Jack Kennedy is a name that has quickly become synonymous with success in the world of National Hunt racing. At the age of 25, Kennedy has already established himself as one of the brightest jockeys within the sport. Having made his mark with multiple Grade 1 victories as well as a string of big-race triumphs, the future is bright for the young Irishman.
With his career continuing on an upward trajectory, it’s important to note that these opportunities weren’t handed to him. He has more than earned them, rising from the very bottom of the sport.
From his humble beginnings in pony racing to his current status as Ireland’s Champion Jockey, Kennedy’s extraordinary talent is leading him to becoming one of the best jockeys of his generation.
Let’s start at the beginning and look at the key moments in what are still his early years within the horse racing.
Who is Jack Kennedy?
Jack Kennedy’s introduction to the sport came through his family, who chose to enter him and his brother into the world of racing.
Born into a horse-racing family in County Meath, Ireland, Kennedy and his brother were destined to follow the racing-mad path that so many Irish teens had walked before them. However, his initial steps into the sport would start with pony racing.
While this might raise eyebrows for UK-born racing fans, this isn’t uncommon in Ireland, as pony racing serves as a vital stepping stone for many aspiring jockeys. Kennedy was no exception.
Starting off on the circuit as a young boy, Kennedy quickly made a name for himself as a competitive and capable rider. In fact, it was in this environment that he learned the core skills of horsemanship and the essential aspects of race riding – skills that have served him very well to this day. It was the high-pressure world of pony racing that prepared Kennedy for what to expect as he started to climb the ladder within the sport.
Kennedy’s breakthrough moment in pony racing came when he won the prestigious Dingle Derby in 2014, a key event in the Irish pony racing calendar. This win would be a defining moment for the 14-year-old, as it was a signal that he was more than merely a promising young talent.
After that victory, his career would take off in a way that few could have predicted.
First steps in professional racing
Pony racing gave Kennedy his first taste of success, and it led him to his first real breakthrough when he transitioned to professional racing. At the age of just 16, Kennedy secured his first ride under rules, and unsurprisingly to those close to him, it didn’t take long for him to impress.
It was on his seventh ride that a stroke of luck – combined with his natural ability – helped him to secure his first victory. It was a momentous achievement for any young jockey, but especially so given Kennedy’s extremely limited experience at that level of racing.
As his career progressed, so did the amount of wins he started to rack up. In just his second season of racing, Kennedy secured his first victory over hurdles, a milestone that many jockeys take years to accomplish. It also didn’t take long for him to notch up his first win over fences, making it clear that he had the talent to succeed at the highest level of National Hunt racing.
Leopardstown delivered his 100th win, and first Grade 1 win
Fast forward to 2017, and at this moment in time Jack Kennedy had already reached his 100th career win. As a result, he was hailed as one of Ireland’s most promising jockeys.
This landmark victory came at Leopardstown, a track that would become increasingly significant in his career. Leopardstown has a rich history in the world of Irish racing, and for Kennedy to have achieved this milestone there was a fitting tribute to his monumental progress in the saddle.
However, it wasn’t just the quantity of victories that set Kennedy apart – it was also the quality. Pundits were queuing up around the block to praise Ireland’s new star, while punters were backing him blindly, regardless of who he was riding.
Kennedy’s first Grade 1 victory came a few months after his 100th win. Riding the Gordon Elliott-trained Outlander, Kennedy won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December 2016. The win was a testament to his ability to perform on the biggest stage, and it was the start of what would be a long and successful partnership with Elliott, who is regarded as one of the top trainers within the sport.
From that point onward, Kennedy’s career seemed to gather pace with almost every ride. His second Grade 1 victory came shortly after his first, and from then on, the wins just kept on coming.
By 2019, Kennedy had secured multiple top-tier victories, including a standout triumph in the Irish Gold Cup, and his victory in the Drinmore Novice Chase in 2020 further cemented his status as one of the sport’s most talented riders.
However, perhaps his most significant win came in 2021 when he guided Mighty Potter to victory in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in front of a packed house of around 70,000 spectators.
