Quick Info
| Profession | Businessman, bookmaker and racehorse owner |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Irish |
| Date of Birth | 10/03/1951 |
| Age | 75 years |
| Birthplace | Limerick, Ireland |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Latest News about JP McManus
McManus was crowned Champion Owner at the end of the 2025/26 jumps season at the Punchestown Festival. It was his sixth successive Champion Owner title and his 23rd overall, which he described as a huge honour for his family and himself.
His horse I Am Maximus won the 2026 Grand National at Aintree under Paul Townend, giving McManus his third Grand National win as owner after earlier victories in 2010 and 2024. The result came from a field in which he had entered seven runners.
McManus appointed former champion jockey Harry Cobden as his retained rider from May 2026, filling a role not held since Barry Geraghty retired in 2020. Cobden will have access to McManus's large racing operation, which uses his green and gold silks with trainers in Ireland and Britain.
Do you like JP McManus?
You can vote only once.
76% like · 24% dislike
Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | John Patrick McManus |
|---|---|
| Summary | Irish businessman and racehorse owner known as J.P. McManus, who built his career from a family construction plant hire firm, on-course bookmaking and foreign exchange trading, and who became one of National Hunt racing's largest owners. He was crowned Champion Owner for a sixth successive season in 2026, his 23rd Champion Owner title overall. |
| Residence | Ireland, with property in Switzerland and Barbados |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Secondary School | Christian Brothers School, Sexton Street |
|---|
Personal Life
| Home Base | County Limerick, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Wealth Notes | Estimated net worth reported in the range of one billion US dollars or more in various rich lists; figures vary by source |
Relationships & More
| Business Partners | Dermot Desmond and John Magnier, with whom he has a long-standing partnership in racing and investment |
|---|---|
| Retained Jockey | Harry Cobden, appointed as retained rider from May 2026 |
Family
| Spouse | Noreen McManus |
|---|---|
| Children | Three children, including daughter Sue Anne McManus |
| Grandchildren | Four |
| Siblings |
|
Career
| Early Career | Began in his family's construction plant hire firm, then worked as an on-course bookmaker |
|---|---|
| Racing | Bought his first horse in 1982 and later became the largest owner in National Hunt racing |
| Notable Horses | Istabraq, Binocular, Hurricane Fly, Buveur D'Air, I Am Maximus, Inothewayurthinkin |
| Notable Wins | Champion Hurdle success with Istabraq in 1999; Grand National win with Don't Push It in 2010; Grand National wins with I Am Maximus in 2024 and 2026; Cheltenham Gold Cup win with Inothewayurthinkin in 2025 |
| Properties | Jackdaws Castle, Martinstown Stud and Adare Manor |
| Other Ventures | Family office Leicosa SA, established in 1994; founder of the J.P. McManus Pro-Am Golf Tournament |
| Championships | Champion Owner for a sixth successive season in 2025/26, his 23rd Champion Owner title overall |
Style Quotient
| Racing Silks | Green and yellow |
|---|
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. His first racehorse was named Cill Dara after the County Kildare. | |
| 2. He has a long-standing association with Tiger Woods through the Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados. | |
| 3. He has been linked to the Adare Manor venue, which hosts the 2027 Ryder Cup. | |
| 4. He is known for a low public profile and rarely gives long interviews. | |
| 5. He was a major Manchester United shareholder before his stake was sold to Malcolm Glazer in 2005. |
