Death of trailblazing jockey, Helen McDonogh
Helen Bryce-Smyth was leading female rider of her era
The death has occurred of Helen McDonagh of Billywood Stud in Moynalty, who was a ground-breaking female jockey of her era.
Aged 83, she was formerly Helen Bryce-Smyth, and initially enjoyed point-to-point success for her father, Cyril and mother, Jean, of Cherrymount, also in Moynalty, from the 1960s on.
The trailblazer later married Des McDonogh, trainer of Monksfield, and their family includes leading flat rider, Declan.
Her 106 point-to-point winners and 10 winners on the track included one on Monksfield at Down Royal in March 1980.
That win on Monksfield was scarcely two months after she had given birth to son Declan who would later be crowned champion flat jockey in 2006.
The BMW Amateur Hurdle at Down Royal which was the final success before he went off to stud.
Helen McDonogh won the initial ladies series of flat races that was introduced in 1972.
The first race was in the Phoenix Park, a track that was a top class facility at the time, but is now home to apartments and houses.
“It was great to get a chance to ride in the race at a track like the Phoenix Park,” she recalled for Conall Collier in the Meath Chronicle in 2019.
“My father got me the ride in the race for trainer Michael Connolly on a horse called Simead, we finished third.
“The winner (Wacoso) was trained by Kevin Prendergast who got an American jockey for the race.
“I was second the next day at Gowran Park, this time on a good horse Super Seer and then in the final race of the series I won in Navan, that gave me enough points to win the series outright,” she added.
After her marriage to Des, they set up a training base at Billywood, and took a chance on a horse called Monksfield at Goffs Sales in Ballsbridge for less than €1,000 in today’s money.
“Goffs was across the road from the RDS at the time, I remember the day we got Monksfield, no one else wanted him,” she recalled.
“He threw his leg out a bit, but we took a chance, boy could he gallop, that was one that worked out.
Monksfield went on to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltemhan in 1978 and 1979, and won the Aintree Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse three times - including a dead-heat with Night Nurse, one of his two greatest rivals.
He won four times in his first season hurdling, as well as finishing second in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was runner-up in the 1977 Champion Hurdle behind Night Nurse, but triumphed in 1978, ahead of Sea Pigeon and Night Nurse. The rivalry between Monksfield and Sea Pigeon reached its peak in 1979 and 1980 with Monksfield winning the 1979 Champion Hurdle, and the latter reversing the decision - by seven lengths - a year later.
Helen died, aged 82, peacefully at home yesterday evening, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her husband Des, daughters Shona Geraghty, (Billywood, Moynalty), Ashling Byrne (Kilcullen, Kildare); son Declan, (Fontstown, Kildare); brother, John (Oldcastle); sons in law, Norman and Mark, daughter in law, Eimear, grandchildren, Charlie, Amy, Amber, Sarah, Lucy, Max and Poppy. =
She is resting privately amongst her family at home, arriving to Mullagh Parish Church (Church of Ireland) A82XT32 on Sunday for Funeral Service at 12 noon, followed by interment in the family burial ground at Cherrymount, Moynalty, A82H5K3.
Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to The Irish Injured Jockey's Fund
c/o Shane P O'Reilly Funeral Director or by collection envelope at church.