Racing mourns brilliant McNamara
FORMER top amateur jockey John Thomas McNamara, who was paralysed after a fall from Galaxy Rock at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival, died yesterday aged 41.
McNamara, left, rode 600 winners and enjoyed great success at the Cheltenham Festival in the colours of his close friend, JP McManus. His first Festival win was on Rith Dubh in the 2002 National Hunt Chase. Then came Spot Thedifference in the 2005 Cross Country Chase, Drombeag in the 2007 Foxhunter Chase and Teaforthree gave him a second National Hunt Chase in 2012. Legendary jockey Sir Tony McCoy recalled being in the weighing room at Cheltenham when news of McNamara’s accident emerged.
“I remember looking over and seeing his clothes hanging up and thinking ‘He’ll never be back in here’, and that’s not something I’ll ever forget,” said McCoy. “It’s a very sad day for everyone in racing especially his wife, Caroline – she’s a very tough and amazing woman. He was a remarkable man.
“He was a little bit like me – he could be grumpy enough at times, but was very good humoured. He was fantastic, a brilliant rider. I said this morning that watching his ride on Rith Dubh at the Cheltenham Festival was as good as you’ll ever see.”
McNamara enjoyed a special relationship with the Enda Bolger-trained Spot Thedifference, steering the gelding to 11 of his 14 victories, including seven races
at Cheltenham. Bolger said: “He was very unassuming and just a great person to have anything to do with.
“I know that the last three years have been hell for him and his family and if there is a heaven, then he’ll be the first one in, that’s for sure.”
His friend, Davy Russell, said: “He was the ultimate sportsman who always seemed to raise his game on the big stage. Whether riding against his fellow amateurs or even the professionals, he was talented and unbelievably brave. However, the bravery he showed in the saddle was nothing to the bravery he showed after that awful Cheltenham fall.
“The way he battled and the toughness he showed made us all look at the problems in our own lives in a very different way.”
McNamara left a wife, Caroline, two sons, Dylan and Harry, and daughter Olivia.