JT McNamara – A Tribute

A tribute to JT McNamara – one of the finest amateur National Hunt jockeys there ever was

It is with the deepest regret that, during the Galway Festival, we have to say goodbye to a true gentleman of our sport John Thomas McNamara.

It is reported that 41 year old McNamara suffered complications over the weekend and was sent home to spend his final few days at home with his wife Caroline and three children, Dylan, Harry and Olivia. The Limerick born jockey fractured two vertebrae and was paralysed from the neck down after being thrown from his mount Galaxy Rock in the Kim Muir at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

JT McNamara. An inspiration to us all. #rip

— Matt Chapman (@MCYeeehaaa) July 26, 2016

‘JT’ was a leading Irish amateur rider who boasted over 600 career wins. In the UK he is best remembered for being a 4 time Cheltenham Festival winner with two victories in the National Hunt Chase (Rith Dubh and Teaforthree) and winning a Cross Country Chase (Spot Thedifference) and a Fox Hunter Chase (Drombea).

So sad to hear of the death of JT Mcnamara at the age of 41. He was one of the toughest men i have ever met and one of the finest horseman! — Derek Thompson (@tommoracing) July 26, 2016

JT McNamara was a hugely popular figure amongst his fellow jockeys and one of the finest amateur jockeys the sport has every seen. He will be missed by all and our condolences go out to his family and friends. Galway will be a strange place to be this afternoon but hopefully he will be remembered not for the tragic circumstances he faced over the last few years but the brilliance he showed throughout his career and the man he was.

The Injured Jockeys Fund has since spent over £18m in helping over 1000 jockeys whose injuries have forced some of them to give up riding. If you’d like to me a donation to the Injured Jockeys Fund then please do so here.