Rory Mac Neice
Rory Mac Neice
Rory John Mac Neice rode as a conditional jockey for multiple champion trainer Martin Pipe and had 14 wins prior to a very different change of direction which has seen him become a highly successful litigation solicitor.
Rory John Mac Neice rode as a conditional jockey for multiple champion trainer Martin Pipe and had 14 wins prior to a very different change of direction which has seen him become a highly successful litigation solicitor.
Having left school with what he described as “bad” A level grades, admitting that he was more interested in racing than lessons, he persuaded Martin Pipe to take him on as a stable lad with the intention “to give it five years and see where I was”.
Having left school with what he described as “bad” A level grades, admitting that he was more interested in racing than lessons, he persuaded Martin Pipe to take him on as a stable lad with the intention “to give it five years and see where I was”.
His first victory came at Newbury on March 26, 1988, when six-year-old The Merry Gambler led throughout and beat 19 rivals in the Spring N.H. Flat Race (Division 2). He had four more wins that season including a double at Fontwell Park.
His first victory came at Newbury on March 26, 1988, when six-year-old The Merry Gambler led throughout and beat 19 rivals in the Spring N.H. Flat Race (Division 2). He had four more wins that season including a double at Fontwell Park.
The 1988/89 season went even better with seven wins including three on the novice hurdler Vagog. Success on Kings Rank in the first week of the 1989/90 season appeared to presage another successful campaign but he only had one further win, when In-Keeping, trained by Martin Pipe, led all the way and had two lengths to spare at the end of the Grimsby Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Market Rasen on January 13, 1990. He kept the ride for In-Keeping’s next two starts, the second of which was when finishing unplaced in the Daily Express-sponsored Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
The 1988/89 season went even better with seven wins including three on the novice hurdler Vagog. Success on Kings Rank in the first week of the 1989/90 season appeared to presage another successful campaign but he only had one further win, when In-Keeping, trained by Martin Pipe, led all the way and had two lengths to spare at the end of the Grimsby Four-Year-Old Hurdle at Market Rasen on January 13, 1990. He kept the ride for In-Keeping’s next two starts, the second of which was when finishing unplaced in the Daily Express-sponsored Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
However, In-Keeping’s Market Rasen victory proved to be the last of his riding career. He left racing employment behind and trained as a solicitor. He had always been interested in law, and enforced time off from riding due to a head injury allowed him to study, gain improved A levels, and led to a place at university.
However, In-Keeping’s Market Rasen victory proved to be the last of his riding career. He left racing employment behind and trained as a solicitor. He had always been interested in law, and enforced time off from riding due to a head injury allowed him to study, gain improved A levels, and led to a place at university.
Intensive study was no hardship. “When I was a jockey,” he recalled, “I’d leave the house at 6.00am and often not get back until 10.00pm, so going to university was like having four years off!”
Intensive study was no hardship. “When I was a jockey,” he recalled, “I’d leave the house at 6.00am and often not get back until 10.00pm, so going to university was like having four years off!”
Armed with a First from university, having qualified in 1998, he joined solicitors Veale Wasbrough, which had developed a specialist equestrian unit. That gave him the opportunity to remain involved with the horse world and talk with horse people.
Armed with a First from university, having qualified in 1998, he joined solicitors Veale Wasbrough, which had developed a specialist equestrian unit. That gave him the opportunity to remain involved with the horse world and talk with horse people.
“The pressure in a top-flight yard is tremendous,” he reflected, “but it teaches you discipline and to work consistently. When you ride a race, you have your trainer’s instructions, but if things don’t work out according to plan you have to adapt.”
“The pressure in a top-flight yard is tremendous,” he reflected, “but it teaches you discipline and to work consistently. When you ride a race, you have your trainer’s instructions, but if things don’t work out according to plan you have to adapt.”
Rory now heads the litigation team at Ashfords in Bristol. A partner in the company, he handles a variety of commercial litigation, including on behalf of jockeys accused of having contravened regulations, specialising in advising on disputes in the Tech and Sports sectors. He advises individuals, clubs and team sponsors and right holders on issues arising both on and off the field of play.
Rory now heads the litigation team at Ashfords in Bristol. A partner in the company, he handles a variety of commercial litigation, including on behalf of jockeys accused of having contravened regulations, specialising in advising on disputes in the Tech and Sports sectors. He advises individuals, clubs and team sponsors and right holders on issues arising both on and off the field of play.
He is highly regarded for his expertise in handling a wide range of disciplinary and integrity matters, including anti-doping regulation and match/race-fixing allegations. He has advised in relation to sports regulatory matters in many jurisdictions across Europe, North America, Dubai and India.
He is highly regarded for his expertise in handling a wide range of disciplinary and integrity matters, including anti-doping regulation and match/race-fixing allegations. He has advised in relation to sports regulatory matters in many jurisdictions across Europe, North America, Dubai and India.
Rory Mac Neice’s winners were, in chronological order:
Rory Mac Neice’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. The Merry Gambler, Newbury, March 26, 1988
1. The Merry Gambler, Newbury, March 26, 1988
2. Bonny Prince Ivor, Fontwell Park, April 12, 1988
2. Bonny Prince Ivor, Fontwell Park, April 12, 1988
3. Ghawwas, Taunton, April 14, 1988
3. Ghawwas, Taunton, April 14, 1988
4. Laharne Girl, Fontwell Park, May 30, 1988
4. Laharne Girl, Fontwell Park, May 30, 1988
5. Pharoah’s Laen, Fontwell Park, May 30, 1988
5. Pharoah’s Laen, Fontwell Park, May 30, 1988
6. Celcius, Devon & Exeter, August 24, 1988
6. Celcius, Devon & Exeter, August 24, 1988
7. Celcius, Worcester, December 5, 1988
7. Celcius, Worcester, December 5, 1988
8. Star Wonder, Wincanton, January 12, 1988
8. Star Wonder, Wincanton, January 12, 1988
9. Vagog, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1989
9. Vagog, Wolverhampton, January 25, 1989
10. Vagog, Towcester, February 2, 1989
10. Vagog, Towcester, February 2, 1989
11. Vagog, Nottingham, February 26, 1989
11. Vagog, Nottingham, February 26, 1989
12. Sexton Ash, Huntingdon, May 29, 1989
12. Sexton Ash, Huntingdon, May 29, 1989
13. Kings Rank, Devon & Exeter, August 2, 1989
13. Kings Rank, Devon & Exeter, August 2, 1989
14. In-Keeping, Market Rasen, January 13, 1990
14. In-Keeping, Market Rasen, January 13, 1990