Davy Condon
Encyclopedia
Davy Condon is an Irish
National hunt racing
jockey
in Great Britain
and Ireland
. Condon’s father, Michael Condon
, was an amateur jockey. His father rode for Jimmy Murphy and Charles Byrnes, but a fall that left him in a coma cut his career short with just one win to his credit. His grandfather, Gerry Townend, was also a notable amateur jockey.
After graduating from the pony racing circuit, Condon was discovered by horse trainer
, Willie Mullins
. At the age of 16, Condon made his first appearance as a jockey at Tipperary
on May 25, 2001. That August, Condon got his first victory, winning atop Slaney Boy in a handicap race at Tramore. Just one day later, Condon found himself in the winner’s circle once again at Tramore, winning another handicap race with Knockatotaun. One month later, Condon was part of a winning double at Gowran Park
. Later in the season, Condon won again, this time while riding Flying Boat
to a win at Cork
. The win at Cork gave Condon five in his inaugural campaign. In 2002, Condon won a total of 27 races. He finished second to Tadhg O’Shea in the race for the Champion Apprentice title, winning four less races, but taking 161 less rides than O'Shea during the season.
In 2003, Condon won 22 flat races, many of those coming while riding Holy Orders. He also won on Definite Best in the Irish Cambridgeshire at Curragh
. Condon followed 2003 with similar success in 2004, winning a total of 21 flat races. Like the previous season, much of his success in 2004 was atop Holy Orders. However, after riding Holy Orders to a fourth place finish at Musselburgh
late in the year, Condon began to look at the prospects of switching to National hunt racing. However, his first season on the National hunt circuit was unsuccessful, as he won just nine races.
It was not until the 2006/07 racing season that Condon began to make an impact in National hunt racing. Under the tutelage of Willie Mullins, Condon made his presence known by accumulating 26 victories. Condon rode Homer Wells to significant wins in the Thyestes Chase
at Gowran Park and the Bobbyjo Chase
at Fairyhouse. However, perhaps Condon’s most notable win in the 2006/07 season came when he rode Ebaziyan, a 40-1 underdog, to a win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
. Condon matched his 2006/07 success with 26 more wins in 2007/08, capped with a win in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival atop Emma James.
In 2008, Condon became the stable jockey for Nicky Richards
. During the season, he went on to win 24 races, including wins in the Peterborough Chase
on Monet’s Garden and the Scottish Champion Hurdle
on Noble Alan. In 2009, Condon decided to leave Richards in favor of returning to Ireland, teaming up with Noel Meade
. He has since taken over for the suspended Paul Carberry
and found great success in the process, winning a total of five Grade 1 races, including the Drinmore Novice Chase
and Knight Frank Novice Chase
with Pandorama, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle
on Hollo Ladies, and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle
and Christmas Hurdle
on Go Native
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
National hunt racing
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
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 Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Condon’s father, Michael Condon
Michael Condon
Michael "Mike" Condon is a Welsh former professional rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s who at representative level has played for Wales, and at club level for Halifax.-International honours:...
, was an amateur jockey. His father rode for Jimmy Murphy and Charles Byrnes, but a fall that left him in a coma cut his career short with just one win to his credit. His grandfather, Gerry Townend, was also a notable amateur jockey.
After graduating from the pony racing circuit, Condon was discovered by horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
, Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins
Willie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...
. At the age of 16, Condon made his first appearance as a jockey at Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
on May 25, 2001. That August, Condon got his first victory, winning atop Slaney Boy in a handicap race at Tramore. Just one day later, Condon found himself in the winner’s circle once again at Tramore, winning another handicap race with Knockatotaun. One month later, Condon was part of a winning double at Gowran Park
Gowran Park
Gowran Park is a horse race course in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the Annerly Estate near the village of Gowran.The first meeting was held in 1914...
. Later in the season, Condon won again, this time while riding Flying Boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
to a win at Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
. The win at Cork gave Condon five in his inaugural campaign. In 2002, Condon won a total of 27 races. He finished second to Tadhg O’Shea in the race for the Champion Apprentice title, winning four less races, but taking 161 less rides than O'Shea during the season.
