Steve Donoghue
Encyclopedia
Steve Donoghue was a leading English
flat-race jockey
in the 1910s and 1920s. He was Champion Jockey
10 times between 1914 and 1923 and was one of the most celebrated horse racing
sportsmen after Fred Archer, arguably only Sir Gordon Richards
eclipsing him.
, Cheshire
, England
, Steve was apprenticed to John Porter
at Chester
when he was 14 years old. In 1904 he won his first winner in France, before returning to England to dominate the sport for the next two decades.
which he won six times. Three consecutive wins in the early 1920s - on Humorist
(1921), Captain Cuttle
(1922) and Papyrus
(1923) - was the high point. He was also associated with the horses Brown Jack
- who he rode to six consecutive wins in the Queen Alexandra Stakes
at Royal Ascot and The Tetrarch
, a 2-year-old that raced in 1913 and was said to be the fastest horse ever ridden in England.
In 1915 and 1917, he rode the horses Pommern
and Gay Crusader
to the English Triple Crown. In its more than two-hundred-year history, of the jockeys aboard the fifteen winners, Steve Donoghue is the only one to have ever won the Triple Crown twice.
Always popular with the public and his fellow professionals, Steve was never called up by the stewards. He retired in 1937, and died in 1945 from a heart attack
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
flat-race jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in the 1910s and 1920s. He was Champion Jockey
British flat racing Champion Jockey
The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840...
10 times between 1914 and 1923 and was one of the most celebrated horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
sportsmen after Fred Archer, arguably only Sir Gordon Richards
Gordon Richards
Sir Gordon Richards was an English jockey, and is often considered the world's greatest ever jockey. He remains the only jockey to have been knighted....
eclipsing him.
Background
Born in WarringtonWarrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Steve was apprenticed to John Porter
John Porter (horseman)
John Porter was an English Thoroughbred flat racing trainer whose horses won the English Triple Crown three times.-Biography:Born in Rugeley, Staffordshire, the National Horseracing Museum says that John Porter "was undoubtedly the most successful trainer of the Victorian era."From 1854 to 1855,...
at Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
when he was 14 years old. In 1904 he won his first winner in France, before returning to England to dominate the sport for the next two decades.
Career
His greatest triumphs came in the Epsom DerbyEpsom 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...
which he won six times. Three consecutive wins in the early 1920s - on Humorist
Humorist (horse)
Humorist was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a leading two-year-old in 1920 and finished third in the 1921 2000 Guineas before winning the Derby at Epsom...
(1921), Captain Cuttle
Captain Cuttle
Captain Cuttle was a British Thoroughbred racehorse an sire. He ran only six times in a career which was restricted by chronic injury problems. He was the outstanding British colt of his generation, winning the Epsom Derby and the St. James's Palace Stakes in 1922...
(1922) and Papyrus
Papyrus (horse)
Papyrus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland. Out of the mare Miss Matty, he was sired by Tracery whose sire was Rock Sand....
(1923) - was the high point. He was also associated with the horses Brown Jack
Brown Jack
Brown Jack was a Thoroughbred racehorse that raced over hurdles and then on the flat. He was a "stayer" – a horse specialising in longer races. He won the second Cheltenham Champion Hurdle in 1928, but his main claim to fame was winning the Queen Alexandra Stakes – the longest race in the flat...
- who he rode to six consecutive wins in the Queen Alexandra Stakes
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot and The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch was an undefeated Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, who was voted Britain's Two-Year-Old of the 20th Century.-Breeding:...
, a 2-year-old that raced in 1913 and was said to be the fastest horse ever ridden in England.
In 1915 and 1917, he rode the horses Pommern
Pommern (horse)
Pommern was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1915 English Triple Crown and was best racehorse of his generation.-Pedigree:...
and Gay Crusader
Gay Crusader
Gay Crusader was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox mated his horse Bayardo with the mare Gay Laura to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader...
to the English Triple Crown. In its more than two-hundred-year history, of the jockeys aboard the fifteen winners, Steve Donoghue is the only one to have ever won the Triple Crown twice.
Always popular with the public and his fellow professionals, Steve was never called up by the stewards. He retired in 1937, and died in 1945 from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Classic Race Victories
- Epsom DerbyEpsom DerbyThe 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...
winners - 1915: PommernPommern (horse)Pommern was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1915 English Triple Crown and was best racehorse of his generation.-Pedigree:...
, 1917: Gay CrusaderGay CrusaderGay Crusader was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox mated his horse Bayardo with the mare Gay Laura to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader...
, 1921: Humorist, 1922: Captain Cuttle, 1923: PapyrusPapyrus (horse)Papyrus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland. Out of the mare Miss Matty, he was sired by Tracery whose sire was Rock Sand....
, 1925: Manna - 1,000 Guineas winners - 1937: Exhibitionist
- 2,000 Guineas winners - 1915: PommernPommern (horse)Pommern was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1915 English Triple Crown and was best racehorse of his generation.-Pedigree:...
, 1917: Gay CrusaderGay CrusaderGay Crusader was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox mated his horse Bayardo with the mare Gay Laura to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader...
, 1925: Manna - Epsom OaksEpsom OaksThe Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
winners - 1918: My Dear, 1937: Exhibitionnist - St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winners - 1915: PommernPommern (horse)Pommern was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1915 English Triple Crown and was best racehorse of his generation.-Pedigree:...
, 1917: Gay CrusaderGay CrusaderGay Crusader was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox mated his horse Bayardo with the mare Gay Laura to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader...