Richie McLernon – Conditional Jockey

Richie McLernon is a highly rated up-and-coming jockey. He has a great racing pedigree too, being the nephew of Tommy Carmody, twice Irish Champion Jump Jockey.

Last season was Richie’s most successful campaign so far, with 21 winners, and included rides at the Cheltenham Festival and a first (on Can’t Buy Time) in the Grand National.

Lifelong Passion

Richie knew from an early age that he wanted to be a jockey, but his parents insisted that he finished his schooling before embarking on his chosen career.

“I stayed at school until I was 18. That was my parents’ one wish, they said I had to finish school and I’m delighted I did now.”

Richie certainly doesn’t feel that he has missed out by starting his racing career at a later stage than most jockeys.

“If you’re good enough, you’ll still make it and if you don’t you’ve got something to fall back on.”

After leaving school, Richie worked with top point-to-point trainer Eugene O’Sullivan in Ireland before joining the team at Jackdaws Castle in the summer of 2007.

Coming to Jackdaws

Richie’s first impressions of Jackdaws were awe-inspiring.

“I was amazed by the place,” he says. “It was like arriving at a five-star hotel for horses- I couldn’t believe it.”

As well as providing superb facilities for any aspiring young jockey, Jackdaws Castle is also work place to two jumping legends in Jonjo O’Neill, Richie’s boss, and fifteen times Champion Jockey AP McCoy, both invaluable sources of help and advice.

“As a person, Mr O’Neill is a good role model. He’s been a huge influence on me and without him I’d be snookered.”

One to Watch

Richie’s biggest wins so far have been achieved courtesy of Can’t Buy Time in the totesport.com Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown in January 2009, trained by Jonjo, and Silmi, trained by Sophie Leech, in the Betfair Prelude Handicap Chase at Market Rasen in September, 2010. However, as he outlined, there’s no point resting on your laurels.

“I’d love to be a big-race jockey, regularly riding good horses on a Saturday and at the big meetings at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown, places like that.”

Blessed with considerable ability, and with the opportunities and expectations that an association with Jonjo O’Neill Racing brings, Richie’s goal looks entirely feasible and, with luck, he could be one of the stars of the future.