for 1947 in Ireland increased to a career-best 26 in 1948, culminating in a double at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. He then kicked off 1949 in style with another double at Baldoyle on New Year’s Day. All four winners were trained by Tom Dreaper.
He gained his greatest success on Shagreen in the 1949 Irish Grand National. The very next day he rode a Fairyhouse double on Stormhead in the Ratoath Chase and Greenogue in the Easter Handicap Chase.
He gained his greatest success on Shagreen in the 1949 Irish Grand National. The very next day he rode a Fairyhouse double on Stormhead in the Ratoath Chase and Greenogue in the Easter Handicap Chase.
While Shagreen’s Irish Grand National victory provided Eddie with his most notable success, he was not the best horse he rode. That accolade belongs to Cottage Rake, on whom he stood in for the horse’s regular partner, Aubrey Brabazon, who had broken a collarbone. Eddie rode Vincent O’Brien’s future triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner twice in April 1947 during the horse’s novice chase days, winning on both occasions: the Maiden Chase at Fairyhouse and the Mickey Macardle Memorial Cup Chase at Dundalk.
While Shagreen’s Irish Grand National victory provided Eddie with his most notable success, he was not the best horse he rode. That accolade belongs to Cottage Rake, on whom he stood in for the horse’s regular partner, Aubrey Brabazon, who had broken a collarbone. Eddie rode Vincent O’Brien’s future triple Cheltenham Gold Cup winner twice in April 1947 during the horse’s novice chase days, winning on both occasions: the Maiden Chase at Fairyhouse and the Mickey Macardle Memorial Cup Chase at Dundalk.
Eddie rode in four successive Aintree Grand Nationals, falling on Double Flush in 1946, finishing eleventh on Brick Bat in 1947, then falling on both Loyal Antrim in 1948 and Barn Dance in 1949.
Eddie rode in four successive Aintree Grand Nationals, falling on Double Flush in 1946, finishing eleventh on Brick Bat in 1947, then falling on both Loyal Antrim in 1948 and Barn Dance in 1949.
He rode four winners in England within two months in the autumn of 1949, including Coloured School Boy in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell Park.
He rode four winners in England within two months in the autumn of 1949, including Coloured School Boy in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell Park.
Shortly afterwards, Eddie broke his knee in a fall at Sandown. Tom Dreaper put Pat Taaffe up Greenogue and Shagreen at Leopardstown’s 1949 Christmas meeting. Greenogue finished second to Martin Molony’s mount Pelorus, while Shagreen won. That victory went some way to Taaffe taking over the job as Dreaper’s stable jockey.
Shortly afterwards, Eddie broke his knee in a fall at Sandown. Tom Dreaper put Pat Taaffe up Greenogue and Shagreen at Leopardstown’s 1949 Christmas meeting. Greenogue finished second to Martin Molony’s mount Pelorus, while Shagreen won. That victory went some way to Taaffe taking over the job as Dreaper’s stable jockey.
Undaunted, Eddie went on to ride some big winners for other trainers. He won six in a row on Prince Of Devon for Clem Magner, beginning with the 1953 Galway Hurdle and culminating in the 1954 Thyestes Chase. He won a second Galway Hurdle in 1954 on the Michael Dawson-trained Cloudless.
Undaunted, Eddie went on to ride some big winners for other trainers. He won six in a row on Prince Of Devon for Clem Magner, beginning with the 1953 Galway Hurdle and culminating in the 1954 Thyestes Chase. He won a second Galway Hurdle in 1954 on the Michael Dawson-trained Cloudless.
His last win in England was an important one, on Lady Ursula Vernon’s five-year-old Assynt, the 9-4 favourite, in the Gloucestershire Hurdle (Division 1), the opening race of the 1953 National Hunt meeting at Cheltenham.
His last win in England was an important one, on Lady Ursula Vernon’s five-year-old Assynt, the 9-4 favourite, in the Gloucestershire Hurdle (Division 1), the opening race of the 1953 National Hunt meeting at Cheltenham.
He had his fifth and final Grand National ride in 1955, finishing fifth on 20-1 shot Overshadow behind fellow Irish raider Quare Times, trained by Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Pat Taaffe.
