WELL-KNOWN JOCKEYS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 462, 1 June 1899, Page 16

WELL-KNOWN JOCKEYS.

MARK RYAN.

Although it is only about nine months since Mark Ryan landed in New Zealand his performances in the saddle have caused him to become well known, particularly in the Auckland province, and now he is generally respected here, not only for his artistic ability as a jockey, but as a straight goer. His New Zealand reputation ia but an extension of the favorable regard Mark has won in Australia after years of public riding. Mark was born in Launceston, Tasmania, and when only a boy migrated to New South Wales, where, at 12 years of age, he was riding work for the Messrs Monaghan Bros., horse and station owners. The Monaghan family have always played a prominent part in the history of the New South Wales turf. Young Mark’s first wins were on old Reprieve, Standard, Tallyrand, and others. He remained with the Monaghans until he was 17 years of age, when he went to Queensland and joined Mr J. P. Jost, one of the racing fathers in that, part of the world. Ryan was engaged in riding Petronel and others, but his early successes were on the back of Ormond, a horse that is now proving his worth at the stud in Bananaland. After that we find Rian getting into the hotter climate of the sunny North of Queensland. It is wonderful to note the enthusiasm with which the ep rt is supported there. Ryan joined Mr Eugene Monaghan’s horses. Monaghan has had some good horses in his time, notably Marvel and Friction. In 1887 and 1888 Ryan was particularly successful at Townsville (Oluden Park) and Charters Towers with the New South Wales bred horse Wooliongong. He also won several races for the owner of Callaroy Station, and landed a treble at Charters Towers with Friction, Gildus, and Ralston. That season (1889) he rode Gildus in twenty-two races and won a fair proportion of them. Gildus was owned by Mr Fred. Johnstone (of the firm of Johnstone and Castling, of Townsville), one of the most popular sportsmen in the North. Ryan subsequently left the North for Brisbane, under engagement to Charley Brown, who owned that celebrated Queensland horse Megaphone (by Newbold out of Sound). Brisbane Tattersail’s Cup in 1889 was appropriated by Ryan on Raebank, and then he rode Megaphone during his two-year-old career, winning the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Brisbane; the Sires’ Produce Stakes, Rockhampton; the Criterion Nursery Stakes, Brisbane; the Royal Stakes (Brisbane) and the Scarbury Stakes. These were weight-for-age events, but, besides these, Ryan put a number of handicaps to his credit before he left for Sydney. His next triumph was in that time honored race the Hawkesbury Handicap, which he won with Megaphone, with Little Bernie second; Little Bernie afterwards won the Metropolitan, and Megaphonethe Squatters’Handicaps, carrying (as a three-year-old) 9st 21b in the last-named event and cutting out the distance (one mile and a quarter) in 2min lOsec. The race of Ryan’s lifetime was probably that in the Craven Plate, when he rode Megaphone, who was just beaten a neck by that great horse Carbine. In that memorable race Ryan was instructed to make the paco and make it severe. That he did so was shown by the time (2min 7sec), but Carbine just caught Megaphone and won one of the most exciting battles ever witnessed at Bandwick. Ryan, toj the present day, thinks that the instructions given him were a mistake, and believes that in the then condition of Megaphone he would have won if he had been allowed to ride a waiting race as he

wanted to. After leaving Brown and Megaphon®(who afterwards became the property of Carbine’®Victorian owner, the Hon. Donald S. Wallace), we find Ryan again distinguishing himself in. Queensland by winning the Queensland Cup on Splendide, and amongst other horses he steered successfully there were Tallboy, Governor, Cabin Boy, Advance, and Elymus. As a finale to thisshort notice, it may be mentioned that Mark Ryan has had one disappointment. It was his one great desire to win a Queensland Derby, but the gratification of that wish was denied him, altl ough he won two St. Legers. Fifteen years ago when schooling Trump at Yass, in New South Wales, Ryan met with a serious accident, and that he was not killed was miraculous. The horse fell with him, and his foot becoming entangled in the stirrup, he was dragged some distance, and before his foot was disengaged he received injuries that resulted in the loss of an eye. That unfortunate circumstance has not impaired Mark’s ability as a rider, and opposing jockeys have long since recognised the fact that it is pretty well an impossibility to get on the blind side of the ex-Queenslander. As already stated it is not more than nine months since Ryan arrived in New Zealand, he having come here in quest of a cooler climate than Queensland, and during that time he has ridden Mr Dan. McLeod’® Miss Delaval in all her engagements. Ryan intends to pay a short visit to Australia, but he will return in ample time for the spring engagements.