edgt
Senior Jockey
Multiple Irish Champion Flat Jockey Johnny Roe died last week.
The go to man in the 1960s and 1970s he was Irish Flat Champion nine times when first jockey to Seamus McGrath, John Oxx sr, Vincent O'Brien and Dermot Weld. ( he may have been first jockey to Darkie Prendergast as well when champ in '66)
A natural lightweight and not a whip jockey he had the gift of horses running for him the way Willie Shoemaker and nowadays Frankie Dettori has.
He used be a fixture at Curragh meetings over the past number of years and was always a gentleman, I remember he was the first jockey who gave me his autograph forty years ago.
When interviewed on RTE a few years ago he gave the insight that Lester used make hard pulling horses settle by clipping the heels of a horse ahead of him to get a grip; not to be tried at home.
I missed a wonderful photo opportunity last year of Johnny and Lester in conversation Irish Derby weekend but my name is beside his in the Curragh Exhibiton Visitors Book last September .
The go to man in the 1960s and 1970s he was Irish Flat Champion nine times when first jockey to Seamus McGrath, John Oxx sr, Vincent O'Brien and Dermot Weld. ( he may have been first jockey to Darkie Prendergast as well when champ in '66)
A natural lightweight and not a whip jockey he had the gift of horses running for him the way Willie Shoemaker and nowadays Frankie Dettori has.
He used be a fixture at Curragh meetings over the past number of years and was always a gentleman, I remember he was the first jockey who gave me his autograph forty years ago.
When interviewed on RTE a few years ago he gave the insight that Lester used make hard pulling horses settle by clipping the heels of a horse ahead of him to get a grip; not to be tried at home.
I missed a wonderful photo opportunity last year of Johnny and Lester in conversation Irish Derby weekend but my name is beside his in the Curragh Exhibiton Visitors Book last September .
