James E. Ryan
Encyclopedia
James E. "Jim" Ryan was an American Thoroughbred horse racing
trainer
in both steeplechase
and flat racing
.
A native of Ireland
, his father, Owen J. Ryan, was the master of Cleaboy Stud in Mullingar
, County Westmeath, Ireland. While working in a factory in England
in his early teens, Jim Ryan began riding steeplechase
horses on weekends. He eventually made it a career and after moving to the United States in the 1930s, became a trainer and breeder
.
During his career, Ryan conditioned horses for notable stable owners such as Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark
, James Cox Brady, Jr., Paul Mellon
and Richard King Mellon
, and Esther du Pont Thouron
for whom he conditioned Royal Governor, the 1949 American Co-Champion Sprint Horse.
Ryan was also widely respected for his knowledge of horse anatomy. A 1967 Sports Illustrated article reported that the Tattersalls
horse auction company said that Ryan was the "second-best judge of horseflesh in their 200-year history."
Jim Ryan made his home near Unionville, Chester County, Pennsylvania
and that was where he died from a heart attack in 1976.
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
in both steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
and flat racing
Flat racing
Flat racing is a form of Thoroughbred horse racing which is run over a level track at a predetermined distance. It differs from steeplechase racing which is run over hurdles...
.
A native of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, his father, Owen J. Ryan, was the master of Cleaboy Stud in Mullingar
Mullingar
Mullingar is the county town of County Westmeath in Ireland. The Counties of Meath and Westmeath Act of 1542, proclaimed Westmeath a county, separating it from Meath. Mullingar became the administrative centre for County Westmeath...
, County Westmeath, Ireland. While working in a factory in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in his early teens, Jim Ryan began riding steeplechase
Steeplechase
Steeplechase may refer to:* Steeplechase, an event in horse racing* SteepleChase, a Danish jazz label* Steeplechase , a 1975 arcade game released by Atari...
horses on weekends. He eventually made it a career and after moving to the United States in the 1930s, became a trainer and breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
.
During his career, Ryan conditioned horses for notable stable owners such as Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark
F. Ambrose Clark
Frederick Ambrose Clark was an American equestrian.Clark was the son of Alfred Corning Clark and a grandson of Edward Clark, a lawyer and later 50% owner of the Singer Sewing Machine Company...
, James Cox Brady, Jr., Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
and Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon
Richard King Mellon , commonly known as R.K., was an American financier from Ligonier, Pennsylvania.-Biography:The son of Richard B. Mellon, nephew of Andrew W...
, and Esther du Pont Thouron
Esther D. du Pont
Esther Driver du Pont was an American philanthropist who created the Thouron Award with her husband, John R. H. Thouron....
for whom he conditioned Royal Governor, the 1949 American Co-Champion Sprint Horse.
Ryan was also widely respected for his knowledge of horse anatomy. A 1967 Sports Illustrated article reported that the Tattersalls
Tattersalls
Tattersalls is the main auctioneer of race horses in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1766 by Richard Tattersall , who had been stud groom to the second Duke of Kingston. The first premises occupied were near Hyde Park Corner, in what was then the outskirts of London...
horse auction company said that Ryan was the "second-best judge of horseflesh in their 200-year history."
Jim Ryan made his home near Unionville, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Unionville, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Unionville is an unincorporated community in East Marlborough Township in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was originally known as "Jacksonville."-Education:...
and that was where he died from a heart attack in 1976.