Latest from Horse & Hound in Jt-mcnamara

Cheltenham honour for JT McNamara

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:24:11 +0000

The late JT McNamara will be honoured by a race run in his name at the Cheltenham Festival next year.

The racecourse has announced that the four-mile National Hunt Chase, on Tuesday, 14 March 2017, will be run in memory of the former amateur jockey, who died aged 41 on 26 July this year.

JT rode more than 700 winners in point-to-points and under Rules, including 16 wins at Cheltenham.

In 2002, he and Rith Dubh won the race that is to be held in his honour next year.

His wife Caroline said: “We are humbled and overwhelmed by the continued support we receive from everyone.

“John Thomas was never one for the limelight during his career, but I am sure that he would want his life remembered for his achievements and success, especially those 16 wins at Cheltenham.

“The race being run in his name at the Festival is a huge honour in his memory.”

JT’s riding career ended after he broke two vertebrae in his neck in a fall while riding Galaxy Rock in an amateurs’ chase in 2013, leaving him paralysed from the neck down.

Ian Renton, regional director of Jockey Club Racecourses South West, said: “We are delighted Caroline has agreed that Cheltenham will remember J T McNamara at next year’s Festival.

“It seems fitting that his name will be associated with the National Hunt Chase, which he won twice during his career as well as 14 other races here at Cheltenham.

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“JT was very much known as the ‘King of the Banks’ from his cross-country performances at Cheltenham and in Ireland.

“He continues to be much missed within the whole racing community.”

The National Hunt Chase has been run 146 times since its inception in 1860, more than any other race at the Festival.

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JT McNamara has died at 41

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 08:58:16 +0000

Renowned rider John Thomas McNamara has died at the age of 41.

It is understood that the former amateur jockey, who was paralysed in a fall in 2013, suffered complications on Friday night.

He was taken to University Hospital Limerick, then discharged to spend his final days with his family: wife Caroline, sons Dylan and Harry and daughter Olivia.

He died last night (25 July).

JT made his name as one of the best amateur jockeys in National Hunt racing.

On 14 March 2013, he broke two vertebrae in a fall from Galaxy Rock in an amateurs’ steeplechase at the Cheltenham Festival, and was paralysed from the neck down.

Hundreds of thousands of pounds was raised for JT and his family after the accident, and he moved back home to Limerick in 2014, after he was discharged from the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre.

“The sheer number of visitors and the support from the public helped me keep going,” he told the Racing Post in 2015. “All those people making the time to come to see me – it showed a few people liked me anyway!”

Cheltenham racecourse said on Twitter this morning: “We are saddened to hear of the death of JT McNamara.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Caroline, his children and all who knew him.”

Ascot racecourse added: “Our thoughts are with the friends and family of JT McNamara this morning.”

Trainer Evan Williams described JT as “a real gent”.

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20-time champion jump jockey AP McCoy said last year: “I can recall every detail of that day at Cheltenham and one image in particular sticks with me.

“I can still see his clothes hanging on his peg with his shirt on top, and realising he would never be coming back into the weighing room. That memory will never leave me.”

Ride at the Cheltenham Festival

Caroline Bankes — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 07:55:17 +0000

All race fans dream of riding at the Cheltenham Festival and by entering the charity flat race on St Patrick’s Thursday that dream can come true.

Amateur riders who can raise £5,000 can take part in the St Patrick’s Derby, run for the sixth time on the third day of the Festival (12 March 2015).

The race is for 12 horses over 1m5f flat course carrying a weight of no more than 11st10lbs.

Participants must provide their own mount, which must have run at least twice under Rules. Point-to-pointers can run subject to individual clearance.

Cheltenham’s chosen charity for the 2015 race is the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF).

“It will be almost two years to the day that JT McNamara has his tragic accident at The Festival. This makes being involved in the charity race particularly poignant, as it is so terribly important that there is an ongoing awareness of the vital work that we do,” said Lisa Hancock, the IJF’s chief executive.

