James Anthony "Seamie" Heffernan (born 17 July 1972) is an Irish flat racing jockey associated for most of his career with the stable of horse racing trainer Aidan O'Brien. From a family with no racing connections, Heffernan was introduced to the sport when he took a summer holiday job with the National Hunt trainer Arthur Moore. He began his racing career as an apprentice jockey for P J Finn and rode his first winner on 10 August 1988 at the age of sixteen. When Finn retired he moved to the yard of Jim Bolger and shared the Irish champion apprentices title in 1994. He was runner-up in the same competition in 1995 and moved to Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable in 1996 where he was second jockey after Christy Roche.
Heffernan remained at Ballydoyle for nearly three decades and rode his first Group One winner on Beckett in the 2000 National Stakes and his first Classic winner on Imagine in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2001. He has ridden a further nine Irish Classic winners, including four victories in the Irish Derby, in addition to riding the Epsom Derby runner-up in 2009 and 2010. He scored his first English Classic victory when Was won the 2012 Epsom Oaks. In 2019, Heffernan rode Anthony Van Dyck under trainer Aidan O'Brien to win his first Derby victory. The win he said stood out most, however, was winning the Breeders' Cup Turf on Highland Reel in 2016.
On the eve of the 2024 Irish flat season, Heffernan announced he was leaving his permanent position at Ballydoyle for a new career as a freelance jockey, although both parties stressed there had been no falling out and said they expected to work together again in future.
He has two children.
Major wins
- Irish Oaks – (1) – Seventh Heaven (2016)
- Irish 1,000 Guineas - (5) - Imagine (2001), Halfway to Heaven (2008), Misty for Me (2011), Peaceful (2020), Empress Josephine (2021)
- Irish Champion Stakes - (3) - Cape Blanco (2010), So You Think (2011), Magical (2020)
- Irish Derby – (4) – Soldier of Fortune (2007), Frozen Fire (2008), Capri (2017), Santiago (2020)
- Irish St. Leger – (1) – Septimus (2008)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes - (3) - Again (2008), Misty for Me (2010), Minding (2015)
- National Stakes - (2) - Beckett (2000), Power (2010)
- Phoenix Stakes - (2) - Pedro the Great (2012), Caravaggio (2016)
- Pretty Polly Stakes - (3) - Misty for Me (2011), Diamondsandrubies (2015), Magical (2020)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup - (1) -Lancaster Bomber (2018)
- Critérium International - (1) - Mount Nelson (2006)
- Prix de l'Opéra - (1) - Rhododendron (2017)
- Cheveley Park Stakes – (1) – Brave Anna (2016)
- Eclipse Stakes – (1) – So You Think (2011)
- Epsom Derby - (1) - Anthony Van Dyck (2019)
- Epsom Oaks – (1) – Was (2012)
- International Stakes - (2) - Flying the Flag (2013), Mekong River (2014)
- Middle Park Stakes – (2) – Crusade (2011), US Navy Flag (2017)
- Sun Chariot Stakes – (1) – Halfway to Heaven (2008)
- Breeders' Cup Turf - (1) - Highland Reel (2016)
- Secretariat Stakes - (1) - Highland Reel (2015)
References
- ^ "Seamie Heffernan". QIPCO British Champions Series. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- "Inside Track Seamie Heffernan Interview". Gowran Park. 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Seamus Heffernan". goracing.ie. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
- ^ Sheerin, Brian (17 March 2024). ""I Needed A Change" – Seamie Heffernan Explains Ballydoyle Departure". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
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