The Drogheda Memorial Fund, a charitable organization for the relief of those less fortunate in the Irish racing world, was instituted by the Turf Club two years after the sudden death of Henry Francis Seymour Moore, 3rd Marquess of Drogheda on the eve of the 1892 Irish Derby.
The Drogheda Memorial Hospital – familiarly known as the ‘Jockey Hospital’ was built on the edge of the Curragh at the same time.
Both were instituted to commemorate the deeds of Henry, Marquess of Drogheda, the greatest reforming administrator in Irish racing history. Dubbed the ‘Admiral Rous of the Irish Turf’, the Marquess succumbed to a heart attack in London, aged sixty-six.
Harry Sargent, who knew the owner of Moore Abbey personally, described him thus: ‘Every man in Ireland who knew even the first rudiments of our sport, has for many years looked upon Lord Drogheda as the Lycurgus of Irish racing, whether across country or on the flat.
He was pre-eminently fitted by nature to govern – no man could have five minutes’ conversation with him without being impressed by that fact, while his eye, peculiarly penetrating as it was, evinced the determination that lay within.
. . In addition to assuming the leading part in the legislation of the Irish Turf, he took a front place in watching over some of those for whom that legislation was framed. Malpractice could seldom be carried out at any race which he attended without his detecting it.
His eagle sight, assisted by the powerfully strong race-glasses he was wont to carry, readily discerned untrue running, and whenever a delinquency was proved against a man, be he owner, trainer or rider, Lord Drogheda visited him with a punishment fully commensurate with the offence.’
In fact what in 1894 became the Drogheda Memorial Fund had been instituted by Drogheda himself in 1891, as the ‘Jockeys Benevolent and Provident Fund’.
Under its new name it was enlarged in scope ‘to provide for the permanent and temporary relief of trainers and riders in necessitous circumstances, arising from age, sickness, accident, or misfortune, and also for the widows and children of such persons.’
The current Rules of Racing make interesting reading on the Drogheda Memorial Fund apropos ‘Members’. ‘Only such persons who are, or have been trainers or riders of racehorses by profession, are entitled to derive any benefit from the fund. . . The Committee shall have the power of rejecting the subscriptions of trainers or riders who, in their opinion are not worthy to become members of this society, and also of striking off the list any trainer or rider who may misconduct himself after having become a member.’
As to the composition of the ‘Committee’ – ‘The affairs of this institute are under the management of the Stewards of the turf club and of the I.N.H.S. Committee for the time being the trustees and six other appointees, being honorary members, who shall be chosen annually by them at the Financial Meeting.’
Said Committee ‘shall meet from time to time in every year, to decide upon applications for relief, and to transact the general business of the institution; three to be a quorum. All questions shall be determined by vote and if the votes for or against the motion be equal, the chairman of the day shall have the second or casting vote.’
A similar organization exists in England, the Bentinck Fund, commemorating one of their foremost Turf reformers, Lord George Bentinck (1802-1848).
Only in 1964, when former champion jockey Tim Brookshaw and Paddy Farrell were both paralysed by falls at Aintree, was the Injured Jockeys’ Fund created. Lord Oaksey – formerly amateur rider and columnist John Lawrence – has devoted his life to this most deserving cause.
It was not until Paddy Mellerick was confined to a wheelchair following a racing fall in the 1970s that the late John Harty and his fellow jockeys instituted a comparable Injured Jockeys’ Fund in this country.
While both organizations continue to rely heavily on sales of Christmas cards and calendars, in recent years jockeys contribute a portion of their riding fees to these funds to ease the plight of their less fortunate brethren.
Why do they do it? Let Will H. Ogilvie explain.
So they forge through wind and weather To the creak of straining leather Lashing at the leaps together, With the fl uttering fl ags to guide them, Taking what the fates provide them, Danger calling, Death beside them – ‘Tis a game beyond gainsaying Made by gods for brave men’s playing.