John G. Canty

Who was John G. Canty?

John G. Canty was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer.

A native of Ireland, he came from a dynasty of Curragh racehorse trainers, including his father James Canty, his maternal grandfather Philip Behan and a greatgrandfather Dan Broderick of Mountjoy Lodge. Other trainers in the extended family included his brother Phil Canty, their uncle Joe Canty and Joe's son Joseph M. Canty.

Originally a jockey, John served his apprenticeship with R. C. Dawson in England and later rode for his father's Curragh stable.

He emigrated to the United States in 1953 and settled in California. After working in the horse racing industry, in 1959 he became a professional trainer. During his thirty-three year career, John Canty's best known horse was Unconscious, a colt owned by Arthur A. Seeligson, Jr. Unconscious notably won the San Felipe Handicap, San Antonio Handicap, California Derby, Santa Catalina Stakes, and the Charles H. Strub Stakes and was the betting favorite in the 1971 Kentucky Derby in which he ran fifth.

John Canty was a partner with Castlebrook Farm in the horse Nor II who he conditioned to win the 1972 San Luis Rey Handicap.