Michael Beary (jockey)
Michael Beary | |
---|---|
Eire | |
Died | 8 October 1956 London, England |
Major racing wins | |
Classic races: (as jockey) Oaks Stakes (1932) Derby Stakes (1937) St Leger Stakes (1929, 1949) (as trainer) 2000 Guineas (1951) Other major races July Cup (1924) Sussex Stakes (1924, 1929, 1932, 1941) Nunthorpe Stakes (1945) Middle Park Stakes (1922, 1925, 1928, 1932) Dewhurst Stakes (1931, 1933) Champion Stakes (1933(dh)) | |
Honours | |
Irish Champion Jockey (1920) | |
Significant horses | |
Burslem, Costaki Pasha, Dastur, Drake, Eastern Echo, Felicitation, Firdaussi, Golden Cloud, Ki Ming, Le Phare, Lex, Mid-day Sun, Mrs Rustom, Ridge Wood, Trigo, Udaipur |
Michael Beary was an Irish
Early life
Beary was born on 9 December 1894 (although some sources list 1896[3]) in Clonmel, County Tipperary, into a racing and hunting family. He was the second son of John Beary, clerk of the Clonmel union, and Hannah (née Skeahan).
Riding career
Beary began his apprenticeship with Colonel MacCabe in Ireland. In 1912, he moved to England to become apprentice to Atty Persse in Stockbridge, Hampshire, where he came under the tuition of the stable jockey Steve Donoghue. His first win was on Hainesby at Bath in 1913, although he had to stowaway in the back of Donoghue's car to get there as the head lad had refused permission for him to leave the yard. Shortly afterwards, he returned to Ireland to complete his apprenticeship with Curragh trainer J. J. Parkinson. There, his first winner came in 1914, and his first major win was on Banshee in the Phoenix Plate of 1916.[1] Soon after, he began a series of Irish Classic victories, starting with three consecutive Irish Oaks - Snow Maiden in 1919, Place Royale in 1920 and The Kiwi in 1921. In the process, he became Irish Champion Jockey in 1920.
On his return to England, he quickly revealed himself as "a brilliant horseman".[4] His first major win was in the 1923 Cambridgeshire on Verdict. In 1925, he had a surprise success in the Gimcrack Stakes at York on Les.[4]
In 1926 and 1927 he was lead jockey for Sir Abe Bailey, before becoming attached to the
Beary continued to be retained once the Aga Khan moved his horses to be trained by
On 16 June 1934 Butters rode Sindhi for the Aga Khan in a race at
The split cost him the opportunity to ride the 1935 Triple Crown winner Bahram. A few years later, however, he won the Derby for Butters' brother Frederick on Mid-day Sun.
In the 1940s he was retained by Sir Malcolm McAlpine and he was in his fifties when he had his most prolific season - 81 winners in 1949, including a second St Leger on Ridge Wood for Noel Murless.[6]
Later life
After retiring from race riding, he became a trainer in Wantage. In his first season, 1951, he won the 2000 Guineas with Ki Ming, a horse that had been trained by his brother John, until his licence was withdrawn for doping. Despite this success, he was unable to secure the patronage of many owners and struggled financially. As a result, he returned to race-riding in 1953, even riding in the Derby for Atty Persse, as well as some outings over hurdles.[7] He returned to training, this time at Stockbridge, shortly before his death.
He was a successful breeder and his horse Dornot sired a number of winners.[1]
He died in a London hospital on 8 October 1956.
Reputation
Beary has been called a "superb horseman with style and dash"[6] and "one of the great stylists of the century"[1] but also a "hard rider".[7] He was carefree, voluble but also volatile, which affected his prospects, as did his troubles with financial matters, particularly as a trainer. Three times he had his licence withdrawn, including for foul riding and alleged betting (although he was later exonerated),[1] and three times he was made bankrupt - including in 1924 and 1936 after his severance from the Aga Khan.[7]
Major wins
- Oaks Stakes– Udaipur (1932)
- Derby Stakes– Mid-day Sun (1937)
- St Leger Stakes – Trigo (1929), Ridge Wood (1949)
- Champion Stakes – Dastur (1933(dh))
- Dewhurst Stakes – Firdaussi (1931), Mrs Rustom (1933)
- July Cup – Drake (1924)
- Middle Park Stakes – Drake (1922), Lex (1925), Costaki Pasha (1928), Felicitation (1932)
- Nunthorpe Stakes – Golden Cloud (1945)
- Sussex Stakes – Burslem (1924), Le Phare (1929), Dastur (1932), Eastern Echo (1941)
- Irish Oaks - Snow Maiden (1919), Place Royale (1920), The Kiwi (1921), Theresina (1930)
- Irish Derby - Knight of the Grail (1927), Dastur (1932)
- Irish St Leger- Kircubbin (1921), Trigo (1929)
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Murphy.
- ^ Randall, John (19 May 1999). "Richards is in a class of his own; A Century of Racing - 50 Greatest Flat Jockeys". Racing Post. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 48.
- ^ a b M Beary, Gallaher's cigarette card, #6 in a series of 48, 1936
- ^ a b c Ashforth, David (23 July 2006). "Michael Beary: from Aga's No. 1 rider to stigmatised pauper". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ a b Mortimer, Onslow & Willett 1978, p. 49.
- ^ a b c Tanner & Cranham 1992, p. 154.
Bibliography
- Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopaedia of British Racing. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- Murphy, William. Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- Tanner, Michael; Cranham, Gerry (1992). Great Jockeys of the Flat. ISBN 0-85112-989-7.