Pat Beasley

Pat Beasley (9 August 1906 - 6 April 1982) was an Irish-born, English-based Classic-winning jockey and racehorse trainer.

Background

Patrick Thomas Beasley was born in Ireland on 9 August 1906, the tallest of four jockey sons of Harry, who rode and trained the 1891 Grand National winner Come Away, and finished second in three others. Beasley's father also won a race at Punchestown at the age of 71, and rode his last race aged 83. His uncle Tom also rode three Grand National winners and his nephew Bobby went on to win it on Nicolaus Silver in 1961.

Riding career

Pat, nicknamed Rufus for the colour of his hair, went to school at Ampleforth College in Yorkshire. Although his family had a proud National Hunt racing heritage, he specialised in flat. He had his first ride as an amateur, on General Slaughter, trained by Senator Parkinson, in a Juvenile Stakes at the Curragh on 24 April 1923. That summer he turned professional, as an apprentice to Parkinson. His first winner was Wardley Dell on 25 October 1923 at the Curragh.

Style and reputation He was said to have had "great charm beneath his soft brogue", a "faraway look that suggested absent-mindedness", and a "slight stoop [that] disguised the tough, intelligent rider" that he was.

Major wins Great Britain St Leger Stakes - Boswell (1936) Eclipse Stakes - Boswell (1937) Gold Cup - Precipitation (1937) Champion Stakes - Flares (1937) Coronation Cup - Monument (1938) Coventry Stakes - Panorama (1938) Dewhurst Stakes - Casanova (1938) July Cup - Bellacose (1935, 1936) King's Stand Stakes - Foray (1938) Middle Park Stakes - Foxbrough II (1938), Hyacinthus (1940) Nunthorpe Stakes - Bellacose (1936) Prince of Wales's Stakes - Sir Andrew (1931) St James's Palace Stakes - Christopher Robin (1930)