In Sunday’s Qipco 1000 Guineas, David Egan rode the favourite Qabala, who finished third, while his dad John rode outsider Garrel Glen. Racing has always been a sport passed down through the generations of families whether on the inside or just from interested fans.
There is currently a crop of new jockeys making their way in the sport and following on from their own fathers who were top jockeys. Here are just five of the many children of the turf.
1) David Egan: The son of John Egan and ex-trainer Sandra Hughes, Egan is further on than many having been champion apprentice in Britain already, riding mostly for Roger Varian, having Group wins on the likes of Qabala and Pilaster and riding other good horses such as UAE Jewel. He rode 72 winners in 2018 and will look to improve on that in 2019.
2) Cieren Fallon: Son of the brilliant jockey with the same, but differently-spelled name, young Cieren has already notched up a dozen winners, eight of them since the turn of the year. Riding mainly for smaller trainers, though based out of the William Haggas yard, he clearly didn’t lick the ground for his talent.
3) Jonjo O’Neill Jnr: Son of Jonjo, O’Neill junior (pictured with his dad) played rugby at school but has certainly sided with racing as a career now. He had his first Cheltenham Festival winner on Early Doors in the Martin Pipe race this year and he also had a winner for Philip Hobbs at Punchestown recently. Colin Tizzard is another supporter and after 30 winners in the British season just ended, becoming champion conditional is his target this time around, while riding out his claim is a realistic aim.
4) Hugh Horgan: Some families in racing extend much further than just parents and children. Horgan is the son of former top jump jockey Trevor Horgan, but he is making his way on the flat for now, the 17-year-old having his first winner at Dundalk recently. Horgan is the cousin of Joseph O’Brien and the jockey-turned-trainer has been giving him plenty of experience at his burgeoning yard.
5) Bryony Frost: Clearly this list would not make sense without Frost, the daughter of 1989 Grand National winning jockey Jimmy. Her talent and personality are proving a winning combination and her exploits on Frodon at Cheltenham underlined that, along with Rachael Blackmore, she is at the top of the tree when it comes to female jockeys, though they are at the top of the sport even outside of that category.
