D. M. "Mikey" Smithwick

Biography

Daniel Michael “Mikey” Smithwick was an accomplished amateur steeplechase jockey — winning a record six Maryland Hunt Cup races — before he turned to training jumpers in the early 1950s.

After Smithwick began training in the early 1950s, he relied on his older brother, Hall of Famer A. P. “Paddy” Smithwick, to do the riding, and the successful partnership lasted until 1966, the year Paddy retired because of injuries.

Mikey Smithwick was steeplechasing’s leading trainer in number of wins 10 times and in purse earnings 12 times. The biggest winner among the Smithwick-trained horses was Hall of Fame member Neji, champion steeplechaser in 1955, 1957, and 1958. Neji won both the American Grand National and the Temple Gwathmey twice for Smithwick.

Other champions trained by Smithwick included Hall of Famer Bon Nouvel, champion in 1964, 1965, and 1968; Ancestor, champion in 1959, Mako, champion in 1966; Top Bid, champion in 1970, and Straight and True, champion in 1976. Other standouts included Hall of Famer Jay Trump, a multiple Maryland Hunt Cup winner for Smithwick; Uncle Edwin, winner of three consecutive New York Turf Writers Cups; and the winners of the first two Colonial Cups, Top Bid (1970) and Inkslinger (1971).

Achievements

North America's leading steeplechase trainer in earnings — 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970
North America's leading steeplechase trainer in wins — 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969

Other Highlights

Won the American Grand National Steeplechase — 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1976
Won the New York Turf Writers Cup — 1958, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1978
Won the Colonial Cup — 1970, 1971