Previous winners of the race include eventer Tina Cook who won in 2012 (pictured) before winning a silver medal at the London Olympics, TV presenter Lorna Fowler, Orna Madden, Brian Bunyan and Vicky Laing.

Entries close at midnight on 17 November and should be made to Sarah Oliver, tel 01886 884488 or via sph.oliver@btinternet.com

£100,000 raised for JT McNamara

Sophia Heath — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 13:23:32 +0000

A day held for paralysed jockey JT McNamara at Ffos Las Racecourse in Wales raised £100,000 to help with his care.

The 37-year-old jockey fell from the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock at this year’s Cheltenham Festival (14 March). He suffered paralysis as a result of the fall and is now continuing his rehabilitation at a specialist unit on Merseyside.

Money was raised on the day by a raffle and special auction. There was a variety of lots put forward from the racing community including donations from champion trainer Nicky Henderson and Coolmore stud.

One of the highest selling lots was a visit to Ballydoyle racing stables in Tipperary — where Aidan O’Brien trains — and a tour of Coolmore Stud with lunch which went for £27,500.

The total raised on the day was a little bit short of the 6-figure amount, so Ffos Las chairman Dai Walters, rounded up the figure.

“We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to raise such a sum of money to help JT McNamara and his family,” said Mr Walters.

“We are indebted to the many very generous bidders in the auction and also most grateful to race-goers who dipped into their pockets to buy raffle tickets on Sunday.

“What happened to JT at the Cheltenham Festival was a terrible accident and at Ffos Las we hope that in a small way we will be able to contribute to his treatment and care.”

Nick Scholfield’s blog: 2,000 miles in 2 weeks

Nick Scholfield — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:25:39 +0000

The jumps season is well underway now and I’m very busy racing most days. All the big names are coming out so it’s getting interesting.

It was great to ride a winner last weekend at Aintree. I was on Karinga Dancer (pictured), trained by Harry Fry — brother of H&H eventing blogger Rosie. The horse put up a very good performance and I was grateful to have the ride.

With all the racing going on, there’s also a lot of driving — I’ve done about 2,000 miles in the past 2 weeks!

With a lot of hours in the car we often share lifts with other jockeys. Most of the conversations couldn’t be shared here, but it makes the time go quicker!

I’ve also bought a new pillow to have a little snooze when I’m not on driving duty. I tend to fall asleep if Daryl Jacob is driving, he talks too much…

All the driving can be mentally tiring after riding all day. It can be very easy to drive home after a winner, but it seems a lot longer after a bad day. And then there’s the speeding fines… But there’s highs and lows with the job and it levels out.

Good to see Hunt Ball back

Hunt Ball coming back to England is great news. He was sold earlier in the year and went over to America to race. But the racing over there didn’t play to his strengths — the jumps are smaller and the ground is faster — and he didn’t do so well after a long season.

Now he’s back over here, he’s going to Nicky Henderson’s yard and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

Hunt Ball will always be very special to me as he was my first ever Cheltenham Festival winner [in 2012]. He’s a very easy going horse and a great character.

Sad to miss HOYS

It’s always good to go back to Horse of the Year Show as it brings back good memories — I won there as a child [Supreme Pony of the Year with Joyce Newbery and Debbie Thomas’s Chiddock Over The Limit, pictured below]. As I’ve said before, I may get some stick for it, but showing was a good start — it’s similar to racing as there’s a good buzz and the pressure to win is there.

I was disappointed not to make it this year, but it clashed with racing. Usually I tend to try and get along to watch the puissance, or to take part in the jockey’s scurry, which gets very competitive. I was narrowly beaten last year by Aidan Coleman, but it was great to get back into the HOYS arena.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

JT’s charity day

Earlier in October I went across to Limerick for a charity raceday in aid of JT McNamara, who was badly injured in a fall at Cheltenham in March.

