Former rider Keith Dalton passes away

Former point-to-point rider, and well-known figure within the racing industry, Keith Dalton, has sadly passed away.

The Tipperary native made his debut between the flags in March 2009 when riding the PJ Colville-trained Quiverhill Mystar in a five-year-old mares’ maiden at Lemonfield.

The daughter of Silver Patriarch would later provide him with his first success in the pointing sphere that season, when she came out on top at his local Lisronagh fixture, returning home 15 lengths clear.

She would also become his first ride under rules when she finished sixth in a Tipperary bumper a month later.

Dalton enjoyed a particularly notable following season when he campaigned Ned Kelly to run in five open lightweight races. He would also saddle the former dual Grade 1 winner in these outings, as they finished in the placings at Milltown, Dromahane, Tallow and Bennetsbridge.

The only other horse that Dalton would saddle to run between the flags, would be the subsequent Welsh National winner Mountainous. He rode and trained the son of Milan to finish second in a 17-runner five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Dromahane in December 2010 on his second start, before he won a Bennettsbridge maiden two months later for Eoin Doyle.

Mountainous would go on to win the Welsh National at Chepstow in 2013 and 2016 for Richard and Kerry Lee.




Dalton’s final success between the flags would come aboard the Anita Manton-handled Coolmore Keaveney in a Confined maiden at Stradbally in May 2011, whilst his last ride in the sphere was aboard Rebellion Boy in a six-year-old geldings’ maiden at Lisronagh in April 2016.

He also went on to achieve success in the saddle stateside, where he rode on the National Steeplechase Association circuit between 2015 and 2017. His biggest success in America came aboard Kremlin at Iroquois in 2017.

Keith was laid to rest following funeral mass at St. Oliver’s Church, Clonmel on Sunday and we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.