{{short description|Irish jockey}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Neil Callan''' (born 1978) is a multiple Group 1-winning Irish jockey who has divided his career between Britain and Hong Kong.

==Racing career== Callan, who originates from County Kildare, was an apprentice in the yard of trainer Kevin Prendergast on The Curragh before moving to England in 1998.<ref name=kn>{{cite web|url=https://www.kildarenow.com/gallery/sport/404433/from-the-curragh-to-hong-kong-kildare-jockey-neil-callan-s-incredible-story.html|title=From the Curragh to Hong Kong - Kildare jockey Neil Callan's incredible story|date=25 February 2018|work=Kildare Now}}</ref> He established an association with trainers such as Karl Burke, Kevin Ryan and Michael Jarvis, and became champion apprentice with 56 winners in 1999.<ref name=kn/><ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/jockey/13699/neil-callan/stats|title=Neil Callan|access-date=13 July 2025|work=Racing Post}}</ref>

He achieved his first Group win in July 2004 on Astrocharm in the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood. In September 2005, Amadeus Wolf, trained by Ryan, provided him with his first Group 1 success when winning the Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.<ref name=stats/> That season he rode 151 winners and was runner-up in the jockeys' championship. He was again runner-up in 2007, his most successful year with 170 winners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12040/10520440/neil-callan-back-for-ebor-festival-at-york-ahead-of-hong-kong-return|title=Neil Callan back for Ebor Festival at York ahead of Hong Kong return|date=2 August 2016|work=Sky Sports}}</ref><ref name=stats/>

From 2010, Callan spent several seasons riding in Hong Kong in the European off-season, before making it his base with his family in 2014 and riding as a retained rider to the Hong Kong Jockey Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/2063/why-life-good-rider-who-gave-flourishing-career-britain-hong-kong/|title=Why life is good for the rider who gave up a flourishing career in Britain for Hong Kong|date=8 January 2015|work=Thoroughbred Racing Commentary}}</ref> A successful decade in Hong Kong included a number of big race victories.<ref name=kn/> Blazing Speed, trained by Tony Cruz, provided him with wins in the 2014 and 2016 Group 1 Champions and Chater Cup, the 2014 Group 2 Jockey Club Cup, and the 2015 Queen Elizabeth II Cup.<ref name=stats/> In April 2021, Callan was banned until the end of the Hong Kong season in July for having been disrespectful to stewards at Happy Valley Racecourse. The suspension was reduced on appeal, allowing him to return to racing at the end of May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/neil-callan-free-to-ride-next-month-after-hong-kong-suspension-is-cut-on-appeal-aod8o0l89Pqu/|title=Neil Callan free to ride next month after Hong Kong suspension is cut on appeal|date=29 April 2021|work=Racing Post}}</ref> It was his last season riding in Hong Kong; he returned to England at the conclusion of the season, citing family reasons.<ref name=post>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/international/neil-callan-to-return-to-britain-after-final-rides-in-hong-kong-on-wednesday-anFy92N8zkzH/|title=Neil Callan to return to Britain after final rides in Hong Kong on Wednesday|date=13 July 2021|work=Racing Post}}</ref> He had won 283 races and over £37 million in prize money in 4,000 rides in Hong Kong.<ref name=post/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theirishfield.ie/racing/inside-racing/hong-kong-callan-heads-home-with-a-final-success-634696|title=Hong Kong: Callan heads home with a final success|date=16 July 2021|work=The Irish Field}}</ref>

On 1 October 2022, Callan had his first Group 1 win since returning to England, riding 16-1 chance Fonteyn, trained by Ryan, in the Sun Chariot Stakes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/old-allies-neil-callan-and-kevin-ryan-land-sun-chariot-with-fonteyn-ajjV03w5HV0g/|title=Back with a bang: old allies Callan and Ryan land Sun Chariot with Fonteyn|date=1 October 2022|work=Racing Post}}</ref> At Royal Ascot in 2023, Callan and Ryan again teamed up to land a Group 1 race with an unfancied runner, when Triple Time won the Queen Anne Stakes.<ref name=stats/> He had a second winner at the meeting with 20-1 chance Burdett Road, trained by Michael Bell, in the Golden Gates Stakes handicap.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/reports/no-fairytale-royal-ascot-farewell-for-frankie-dettori-as-burdett-road-lands-the-golden-gates-aONGR1F6nfYM/|title=No fairytale Royal Ascot farewell for Frankie Dettori as Burdett Road lands the Golden Gates|date=24 June 2023|work=Racing Post}}</ref>

