Background
Beasley was born in London in to an Irish racing family. His father, Harry, also known as "HH" Beasley,was an outstanding flat jockey and rode the winner of two Irish Derbys.
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Bobby Beasley
Edit ProfileCareer
Beasley"s grandfather, also named Harry, trained and rode Come Away to victory in the 1891 Grand National. His great-uncle, Tommy, was twice Irish Champion (Empress 1880, Woodbrook 1881 and Frigate 1889).In addition, he beat the legendary English flat jockey Fred Archer in the Irish Derby. He was reared in Ireland.
In 1960 he captured the Champion Hurdle on Another Flash.
In 1961 he was victorious in the Grand National with Nicolaus Silver at odds of 28/1. In 1963 he was victorious in the Mackeson Gold Cup on Richard of Bordeaux.
Roddy Owen
Beasley rode Roddy Owen in the 1959. He was trained by Danny Morgan and owned by Lord Fingall.
Roddy Owen was joint second favourite at odds of 5/1.
Coming to the final fence Pas Seul was in the lead with Linwell and Lochroe in hot pursuit. Roddy Owen was in fourth just behind the leaders. Despite an otherwise flawless jumping performance Pas Seul fell at the last coming down in Linwell"s As a result came to a standstill which hampered Lochroe.
However Beasley struggled with his drink problem.
As a result he was let go as stable jockey to Fred Winter who was one of the most successful trainers of the day.He retired as a jockey in 1969. His recovery began when his friend Nicky Rackard convinced him to join Alcoholics Anonymous.
In February 1971, aged 35, he resumed his career riding Norwegian Flag to victory at Leopardstown. He captured the Irish Sweeps Hurdle on
Beasley was aged 38—and had been sober for five years—when trainer Pat Taaffe, gave him the ride on at Cheltenham.
During his brief career, had fallen on a number of occasions, and was a novice when he ran in the Gold Cup.
The Times described his victory as "the greatest comeback since Lazarus"
He also managed a public and worked in a vineyard.
Achievements
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He won the Grand National at Aintree on three occasions. His initial winner as an amateur came at Leopardstown when he was sixteen years of age.Three year later he enjoyed his first winner as a professional at Naas. He was among the leaders from early on the second circuit and gradually drew clear over the final two fences to win by five lengths. Nicholas Silver became the first and only grey to win the race during the 20th century. In 1966 he won the Triumph Hurdle aboard Black Ice. The horse was named after amateur rider Roddy Owen who won the 1892 Grand National aboard Father O"Flynn. The outright favourite was Taxidermist the winner of the 1958 Hennessy Gold Cup. Taking full advantage of the others misfortune,Beasley steered Roddy Owen into the lead and won by three lengths to Linwell. During the race made a terrible mistake at the final fence, but Beasley remained composed and drove his mount past The Dikler, who had won the race the previous year, to win by five lengths.
