Johnny Murtagh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Murtagh
Murtagh after winning the 2011 Epsom Oaks on Dancing Rain
Occupation	Jockey / trainer
Born	(1970-05-14) 14 May 1970 (age 55) Navan, County Meath, Ireland
Significant horses
Sinndar, Kalanisi, Choisir, Soviet Song, Henrythenavigator, Yeats, Fame and Glory, Dancing Rain

Johnny Murtagh (born 14 May 1970) is a famous Irish horse trainer and a former jockey. He comes from Bohermeen, a small place near Navan in County Meath.

As a jockey, Johnny won many of Europe's biggest horse races. These include all the important Irish Classics and many top-level races at Royal Ascot. He also won the famous Epsom Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes, and Europe's largest flat race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was even named the Irish flat racing Champion Jockey five times!

Now, as a trainer, Johnny runs his own stables near Kildare. He has already trained horses to win at Royal Ascot and an Irish Classic race.

Early Life and Beginnings

Johnny Murtagh was born in Navan, County Meath. When he was a young boy, he loved boxing. He was so good that he became the Irish boys' under-14 boxing champion! He also almost joined a youth football team for Blackburn Rovers.

One evening, at a boxing match, someone told Johnny's mother that he had all the right qualities to be a great jockey. They noticed his good balance, strength, and courage. His mother then wrote to the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) in County Kildare. This school helps young people learn to become jockeys.

Johnny got a two-week trial at RACE. He was one of 26 students who completed the 10-month course. After finishing, he became an apprentice to John Oxx, one of Ireland's best horse trainers.

Johnny's Jockey Career

Johnny Murtagh rode his very first winning horse, Chicago Style, at Limerick in 1987.

In 1992, he became the main jockey for John Oxx's stables. From then until 2003, he rode 18 top-level (Group 1) winners for Oxx's main horse owner, the Aga Khan.

Big Wins as a Jockey

For trainer John Oxx, Johnny rode a horse named Sinndar to win both The Derby and the Irish Derby in 2000. Sinndar also won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe that same year. Johnny won The Derby again in 2005 on a horse called Motivator, trained by Michael Bell.

He was also the regular jockey for a very talented female horse named Soviet Song. In 2004, they won two Group 1 races together. One of these was the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Here, Soviet Song beat many strong male horses, including the 2,000 Guineas winner, Haafhd.

From 2008 to 2010, Johnny was the main jockey for Coolmore, a very famous horse racing operation. He had already ridden for them sometimes since 2002, winning The Derby on High Chaparral in 2002. In 2008, he rode 19 Group 1 winners in just one season for trainer Aidan O'Brien. In 2009, he won 10 more big races, including the Irish Derby and the Ascot Gold Cup.

In November 2010, Johnny decided to leave his job as Coolmore's main jockey. He said he would not renew his contract. His last Group 1 win for them was on Roderic O'Connor in October 2010.

After leaving Coolmore, Johnny went back to riding for John Oxx and also for Mick Halford. He was very happy to ride for the Aga Khan's horses again. He said it was a pleasure to be part of John Oxx's team, where he first started.

In February 2014, Johnny Murtagh announced that he would stop riding horses in races. He wanted to focus completely on his new career as a trainer.

Johnny's Training Career

Johnny Murtagh got his license to train horses in 2013. In his very first year, he trained horses to win a Group 2 race and two Group 3 races. He even rode the horses himself in some of these wins, like the Blandford Stakes with Belle de Crecy and the British Champions Long Distance Cup with Royal Diamond.

His first Group 1 win as a trainer happened in September 2020. This was when Champers Elysees won the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse. In 2021, he had his first win at Royal Ascot as a trainer. A horse named Create Belief, ridden by his stable jockey Ben Coen, won the Sandringham Stakes. Later that same year, Sonnyboyliston gave Johnny his first Irish Classic win. Ben Coen rode Sonnyboyliston to victory in the Irish St. Leger.

Personal Life

Johnny Murtagh is married to Orla. Orla's father is Michael "Babs" Keating, a famous hurler from Tipperary. Johnny and Orla have five children: Caroline, Charles, Lauren, Grace, and Tom.