And the wins kept on coming
Jack Kennedy’s career continued to evolve rapidly, and by the time the 2023/24 season rolled around, he had established himself as one of the leading figures in Irish and British jump racing. This season would be particularly notable for Kennedy, as he secured the prestigious prize and title of Irish Champion Jockey.
This achievement was incredibly impressive given the fierce competition from other top jockeys, such as Rachael Blackmore, Davy Russell and Paul Townend, who were all in with a shout.
However, Kennedy’s consistency gave him the edge required. He ended the season with more than 150 wins, a staggering tally that placed him ahead of his talented peers. It was a testament to Kennedy’s ability as a rider, his versatility across different types of races and horses, and also his tough mindset and attitude when in the saddle.
Kennedy’s career has been defined and elevated by his ability to perform on the biggest stage. Winning at the Cheltenham Festival as well as other major races such as the Irish Grand National and the Punchestown Festival, Kennedy seamlessly adapted to the pressure and spectacle of these high-profile events, securing a string of notable victories on top horses along the way. Trainers trusted him and so do plenty of bettors, especially when it comes to the biggest meetings in both the UK and Ireland.
One of his career-defining moments came in 2021 on Minella Indo when he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the sport’s most prestigious prize. That Gold Cup victory was the culmination of years of hard work, from pony racing as a boy to his first rides under rules, and it was a moment that cemented his status among other elite riders.
Riding for Gordon Elliott, Kennedy showed the sort of tactical intelligence and calmness that are the hallmarks of a top professional jockey.
This win wasn’t just significant for its prestige, but it was also a personal achievement for Kennedy, who had been involved in a long and frustrating chase for that elusive Cheltenham win. He had tasted victory at the Festival before, having won the Arkle back in 2021 with Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin, but the Gold Cup was the one that had always eluded him. This is one of the biggest races in the calendar, and to secure this win at such a young age is credit to Kennedy and his commitment to the sport.
Kennedy’s success at Cheltenham is also a result of his deep connection with Gordon Elliott, a relationship that has played a pivotal role in his career. The two have forged a formidable partnership, with Kennedy often chosen as the stable jockey for some of Elliott’s most promising horses. This connection has paid dividends for both parties, with Kennedy enjoying sustained success across the UK and Ireland at the biggest meetings.
The future looks bright for Kennedy
At 25, Kennedy is already a seasoned campaigner, and his career trajectory suggests that the best is yet to come. With a Champion Jockey title already secured, a Gold Cup win, and numerous Grade 1 victories, the Irishman’s place among the elite of jump racing is secure. However, his ambitions extend far beyond simply adding more trophies to his collection, and he’s not the type of character to settle on what he has already achieved.
Looking ahead, Kennedy is well aware of the pressures that come with being at the top of the sport, but he’s mentally and physically well-equipped to handle them. His calm demeanour, excellent tactical awareness and unshakable focus have made him a natural in big-race situations, and his ability to form strong relationships with trainers and owners suggests that he will continue to enjoy top-quality rides in the future.
He has often been compared to other Irish jockeys of note, including Ireland’s most famous jockey Ruby Walsh and the legendary Davy Russell. Much like Walsh, Kennedy possesses a remarkable instinct for positioning horses, a quality that makes him a key figure in races where precision is critical. And similar to Russell, Kennedy’s resilience and consistency have earned him the respect of his peers, with many now viewing him as a worthy successor to the likes of Walsh as the sport enters a new era of talented Irish jockeys.
However, it’s important to note that Kennedy’s focus is less on comparisons and more on his own progress. With many years ahead of him, he is poised to add more major victories to his record. Whether it’s success at Cheltenham or Irish Classics, Kennedy’s future is undoubtedly one of the most exciting topics within racing.
Kennedy’s rise to prominence in the world of National Hunt racing has been swift, yet it has been achieved through dedication, hard work and an innate talent for horsemanship. From his early days in pony racing to his status as Champion Jockey, Kennedy has already accomplished more than most jockeys could ever dream of, and some argue that the best is still to come.
The future looks very bright for the young Irishman, and if his past achievements are anything to go by, Kennedy is set to continue thrilling racing fans for at least another decade.
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