The day raised about half a million and it was a brilliant effort from the organisers. The Irish racing community really came together and the money raised was remarkable.

It was a really fun day, and AP McCoy even paid £5,000 for his own boxers in the charity auction!

I was also really pleased to have a winner — we were all drawn horses to ride and I was lucky enough to win. It was my first win in Ireland so that was nice to get it under my belt, especially for such a good cause.

What happened to JT shows how tough the sport can be. A serious fall like that brings everyone together and reminds us of both the dangers and how much everyone involved loves it.

And finally…

There’s always good banter in the weighing room. Mattie Batchelor is the king of it. Daryl Jacob always gets a lot of abuse, but it was Sam Twiston-Davies’ turn recently.

Sam turned 21 a couple of weeks ago and he came into the weighing room on his birthday wearing a Hello Bud [Aintree’s Becher Chase winner] t-shirt that he’d been given. Now, when you’re 3 and you have a picture of your favourite pony on your front it’s probably quite sweet, but at 21 you’d think he’d have outgrown it. But he loves that horse. Not sure if the ladies will agree…

I’ve got another couple of busy weeks coming up, but I’ll blog again soon.

Nick

JT McNamara transferred to Irish hospital

Amy Mathieson — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:25:23 +0000

Amateur jockey JT McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival, has been transferred to a hospital in his native Ireland.

JT was taken to the National Spinal Unit at Mater Hospital in Dublin at the weekend (21 April). He had spent several weeks in Frenchay hospital in Bristol following his fall from the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock on 14 March, in which he fractured two vertebrae.

“We wish to express sincere thanks to all the personnel involved in JT McNamara’s safe transfer. We will forever be indebted to the staff at Frenchay Hospital for the fantastic care he has received there since his injury,” said a statement issued jointly by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club senior medical officer and Lisa Hancock of the Injured Jockeys Fund on behalf of the McNamara Family.

“John Thomas is looking forward to the next phase of his treatment and rehabilitation in Ireland. We thank everyone for their on-going support and prayers and ask people please to continue to respect our privacy.”

Jockey JT McNamara is seriously hurt after Cheltenham fall

Flora Watkins — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:47:35 +0000

Irish jockey JT McNamara has undergone surgery at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, after a fall at the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday, 14 March.

JT, who is 37, fractured the C3 and C4 verterbrae at the top of his spine when he fell from the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Galaxy Rock at the first fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup — a steeplechase for amateur jockeys.

He was conscious after the fall, but had difficulty breathing and was placed in an induced coma. Galaxy Rock was reported to be unhurt.

Dr Adrian McGoldrick, who is senior medical officer at the Irish Turf Club, said: “He is currently in theatre. His wife Caroline is with him.”

Also on Thursday, Matuhi, trained by David Pipe, had to be put down after falling at the last fence in the Byrne Group Plate.

And jockey Davy Russell was ruled out of riding the leading Gold Cup contender, Sir Des Champs this afternoon with a punctured lung.

Davy, 34, was injured in a fall from Un Beau Matin in Wednesday’s Coral Cup and recovered to take his first two rides on Thursday. But problems resurfaced — and he returned to hospital.

AP McCoy will take the ride.

“It’s a dangerous sport,” said AP, talking to BBC Radio 5 Live. “We’re very lucky that we have excellent medical care. We just hope he [JT McNamara] is ok.”

Update 18 March

Statement issued on Saturday, 16 March by Dr Adrian McGoldrick, Irish Turf Club Senior Medical Officer and Lisa Hancock, CEO, Injured Jockeys Fund on behalf of the McNamara Family.

“We can report that following lengthy surgery yesterday JT McNamara is in a stable condition. He remains in an induced coma at Frenchay hospital, Bristol. No further updates will be released until Tuesday 19 March and the family politely request that the media do not contact Frenchay hospital direct. They would also like to thank everyone for their kind support and best wishes for JT.”