Pat Glennon
Encyclopedia
Pat Glennon was an Australian jockey raised in the Ascot Vale
area in Melbourne, not far from the Flemington Racecourse
. Glennon rode his first winner, a horse named Alares, trained by his father, at a bush tracked, Bacchus Marsh
at the age of 13.
Glennon then moved to South Australia
, where he rode with great success, quickly becoming one of the leading apprentices in Adelaide. Linking with Jim Cummings' team (the father of the great Bart
), he went on to pilot Comic Court
to victory in the 1950 Melbourne Cup
. He'd later go on to win another Cup in 1959 with the Richard W. Roden trained Macdougal
.
Wanting to embellish his already solid career, Glennon went abroad seeking further opportunities. Settling in Ireland,
where he stepped into shoes of Garnet Bougoure as Vincent O'Briens number one hoop. He soon blossomed into a fearsome rider, winning the jockey's championship. While in Ireland, he came to terms with the French trainer Etienne Pollet and accepted a contract to ply his trade in France. It's here that he and Sea Bird II
came together. He and the son of Dan Cupid would sweep through the 1965 flat season winning all before them, culminating in victories in both the Epsom Derby
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
. Sea Bird 11 would end his racing days as the highest rated flat horse of all time.
Pat Glennon would become the only Australian jockey to taste success in the Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. He died on 14 February, 2004 at the age of 76.
Ascot Vale, Victoria
Ascot Vale is a suburb 7 km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moonee Valley. At the 2006 Census, Ascot Vale had a population of 12,398....
area in Melbourne, not far from the Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
. Glennon rode his first winner, a horse named Alares, trained by his father, at a bush tracked, Bacchus Marsh
Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
Bacchus Marsh is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately west of Melbourne and west of Melton. The population of the urban area is estimated at over 17,000 people, while the central locality is home to 5,566 people...
at the age of 13.
Glennon then moved to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, where he rode with great success, quickly becoming one of the leading apprentices in Adelaide. Linking with Jim Cummings' team (the father of the great Bart
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
), he went on to pilot Comic Court
Comic Court
Comic Court was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs and 2 miles...
to victory in the 1950 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
. He'd later go on to win another Cup in 1959 with the Richard W. Roden trained Macdougal
Macdougal
Macdougal, sired 1953, was a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse.He won the 1959 Melbourne Cup, ridden by Pat Glennon....
.
Wanting to embellish his already solid career, Glennon went abroad seeking further opportunities. Settling in Ireland,
where he stepped into shoes of Garnet Bougoure as Vincent O'Briens number one hoop. He soon blossomed into a fearsome rider, winning the jockey's championship. While in Ireland, he came to terms with the French trainer Etienne Pollet and accepted a contract to ply his trade in France. It's here that he and Sea Bird II
Sea Bird II
Sea Bird II is considered by many to be the greatest post-war European flat racehorse. His Timeform rating of 145 is still the highest ever flat figure awarded by that publication. Sea Bird II is most famous for his breathtaking victories in two of Europe's most prestigious races: the Epsom Derby...
came together. He and the son of Dan Cupid would sweep through the 1965 flat season winning all before them, culminating in victories in both the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
. Sea Bird 11 would end his racing days as the highest rated flat horse of all time.
Pat Glennon would become the only Australian jockey to taste success in the Epsom Derby, Melbourne Cup and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe. He died on 14 February, 2004 at the age of 76.