Warren Kennedy
{{short description|South African horse racing jockey (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox horseracing personality
|image= Warren-Kennedy-jockey.jpg
|name = Warren Kennedy
||caption =
|occupation = Jockey
|birth_place = Durban, South Africa
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|4|14|df=yes}}
|death_date =
|career wins =
|race = Thekwini Stakes (2019)
SA Fillies Classic (2020)
Gold Challenge (2020)
Woolavington 2000 (2020)
Allan Robertson Championship (2020)
Summer Cup (2020)
Empress Club Stakes (2021)
|honours =
|horses = Summer Pudding, Rainbow Bridge, Vernichey, Gabor
|updated = 17 August 2020}}
Warren Brian Kennedy is a South African horse racing jockey currently riding in New Zealand. He was Champion Jockey in South Africa for the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons and in New Zealand for the 2023/24 season.
He has won Group 1 races in South Africa and in New Zealand.
Riding career
Kennedy attended the South African Jockey Academy in 1995 when he was 14 years old. He became a qualified rider in 2000. Kennedy won the National Apprentice title in his final year.{{cite web |title=Warren Kennedy |url=https://www.sportingpost.co.za/profile/warren-kennedy-2/ |website=Sporting Post |language=en-ZA}}
His first race win came on board Coded Missile for trainer Nic Claasen at Fairview on 15 May 1998. It was a chance ride as the trainer's stable jockey fell ill. The race was the Lady Pedant Stakes, and being a listed race, Kennedy received no apprentice claim.{{cite web |title=PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK IS JOCKEY WARREN KENNEDY - SAHorseracing.COM - South African Horseracing and Betting |url=https://www.sahracing.com/index/contents/news/2462 |website=www.sahracing.com}}
His first Grade 1 victory came on board Gabor in the Thekwini Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Other Group 1 wins include the Summer Cup with Summer Pudding, the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge with Rainbow Bridge, and the Allan Robertson Championship with Vernichey.{{cite web |title=Gr1 Milestone Magic Moments |url=https://www.sportingpost.co.za/2020/07/gr1-allan-robertson-championship-2020-review/ |website=Sporting Post |language=en-ZA |date=5 July 2020}} He also rode Triple Tiara winner Summer Pudding to victory in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic, the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, and the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.
In 2022 Kennedy moved to New Zealand where he was engaged by Byerley Park founder and Director Daniel Nakhle and managed by former Gauteng-based jockey Donavan Mansour.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingpost.co.za/goodbye-warren-kennedy-now-zackey-follows/|title=Goodbye Warren Kennedy - Now Zackey Follows|date=11 October 2022|website=Sporting Post}} Kennedy quickly achieved race day wins.{{cite web |title=South African jockeys making an impact in New Zealand |website=The New Zealand Herald |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226094738/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing-south-african-jockeys-making-an-impact-in-new-zealand/AUEG65K6DBGYFI3Z5W47KI6ZZQ/ |archive-date=26 December 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing-south-african-jockeys-making-an-impact-in-new-zealand/AUEG65K6DBGYFI3Z5W47KI6ZZQ/}}
Major New Zealand winning rides
- 2022 Zabeel Classic (G1) with Defibrillate for Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvallhttps://www.news.com.au/sport/superracing/defibrillate-wins-mondays-group-1-zabeel-classic-in-new-zealand/news-story/5366f87bbb914fdf1c1ffc2f452871eb
- 2023 Karaka Million 3YO Classic (Listed 1600m) with Prowess for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/51383/6/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 6 KARAKA MILLION 3YO CLASSIC at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 21 JAN 2023 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}
- 2023 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (G1) with Crocetti for Danny Walker and Arron Tata https://www.racingnews.co.nz/crocetti-confirms-superstar-quality-in-2000-guineas/
- 2024 Railway Stakes (G1 1200m) with Waitak for Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/52439/8/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 8 SISTEMA RAILWAY at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 1 JAN 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}
- 2024 New Zealand Oaks (G1) with Pulchritudinous for Chad Ormsby.{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/52497/8/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 8 AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI NEW ZEALAND OAKS at WELLINGTON RC on 16 MAR 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://horsebetting.com.au/pulchritudinous-claims-group-1-new-zealand-oaks/|title=Pulchritudinous claims Group 1 New Zealand Oaks | Horse Betting|author=Staff Writer|date=16 March 2024|website=horsebetting.com.au}}
- 2024 Livamol Classic (G1) with Snazzytavi for Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53127/9/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 9 LIVAMOL CLASSIC at WAIKATO THOROUGHBRED RACING on 12 OCT 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/snazzytavi-claims-livamol-classic-title-at-te-rapa-kennedy-secures-three-wins/3VH5WQIEBZDKZOEXOAHJWLMEGI/|title=Snazzytavi's stunning win at Te Rapa cements her Group 1 potential|date=12 October 2024|website=NZ Herald}}
- 2024 Zabeel Classic (G1) with Snazzytavi for Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53254/9/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 9 CAMBRIDGE STUD ZABEEL CLASSIC at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 26 DEC 2024 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}
- 2025 Railway Stakes (G1) with Crocetti for Danny Walker & Arron Tata{{Cite web|url=https://loveracing.nz/RaceInfo/53316/6/Race-Detail.aspx|title=Race 6 SISTEMA RAILWAY at AUCKLAND THOROUGHBRED RACING on 25 JAN 2025 | LOVERACING.NZ|website=loveracing.nz}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/racing/horse-racing-crocetti-and-kennedy-earn-payback-at-karaka-millions/73EVN4PM5NBY7M3WJYB7VN32UQ/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=nzhsport_fb&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawICL4FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHcVkgfmaIkbWZL0KF2GapPrIO-38fLOhIkFFjVW9kAGuOh1SF2R3t_kgkw_aem_ldN3Mg47StTPMiCOQLAtuA#Echobox=1737825908|title=Crocetti and Warren Kennedy return favour at Karaka Millions|date=25 January 2025|website=NZ Herald}}
Personal life
Warren is the son of former jockey Terrence Kennedy.
Kennedy is married to Barbara (née Badenhorst),{{cite web |title=Family Counts |url=https://www.sportingpost.co.za/profile/family-counts/ |website=Sporting Post |language=en-ZA}} with whom he has two daughters.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{South Africa Horse Racing}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kennedy, Warren}}