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Ruby Walsh
RubyWalsh.jpg
Ruby Walsh, Cheltenham 2005
Occupation Former jump jockey
Born (1979-05-14) 14 May 1979 (age 46)
Kill, County Kildare, Ireland
Career wins 2756
Racing awards
Irish National Hunt champion jockey in 1998/99, 2000/01, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16 & 2016/17

Leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017

Recipient of the Horse Racing Ireland National Hunt award in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008

Recipient of the International Jockey of the Year Lester Award in 2007, 2008 & 2010
Significant horses
Big Buck's, Hurricane Fly, Kauto Star, Annie Power, Douvan, Commanche Court, Papillon, Vautour, Faugheen

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.

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)

Cheltenham Festival winners (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.

Republic of Ireland Ireland

  • 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)

United Kingdom Great Britain

  • 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)

France France

  • Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil (2 wins)
  • Prix Alain du Breil (3 wins)
  • Grand Prix d'Automne (1 win)

Australia Australia

  • Ecycle Solutions Grand National Steeplechase (1 win)

United States United States

  • Grand National Hurdle Stakes (1 win)

Japan Japan

  • Nakayama Grand Jump (1 win)
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