| Kevin Shea | |
| Occupation: | Jockey |
| Birth Place: | Durban, South Africa |
| Birth Date: | 16 April 1963 |
| Career Wins: | 2000+ |
| Race: | Durban July Handicap (2002, 2008) Dubai Duty Free (2003) Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2008) Hong Kong Cup (2008) Dubai Sheema Classic (2008) Jebel Hatta (2012) |
| Horses: | Ipi Tombe, Lizard's Desire, Dancers Daughter, Sun Classique, Via Africa |
| Updated: | 29 April 2012 |
Kevin Shea (born 16 April 1964) is a former South African horse racing jockey. He was a former stable jockey for trainer Mike de Kock, and rode 26 Grade 1 winners for the trainer.
His career lasted 37 years, before retiring in 2015 after experiencing chronic back problems. He is currently an on-course presenter for Gold Circle TV which covers horse racing in KwaZulu-Natal.[1]
Shea attended Northlands High School, before enrolling into the South African Jockey Academy in 1977.[2]
Shea's first winner as an apprentice came in 1979, onboard DRUID'S ROBE for trainer Des Rich. He would go onto ride 100 winners as an apprentice.
South Africa
He is a two-time winner of the Vodacom Durban July.[3] His first victory coming on board the filly Ipi Tombe for trainer Mike de Kock in 2002. His second July victory came in 2008 when he dead-heated for first with Dancers Daughter for the Justin Snaith stable.
Shea won the Summer Cup four times. His first win came in 1982 while still an apprentice, on board the filly 'Have A Fling' for trainer Buller Benton (the race then was known as the Holiday Inns).[4]
International
Shea has ridden winners in UAE (Dubai), Hong Kong, Mauritius and Singapore. His list of international feature wins include the Dubai Duty Free (Ipi Tombe, 2003), Sheema Classic (Sun Classique, 2008), QEII Cup (Archipenko, 2008), Hong Kong Cup (2008), Singapore Cup (2010) and Jebel Hatta (2012).
Shea represented South Africa in the International Jockeys’ Challenge in November 2008, which took place at Turffontein.[5]
Here is a list of Grade 1 wins by Kevin Shea.
| Year | Race | Country | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Summer Cup | Have A Fling | Buller Benton | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2001 | Champions Cup | Ingleside | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2001 | Summer Cup | Ingleside | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2002 | Paddock Stakes | Escoleta Fitz | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2002 | Cape Guineas | Flight Alert | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2002 | Woolavington Cup | Ipi Tombe | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2002 | Durban July | Ipi Tombe | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2002 | Garden Province Stakes | Escoleta Fitz | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2003 | Cape Guineas | Domino Man | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2003 | Dubai Duty Free |  | Ipi Tombe | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2003 | Summer Cup | Wolf Whistle | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2003 | Cape Fillies Guineas | Emerald Beauty | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2004 | SA Classic | Greys Inn | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2004 | Daily News | Grand Emporium | Weiho Marwing | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2006 | Horse Chestnut 1600 | Ilha Da Vitoria | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2008 | Sheema Classic | | Sun Classique | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2008 | QEII Cup |  | Archipenko | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2008 | Vodacom Durban July | Dancer's Daughter (DH) | Justin Snaith | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2008 | Premiers Champion Stakes | Rocks Off | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2008 | Summer Cup | Rudra | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2008 | Hong Kong Cup | | Eagle Mountain | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2009 | Woolavington Stakes | Zirconeum | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2010 | SA Derby | Irish Flame | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2010 | Singapore Cup |  | Lizard's Desire | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2010 | Daily News | Irish Flame | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2010 | Canon Gold Cup | Ancestral Fore | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2010 | Golden Slipper | Mahbooba | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2011 | Thekwini Stakes | Amanee | Kevin Shea | |||
| 2012 | Jebel Hatta | | Masterofhounds (USA) | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2012 | Golden Horse Medallion | Rocket Let Win | Dennis Drier | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2013 | Golden Horseshoe | Forest Indigo | Alec Laird | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2014 | Cape Flying Championship | Via Africa | Duncan Howells | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2014 | SA Fillies Classic | Athina | Joe Soma | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2014 | SA Fillies Sprint | Via Africa | Duncan Howells | Kevin Shea | ||
| 2014 | Thekwini Stakes | Same Jurisdiction | Duncan Howells | Kevin Shea |