Ruby Walsh facts for kids
Rupert "Ruby" Walsh (born on May 14, 1979) is a famous Irish former jockey. He is the oldest son of Ted Walsh, who was also a champion jockey. Many people think Ruby Walsh is one of the best jump jockeys ever. He is the third most successful jockey in British and Irish jump racing history.
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Ruby Walsh's Amazing Career
Ruby Walsh showed great talent for horse racing from a young age. He won the Irish amateur title twice before becoming a professional jockey.
Early Wins and Grand Nationals
In 2000, at just 20 years old, Ruby won the English Grand National on his very first try. He rode a horse named Papillon, which was trained by his own father. In the same year, father and son also won the Irish Grand National with a horse called Commanche Court.
Ruby had an incredible year in 2004/05. He won three of the four major National races: the Irish, Welsh, and English Grand Nationals. He is the only jockey to have won all four National races in Britain and Ireland. Ruby has a fantastic record in the Grand National, winning it twice (in 2000 and 2005).
Cheltenham Festival Success
During his career, Ruby Walsh won over 2,500 races. A huge part of his success came at the Cheltenham Festival, where he won 59 races. His first win there was in 1998.
He won the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup twice with the famous horse Kauto Star. He also won the Queen Mother Champion Chase multiple times with horses like Azertyuiop and Master Minded. Ruby also had many wins on other legendary horses such as Big Buck's, Hurricane Fly, and Annie Power.
Champion Jockey Titles
Ruby Walsh was the Irish jump jockey champion an amazing twelve times! This shows how dominant he was in the sport. For many years, he had a special arrangement where he rode for two top stables: Willie Mullins in Ireland and Paul Nicholls in England. This allowed him to compete at the highest level in both countries.
In January 2007, Ruby set a record for the fastest 100 winners in Irish jump racing history. He continued to break records, including riding seven winners at the 2009 Cheltenham Festival. He equaled this record in 2016. In 2010, he became the jockey with the most wins in the Festival's history.
Ruby won his 2,500th race in January 2016. He remained the most successful rider at the Cheltenham Festival, winning the leading rider's award eleven times. In August 2015, he even won the Australian Grand National.
Ruby Walsh announced his retirement from racing on May 1, 2019. He made the announcement right after winning the Punchestown Gold Cup on Kemboy. This was his 213th Grade One win, a truly incredible achievement!
Cheltenham Festival Wins (59)
Year | Race | Mount |
---|---|---|
1998 | Champion Bumper | Alexander Banquet |
2002 | Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase | Blowing Wind |
2003 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Azertyuiop |
2004 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Azertyuiop |
Grand Annual Chase | St Pirran | |
County Hurdle | Sporazene | |
2005 | Champion Bumper | Missed That |
Daily Telegraph Chase | Thisthatandtother | |
2006 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Noland |
William Hill Trophy | Dun Doire | |
County Hurdle | Desert Quest | |
2007 | Royal & SunAlliance Chase | Denman |
Ryanair Chase | Taranis | |
Cheltenham Gold Cup | Kauto Star | |
2008 | Queen Mother Champion Chase | Master Minded |
Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle | Fiveforthree | |
Triumph Hurdle | Celestial Halo | |
2009 | David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega |
Queen Mother Champion Chase | Master Minded | |
World Hurdle | Big Buck's | |
Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle | Mikael d'Haguenet | |
RSA Chase | Cooldine | |
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle | American Trilogy | |
Cheltenham Gold Cup | Kauto Star | |
2010 | David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega |
Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle | Sanctuaire | |
World Hurdle | Big Buck's | |
2011 | Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Al Ferof |
Stan James Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly | |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega | |
World Hurdle | Big Buck's | |
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle | Final Approach | |
2012 | World Hurdle | Big Buck's |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega | |
2013 | Stan James Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Champagne Fever |
Stan James Champion Hurdle | Hurricane Fly | |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega | |
Champion Bumper | Briar Hill | |
2014 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Vautour |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Quevega | |
Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle | Faugheen | |
2015 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Douvan |
Arkle Challenge Trophy | Un de Sceaux | |
Champion Hurdle | Faugheen | |
JLT Novices' Chase | Vautour | |
2016 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Douvan |
Champion Hurdle | Annie Power | |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Vroum Vroum Mag | |
Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle | Yorkhill | |
JLT Novices' Chase | Black Hercules | |
Ryanair Chase | Vautour | |
Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Limini | |
2017 | JLT Novices' Chase | Yorkhill |
Ryanair Chase | Un de Sceaux | |
Stayers' Hurdle | Nichols Canyon | |
Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle | Let's Dance | |
2018 | Arkle Challenge Trophy | Footpad |
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle | Benie Des Dieux | |
2019 | Supreme Novices' Hurdle | Klassical Dream |
He was the leading jockey at the Festival 11 times: 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Injuries Ruby Walsh Faced
Like many jump jockeys, Ruby Walsh suffered several serious injuries during his career. The worst was a broken leg in 1999 while racing in the Czech Republic. He broke the same leg again later, which kept him out of action for five months. However, he recovered in time to win his first Grand National!
