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About
Irish horse trainer, stableman, and jockey who made history in 1923 when he became the first - and so far, only - jockey to win a race after death. Having been stricken by a fatal heart attack in the latter portion of the race, he managed to remain in the saddle as his outsider horse, Sweet Kiss, won the steeplechase by a head.
Before Fame
He was only 22 years old when he passed away. Having worked primarily as a horse trainer and stableman rather than as a professional jockey, the race in which he died was the first - and only - race he ever won.
Trivia
After the incident, the horse he rode, Sweet Kiss, became subsequently known by the nickname, "Sweet Kiss of Death."
Family Life
His fatal heart attack was widely attributed to the extreme measures he undertook to meet racing weight requirements, reportedly dropping approximately 12 pounds in just a few days leading up to the event. Three days after his death, he was buried, adorned in his racing silks, at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY.
Associated With
He and Frankie Dettori are both famous horse jockeys.