In 2003, Condon won 22 flat races, many of those coming while riding Holy Orders. He also won on Definite Best in the Irish Cambridgeshire at Curragh
Curragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
. Condon followed 2003 with similar success in 2004, winning a total of 21 flat races. Like the previous season, much of his success in 2004 was atop Holy Orders. However, after riding Holy Orders to a fourth place finish at Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
late in the year, Condon began to look at the prospects of switching to National hunt racing. However, his first season on the National hunt circuit was unsuccessful, as he won just nine races.
It was not until the 2006/07 racing season that Condon began to make an impact in National hunt racing. Under the tutelage of Willie Mullins, Condon made his presence known by accumulating 26 victories. Condon rode Homer Wells to significant wins in the Thyestes Chase
Thyestes Chase
The Thyestes Chase is a National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over at Gowran Park in January, over a distance of 3 miles and during the race there are 16 fences to be jumped...
at Gowran Park and the Bobbyjo Chase
Bobbyjo Chase
The Bobbyjo Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Fairyhouse Racecourse in February, over a distance of 3 miles and 1 furlong and during the race there are twenty fences to be jumped....
at Fairyhouse. However, perhaps Condon’s most notable win in the 2006/07 season came when he rode Ebaziyan, a 40-1 underdog, to a win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle
Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
. Condon matched his 2006/07 success with 26 more wins in 2007/08, capped with a win in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival atop Emma James.
In 2008, Condon became the stable jockey for Nicky Richards
Nicky Richards
Nicholas Gordon Richards is a British racehorse trainer specialising mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables at Greystoke, near Penrith, Cumbria, England...
. During the season, he went on to win 24 races, including wins in the Peterborough Chase
Peterborough Chase
The Peterborough Chase is a Grade 2 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Huntingdon over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs , and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped...
on Monet’s Garden and the Scottish Champion Hurdle
Scottish Champion Hurdle
The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Scotland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ayr, South Ayrshire, over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
on Noble Alan. In 2009, Condon decided to leave Richards in favor of returning to Ireland, teaming up with Noel Meade
Noel Meade
Noel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...
. He has since taken over for the suspended Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...
and found great success in the process, winning a total of five Grade 1 races, including the Drinmore Novice Chase
Drinmore Novice Chase
The Drinmore Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped...
and Knight Frank Novice Chase
Knight Frank Novice Chase
The Fort Leney Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 3 miles at Leopardstown Racecourse, and it takes place annually during the Christmas Festival meeting, usually on December 28....
with Pandorama, the Future Champions Novice Hurdle
Future Champions Novice Hurdle
The Future Champions Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse at the end of December during the Christmas Festival, over a distance of 2 miles....
on Hollo Ladies, and the Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Fighting Fifth Hurdle
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
and Christmas Hurdle
Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
on Go Native
Go Native
Go Native is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Double Eclipse and dam, Native Idea. He is owned by Docado Syndicate, trained by Noel Meade, and his primary jockey has been Paul Carberry. He was purchased by the Docado Syndicate for £25,000 from horse dealer Martin Cullinane...
.
Major wins
- Knight Frank Novice ChaseKnight Frank Novice ChaseThe Fort Leney Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run over a distance of 3 miles at Leopardstown Racecourse, and it takes place annually during the Christmas Festival meeting, usually on December 28....
– Pandorama (2009) - Future Champions Novice HurdleFuture Champions Novice HurdleThe Future Champions Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt race in Ireland. It is run at Leopardstown Racecourse at the end of December during the Christmas Festival, over a distance of 2 miles....
– Hollo Ladies (2009) - Christmas HurdleChristmas HurdleThe Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
– Go NativeGo NativeGo Native is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Double Eclipse and dam, Native Idea. He is owned by Docado Syndicate, trained by Noel Meade, and his primary jockey has been Paul Carberry. He was purchased by the Docado Syndicate for £25,000 from horse dealer Martin Cullinane...
(2009) - Drinmore Novice ChaseDrinmore Novice ChaseThe Drinmore Novice Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Fairyhouse over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and during its running there are fifteen fences to be jumped...
– Pandorama (2009) - Fighting Fifth HurdleFighting Fifth HurdleThe Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
– Go NativeGo NativeGo Native is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Double Eclipse and dam, Native Idea. He is owned by Docado Syndicate, trained by Noel Meade, and his primary jockey has been Paul Carberry. He was purchased by the Docado Syndicate for £25,000 from horse dealer Martin Cullinane...
(2009) - Supreme Novices' HurdleSupreme Novices' HurdleThe Supreme Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
– Ebaziyan (2007)