Ruby also fractured his wrist twice, dislocated one hip and fractured the other. He cracked his elbow and dislocated both shoulders. In 2008, he had to have his spleen removed after a fall, but he was back riding just 27 days later! He also broke his left arm in 2010 and fractured his right leg in 2017. Despite these setbacks, he always showed incredible determination to return to racing.
Personal Life and Family
Ruby Walsh married Gillian Doran in July 2006. They have four daughters: Isabelle, Elsa, Gemma, and Erica.
Ruby comes from a family of jockeys:
- His sister, Katie Walsh, is also a top female jockey.
- His brother, Ted Walsh Junior, is married to another famous female jockey, Nina Carberry.
Ruby Walsh on Television
Ruby Walsh has appeared in a TV documentary called "Jump Boys." This show followed his journey, along with other jockeys, during the 2011/12 racing season. He has also worked as a racing expert for TV channels when he was injured. He even appeared in some funny commercials for a betting company.
Major Wins Around the World
Ruby Walsh achieved many major wins in different countries.
- Irish Gold Cup (2 wins)
- Lexus Chase (3 wins)
- Punchestown Gold Cup (7 wins)
- Ladbrokes Champion Chase (4 wins)
- John Durkan Memorial Chase (3 wins)
- Ryanair Gold Cup (3 wins)
- Drinmore Novice Chase (4 wins)
- Racing Post Novice Chase (1 win)
- Fort Leney Novice Chase (1 win)
- Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase (3 wins)
- Arkle Novice Chase (3 wins)
- Dr P. J. Moriarty Novice Chase (3 wins)
- Ryanair Novice Chase (4 wins)
- Punchestown Champion Chase (3 wins)
- Morgiana Hurdle (6 wins)
- Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (4 wins)
- Hatton's Grace Hurdle (2 wins)
- Future Champions Novice Hurdle (2 wins)
- Christmas Hurdle (3 wins)
- December Festival Hurdle (4 wins)
- Slaney Novice Hurdle (4 wins)
- Irish Champion Hurdle (6 wins)
- Deloitte Novice Hurdle (3 wins)
- Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final (2 wins)
- Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (4 wins)
- Champion Stayers Hurdle (5 wins)
- Punchestown Champion Hurdle (6 wins)
- Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle (8 wins)
- Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (5 wins)
- Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle (1 win)
- Mares Champion Hurdle (2 wins)
- Betfair Chase (4 wins)
- Henry VIII Novices' Chase (2 wins)
- Tingle Creek Chase (3 wins)
- Long Walk Hurdle (2 wins)
- Kauto Star Novices' Chase (2 wins)
- Christmas Hurdle (3 wins)
- King George VI Chase (5 wins)
- Challow Novices' Hurdle (2 wins)
- Tolworth Hurdle (3 wins)
- Clarence House Chase (4 wins)
- Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2 wins)
- Ascot Chase (1 win)
- Top Novices' Hurdle (1 win)
- Manifesto Novices' Chase (1 win)
- Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices' Hurdle (2 wins)
- Betway Bowl (2 wins)
- Aintree Hurdle (5 wins)
- Mildmay Novices' Chase (2 wins)
- Mersey Novices' Hurdle (4 wins)
- Melling Chase (3 wins)
- Sefton Novices' Hurdle (1 win)
- Liverpool Hurdle (4 wins)
- Maghull Novices' Chase (3 wins)
- Celebration Chase (2 wins)
- Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (2 wins)
- Prix Alain du Breil (3 wins)
- Grand Prix d'Automne (1 win)
- Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (1 win)
- Grand National Hurdle Stakes (1 win)
- Nakayama Grand Jump (1 win)