He had his fifth and final Grand National ride in 1955, finishing fifth on 20-1 shot Overshadow behind fellow Irish raider Quare Times, trained by Vincent O’Brien and ridden by Pat Taaffe.
With no video or archive newsreel footage to gauge his merits, it is hard to say whether Eddie was a good jockey or merely an indifferent jockey. What is certain is that he was an injury-prone one, but for which he would undoubtedly have achieved greater success. He retired in the mid-1950s.
With no video or archive newsreel footage to gauge his merits, it is hard to say whether Eddie was a good jockey or merely an indifferent jockey. What is certain is that he was an injury-prone one, but for which he would undoubtedly have achieved greater success. He retired in the mid-1950s.
On April 6, 1977 Eddie returned to the saddle for a one-off ride in a charity Flat race, the one-mile six-furlong Veterans Private Sweepstakes, in aid of the Kilkenny Sheltered Workshops for mentally handicapped people. Eddie rode a 20-1 outsider named Deep Ruby and finished unplaced, but he relished the experience of once again competing alongside such legends as Martin Molony, Aubrey Brabazon, Pat and Toss Taaffe, Willie Robinson, Frankie Carroll, Paddy Woods and Phil Canty, accompanied by English champions Fred Winter, Jack Dowdeswell and Tim Brookshaw and leading amateur Lord Oaksey.
On April 6, 1977 Eddie returned to the saddle for a one-off ride in a charity Flat race, the one-mile six-furlong Veterans Private Sweepstakes, in aid of the Kilkenny Sheltered Workshops for mentally handicapped people. Eddie rode a 20-1 outsider named Deep Ruby and finished unplaced, but he relished the experience of once again competing alongside such legends as Martin Molony, Aubrey Brabazon, Pat and Toss Taaffe, Willie Robinson, Frankie Carroll, Paddy Woods and Phil Canty, accompanied by English champions Fred Winter, Jack Dowdeswell and Tim Brookshaw and leading amateur Lord Oaksey.
Eddie’s son, Gerry Newman, emulated his father by winning the Irish Grand National, guiding King Spruce to victory in 1982. Gerry also won the 1975 King George VI Chase on Captain Christy and landed the 1980 renewals of the Mackeson Gold Cup and Hennessy Gold Cup on Bright Highway.
Eddie’s son, Gerry Newman, emulated his father by winning the Irish Grand National, guiding King Spruce to victory in 1982. Gerry also won the 1975 King George VI Chase on Captain Christy and landed the 1980 renewals of the Mackeson Gold Cup and Hennessy Gold Cup on Bright Highway.
Eddie Newman’s English winners were as follows:
Eddie Newman’s English winners were as follows:
1. Clonbur, Wetherby, February 2, 1946
1. Clonbur, Wetherby, February 2, 1946
2. Green Mansions, Wetherby, March 8, 1946
2. Green Mansions, Wetherby, March 8, 1946
3. Keep Faith, Liverpool, March 28, 1947
3. Keep Faith, Liverpool, March 28, 1947
4. Semper Idem, Wye, May 19, 1937
4. Semper Idem, Wye, May 19, 1937
5. Brokerstown, Wye, September 15, 1947
5. Brokerstown, Wye, September 15, 1947
6. Down Jack, Fontwell Park, May 15, 1948
6. Down Jack, Fontwell Park, May 15, 1948
7. Impetuous, Wincanton, September 29, 1949
7. Impetuous, Wincanton, September 29, 1949
8. Coloured School Boy, Fontwell Park, November 3, 1949
8. Coloured School Boy, Fontwell Park, November 3, 1949
9. Bow And Arrow, Liverpool, November 11, 1949
9. Bow And Arrow, Liverpool, November 11, 1949
10. Greenogue, Manchester, November 19, 1949
10. Greenogue, Manchester, November 19, 1949
11. Assynt, Cheltenham, March 3, 1953
11. Assynt, Cheltenham, March 3, 1953
One of Eddie Newman's four English winners: jumping the water on Coloured School Boy in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell Park on 3 November 1949.
One of Eddie Newman's four English winners: jumping the water on Coloured School Boy in the Whitelaw Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell Park on 3 November 1949.
Eddie Newman wins the 1949 Irish Grand National on Shagreen.
Eddie Newman wins the 1949 Irish Grand National on Shagreen.