Major Wins as a Jockey

• Ireland
  • Irish 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Again (2009)
  • Irish 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Black Minnaloushe (2001), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009)
  • Irish Champion Stakes – (1) – Timarida (1996)
  • Irish Derby – (4) – Sinndar (2000), Alamshar (2003), Fame and Glory (2009), Cape Blanco (2010)
  • Irish Oaks – (6) – Ebadiyla (1997), Winona (1998), Petrushka (2000), Peeping Fawn (2007), Moonstone (2008), Chicquita (2013)
  • Irish St. Leger – (1) – Jukebox Jury (2011)
  • Matron Stakes – (3) – Timarida (1995), Soviet Song (2004), Lillie Langtry (2010)
  • Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Edabiya (1998)
  • National Stakes – (3) – Manntari (1993), Sinndar (1999), Mastercraftsman (2008)
  • Phoenix Stakes – (3) – Mastercraftsman (2008), Alfred Nobel (2009), Zoffany (2010)
  • Pretty Polly Stakes – (2) – Takarouna (1993), Ambivalent (2013)
  • Tattersalls Gold Cup – (3) – Notnowcato (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Fame and Glory (2010)
• Canada
  • E. P. Taylor Stakes – (2) – Choc Ice (2001), Mrs Lindsay (2007)
• France
  • Critérium International – (1) – Roderic O'Connor (2010)
  • Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (2) – Fame and Glory (2008), Recital (2010)
  • Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (2) – Namid (2000), Total Gallery (2009)
  • Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (1) – Sinndar (2000)
  • Prix du Cadran – (1) – Give Notice (2002)
  • Prix de Diane – (1) – Valyra (2012)
  • Prix Ganay – (1) – Duke of Marmalade (2008)
  • Prix Marcel Boussac – (1) – Misty For Me (2010)
  • Prix Morny – (1) – Bushranger (2008)
  • Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
  • Prix de l'Opéra – (2) – Timarida (1995), Petrushka (2000)
  • Prix Royal-Oak – (1) – Yeats (2008)
  • Prix Vermeille – (1) – Mrs Lindsay (2007)
• Germany
  • Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (2) – Timarida (1996), Greek Dance (2000)
• Great Britain
  • 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Rock of Gibraltar (2002), Henrythenavigator (2008)
  • Ascot Gold Cup – (5) – Enzeli (1999), Royal Rebel (2001, 2002), Yeats (2008, 2009)
  • Champion Stakes – (1) – Kalanisi (2000)
  • Cheveley Park Stakes – (2) – Lightening Pearl (2011), Rhosdu Queen (2012)
  • Coronation Cup – (2) – Soldier of Fortune (2008), Fame and Glory (2010)
  • Coronation Stakes – (2) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995), Lillie Langtry (2010)
  • Derby – (3) – Sinndar (2000), High Chaparral (2002), Motivator (2005)
  • Eclipse Stakes – (1) – Mount Nelson (2008)
  • Falmouth Stakes – (3) – Soviet Song (2004, 2005), Simply Perfect (2007)
  • Fillies' Mile – (1) – Listen (2007)
  • Golden Jubilee Stakes – (4) – Superior Premium (2000), Choisir (2003), Soldier's Tale (2007), Starspangledbanner (2010)
  • Haydock Sprint Cup – (1) – Gordon Lord Byron (2013)
  • International Stakes – (2) – Duke of Marmalade (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2010)
  • July Cup – (2) – Frizzante (2004), Starspangledbanner (2010)
  • King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (4) – Alamshar (2003), Dylan Thomas (2007), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Novellist (2013)
  • King's Stand Stakes – (2) – Choisir (2003), Sole Power (2013)
  • Middle Park Stakes – (1) – Bushranger (2008)
  • Nassau Stakes – (2) – Peeping Fawn (2007), Halfway to Heaven (2008)
  • Oaks – (1) – Dancing Rain (2011)
  • Prince of Wales's Stakes – (1) – Duke of Marmalade (2008)
  • Queen Anne Stakes – (2) – No Excuse Needed (2002), Haradasun (2008)
  • Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (1) – Rip Van Winkle (2009)
  • Racing Post Trophy – (2) – Dilshaan (2000), St Nicholas Abbey (2009)
  • St. James's Palace Stakes – (3) – Black Minnaloushe (2001), Henrythenavigator (2008), Mastercraftsman (2009)
  • Sussex Stakes – (3) – Soviet Song (2004), Henrythenavigator (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2009)
  • Yorkshire Oaks – (3) – Key Change (1996), Petrushka (2000), Peeping Fawn (2007)
• Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong Vase – (1) – Daliapour (2000)
• United Arab Emirates
  • UAE 2,000 Guineas – (2) – Asiatic Boy (2007), Honour Devil (2008)
  • UAE Derby – (1) – Honour Devil (2008)
• United States
  • Beverly D. Stakes – (1) – Timarida (1996)
  • Breeders' Cup Marathon – (1) – Man of Iron (2009)
  • Breeders' Cup Mile – (1) – Ridgewood Pearl (1995)
  • Breeders' Cup Turf – (1) – Kalanisi (2000)

Major Wins as a Trainer

• Ireland
  • Matron Stakes – (1) – Champers Elysees (2020)
  • Irish St. Leger – (1) – Sonnyboyliston (2021)