In March 2025, Callan received an eight-month suspension for inappropriate use of social media, including posts that were disrespectful to British Horseracing Authority (BHA) officials or prejudicial to British horseracing. The ban was suspended for two years, which meant that he could continue to ride in races.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/13335023/neil-callan-receives-eight-month-suspended-ban-for-social-media-breaches|title=Neil Callan receives eight-month suspended ban for social media breaches|date=24 March 2025|work=Sky Sports}}</ref> On 12 July 2025, Callan won the Group 1 July Cup on the July Course at Newmarket on 66-1 outsider, No Half Measures, the biggest-priced runner to win the race. It was the first Group 1 success for Richard Hughes as a trainer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/13395897/no-half-measures-springs-66-1-july-cup-shock|title=No Half Measures springs 66-1 July Cup shock|date=12 July 2025|work=Sky Sports}}</ref> After the race Callan said: "Last year was a bit of a struggle and this year's been a bit of a struggle, but you just wait for that one horse".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/articles/c75rk7qwp39o|title=No Half Measures 66-1 winner of July Cup at Newmarket|date=12 July 2025|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==Personal life== Callan is married to Trish, the granddaughter of Newmarket trainer David Ringer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/callan-enjoying-the-green-grass-of-home-and-bahrain/|title=Callan Enjoying The Green Grass Of Home – And Bahrain|date=8 December 2021|work=Thoroughbred Daily News}}</ref> The couple have three sons.<ref name=kn/> Eldest son, Jack, started riding as an amateur jockey aged sixteen in 2023 and then became a licensed apprentice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/previews/its-the-race-you-want-to-win-neil-callans-16-year-old-son-dreaming-of-amateur-derby-glory-at-epsom-a5hnv3n4e05a/|title='It's the race you want to win' - Neil Callan's 16-year-old son dreaming of Amateur Derby glory at Epsom|date=27 August 2023|work=Racing Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/profile/jockey/102526/jack-callan|title=Jack Callan|access-date=13 July 2023|work=Racing Post}}</ref>

==Major wins== {{flagicon|UK}} '''Great Britain''' * Fillies' Mile - (1) - ''Hibaayeb (2009)'' * July Cup - (1) - '' No Half Measures (2025) '' * Middle Park Stakes - (1) - ''Amadeus Wolf (2005)'' * Nunthorpe Stakes - (1) - ''Borderlescott (2009)'' * Queen Anne Stakes - (1) - ''Triple Time (2023)'' * Racing Post Trophy - (1) - ''Palace Episode (2005)'' * Sun Chariot Stakes - (1) - ''Fonteyn (2022)'' ---- {{flagicon|Germany}} '''Germany''' * Bayerisches Zuchtrennen - (1) - ''Pressing (2009)'' ---- {{flagicon|Hong Kong}} '''Hong Kong''' * Centenary Sprint Cup - (1) - ''Peniaphobia (2017)'' * Hong Kong Champions & Chater Cup - (2) - ''Blazing Speed (2014,2016)'' * Queen Elizabeth II Cup - (1) - ''Blazing Speed (2015)'' * Hong Kong Classic Mile - (1) - ''Beauty Only (2015)'' ---- {{flagicon|Italy}} '''Italy''' * Gran Premio del Jockey Club - (1) - ''Rainbow Peak (2010)'' * Premio Roma - (1) - ''Pressing (2007)'' ----

==Performance at the Hong Kong Jockey Club== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;" ! width="80px"| Seasons ! width="100px"| Total Rides ! width="80px"| No. of Wins ! width="80px"| No. of 2nds ! width="80px"| No. of 3rds ! width="80px"| No. of 4ths ! width="150px"| Stakes won |- | 2010/2011 | 121 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 5 | HK$6,545,700 |- | 2013/2014 | 412 | 27 | 36 | 43 | 37 | HK$38,526,375 |- | 2014/2015 | 520 | 47 | 45 | 49 | 44 | HK$66,847,491 |- | 2015/2016 | 510 | 40 | 40 | 45 | 42 | HK$57,645,225 |- | 2016/2017 | 541 | 47 | 51 | 48 | 42 | HK$59,383,150 |- | 2017/2018 | 423 | 25 | 33 | 39 | 34 | HK$36,670,300 |- | 2018/2019 | 428 | 17 | 39 | 43 | 35 | HK$31,004,950 |- | 2019/2020 | 481 | 26 | 40 | 40 | 58 | HK$42,185,220 |- | 2020/2021 | 416 | 28 | 30 | 38 | 32 | HK$38,101,250 |} {{cn|date=July 2025}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Callan, Neil}}

Category:Living people Category:1978 births Category:Irish jockeys Category:Hong Kong jockeys Category:British Champion apprentice jockeys Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen