Billy Loughnane

Billy Loughnane (born March 2006) is an Irish jockey who is based in Britain and competes in flat racing. He is the current British flat racing Champion Apprentice.[1]

Billy Loughnane
OccupationJockey
BornMarch 2006
Ireland
Major racing wins
Brocklesby Stakes (2023)
Racing awards
British All-Weather Champion Apprentice (2022-23)
British flat racing Champion Apprentice (2023)

Background

Loughnane is the son of Clare and Daniel Mark Loughnane, an Irish trainer based in England. Born in Ireland, Loughnane moved to England with his parents and brother Jack at the end of 2011, living first in Staffordshire and then, from 2017, at a new training yard, Rock Farm, near Kidderminster in Worcestershire.[2]

Loughnane started riding out for his father when he was still at school and also rode on the pony racing circuit, winning the all-weather championship in 2022.[3][4] He always wanted to be a jockey and went to school dressed as a jockey when asked to dress as what he wanted to be he was older.[2]

Career

Apprentice jockey

Loughnane took out an apprentice licence after leaving school aged sixteen and had his first ride in October 2022 on Starfighter, trained by his father, at Newcastle. His first winner was another horse trained by his father, Swiss Rowe, at Wolverhampton on 28 November 2022.[2] In April 2023 he was crowned champion all-weather apprentice with 41 winners, in spite of taking a break in February to ride out with trainer David Meah in Miami.[3][2] On 1 April 2023, on just his third ride on the turf, he rode Doddie's Impact, trained by Robyn Brisland, to victory in the Brocklesby Stakes at Doncaster.[5] The following month he became the youngest jockey since Lester Piggott in 1951 to ride in a British classic when he partnered Sweet Harmony in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. The 200/1 outsider, trained by Richard Spencer, finished 14th of 20 runners.[6] He had eight rides in his first Royal Ascot, with his best result being second place on Calling the Wind, trained by Richard Hughes, in the Ascot Stakes.[7] He rode out his claim with his 95th winner on 8 September 2023, having had to take three weeks out after injuring his thumb in July in the stalls at Nottingham.[8] On 1 October he won the Apprentices' Derby at Epsom on the favourite Forceful Speed, trained by George Boughey.[9] and at the end of the month was crowned as 2023 Champion Apprentice on Champions' Day at Ascot.[1]

References
  1. "William Buick and Billy Loughnane crowned champion jockeys, Shadwell secure British Champion Owner title". Sporting Life. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. "Interview with trainer Mark Loughnane and star apprentice Billy Loughnane". Sporting Life. 31 January 2023.
  3. "'Pony racing helped me massively' - all-weather champion apprentice Billy Loughnane shines again". Racing Post. 7 April 2023.
  4. "Billy Loughnane: The teenage jockey taking Flat racing by storm". BBC Sport. 27 January 2023.
  5. "'What a story' - poignant Brocklesby win for rising star Loughnane on horse named after rugby legend Doddie Weir". Racing Post. 1 April 2023.
  6. "1,000 Guineas: Oisin Murphy and Mawj pip favourite Tahiyra to victory at Newmarket". BBC Sport. 7 May 2023.
  7. "Horse racing analysis: Three apprentice jockeys to follow". Sporting Life. 19 July 2023.
  8. "'It's been flabbergasting' - blazing Billy Loughnane rides out claim, just 11 months on from debut". Racing Post. 8 September 2023.
  9. "Billy Loughnane lands Apprentices' Derby on fine afternoon for George Boughey". Racing Post. 1 October 2023.
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