AIRO Racing Certainty 2021

RACING A S S O C I AT I O N O F I R I S H R A C E H O R S E O W N E R S

RACINGCERTAINTY 2021

CERTAINTY MY FAMILY JANE MANGAN ON FAME & FAMILY

SISKIN

SUCCESSFUL JUDDMONTE & GER LYONS PARTNERSHIP

MAGAZINE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF IRISH RACEHORSE OWNERS AIRO_Cover Options_V2.indd 1

THE FAIRY TALE PRINCESS

A DREAM COME TRUE FOR PADDY KEHOE AND PHILOMENA CRAMPTON 11/02/2021 16:05

THE 10 FURLONG WORLD CHAMPION €5,000

FASCINATING ROCK. DUAL GROUP 1 WINNER who blossomed as a 3yo winning 2 Group races by mid-May.

Already his first 3yos are excelling Earls Rock became his first Stakes winner in the Baffle Stakes at Santa Anita maintaining his unbeaten record in the USA.

Earls Rock

The best is yet to come...

BALLYLINCH STUD

Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland • Tel: +353 (0)56 7724217 • info@ballylinchstud.ie • www.ballylinchstud.com

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| WELCOME |

You are all very welcome to the 2021 AIRO Racing CLG annual publication of ‘Racing Certainty’.

Brian Polly Chairman

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO)

On a more positive note, 2020 was a very fruitful one for Irish owners when we eventually got back to the track. Ireland continued to dominate on a global scale with Group and Grade 1 winners at Cheltenham, Ascot, Newmarket, Epsom, Goodwood and Doncaster in the UK, also at the highest levels in France, Australia and America. It is testament to the high-quality horses we breed, run and own with a racing programme which allows horses to develop to the best of their abilities. The HRI Budget revealed a 3.5% increase in the number of horses returned in training and minimum prize money was reinstated to pre-covid levels which was fantastic, from an AIRO perspective, as we had lobbied hard for it. We appointed our new General Manager/Company Secretary, Regina Byrne.

Regina has been part of the industry for over a decade and brings a wealth of knowledge to our Association. We have been unable to hold any of our functions during 2020 with our annual awards also falling victim to the pandemic. The 2021 Awards are scheduled on Saturday 30 October, 2021 in the Kilashee House Hotel, Naas, Co. Kildare. As you know our Association is run by our Board of Directors who give of their time voluntarily to ensure that the interests of all Irish owners, big and small, are to the forefront. Our HRI Representative and HRI race planning committee members are continually working behind the scenes, bringing the AIRO proposals and ideas forward for consideration and fighting hard on your behalf. Should you have any queries, constructive ideas or suggestions, Regina will be more than happy to take your call.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

W

hat can we say about 2020! This year, the whole world was turned upside down by a vicious pandemic which has affected everybody. Economically, it has been devastating for countries and industries alike and our industry has battled this storm particularly well. While we were shut down in early spring, HRI and IHRB deserve tremendous credit for getting racing back on track so quickly from June, albeit behind closed doors. The extra coverage from RTÉ for the summer months proved very beneficial in showcasing our industry to a wider audience. It is unfortunate that due to Government restrictions and strict protocols, owners have been unable to attend race meetings, apart from a threeweek sabbatical in late September. They also had to contend with a reduction in prize money but were grateful to actually be able to race, a privilege denied to many industries across the country which have been wiped out completely. Brexit and the looming exit of our nearest neighbours cast another shadow over our industry throughout the year. The continuous uncertainty and lack of clarity made it impossible to predict any outcomes, however, the industry has continued to work behind the scenes to try and make the transition as easy as possible. An announcement before Christmas stating the UK could be used as a land bridge in the movement of horses was welcomed. Brexit means extra paperwork, certification and border checks for owners as the free movement enjoyed by being part of the tripartite agreement is no longer in place. With rumours of VAT implications and additional expenses for horses running in the UK, there have been a number of trainers who have already run horses there, using the temporary admissions procedure which, so far, has worked really well.

Finally, I want to thank each and every owner who has continued to support our racing industry during 2020. Your ongoing contribution is paramount to the survival of Irish racing and we look forward to celebrating with you all in 2021. I hope you enjoy our magazine and know we will be featuring a lot of your successes in our 2022 edition.

Chairman

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| CONTENTS |

COVER STORY 04 NEWS BITES AIRO updates & news 06 THE LEGENDS OF MONASTEREVIN David Mongey remembers

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FAMILY

Jane Mangan talks about family and career

14 SISKIN Breandán Ó hUallacháin chats with Ger Lyons 18 WHAT’S IN A NAME? Samantha Oliver on naming a racehorse 20 HONEYSUCKLE Breandán Ó hUallacháin finds out more about the outstanding mare and her equally successful owner 24 ONLY PUNTERS KNOW FEAR! He Knows No Fear makes horseracing history at Leopardstown. By Lissa Oliver

Editor: Lissa Oliver Associate Editor: Caren Walsh Art Director: Aine Duffy Editorial Contributors: David Mongey, Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, Breandán Ó hUallacháin, Samantha Oliver, Lissa Oliver, Josh Zacharias, Jason Morris, Aiden McGarry, Eogháin Ward Front Cover Photography: Pat Healy Photography: Pat Healy, Jane Matthews iStock, Sportsfile Production Executive: Claire Kiernan Managing Director: Gerry Tynan Chairman: Diarmaid Lennon Published by: Unit 55, Park West Road, Park West, D 12 Tel: +353 1 432 2200 Email: info@ashville.com Web: www.ashville.com On behalf of: Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, Greenhills, Kill, Co Kildare Tel: +353 (0)45 878 173 Fax: +353 (0)45 878 174 Email: info@irishracehorseowners.com Web: www.irishracehorseowners.com All articles © Ashville Media Group 2018. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Opinion and comments expressed herein are not necessarily those of Ashville Media or the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners.

27 THE STEWARDS Do you know what a race day entails for Ireland’s Stewards?

35 RACING DURING COVID-19 Jason Morris how his team adapted during the pandemic

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The Fairytale

PRINCESS Breandán Ó hUallacháin meets Paddy Kehoe and Philomena Crampton, for whom Princess Zoe is a dream come true

36 IN THE RIGHT HANDS Anthony Coyne on blended treatments

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

My

08 INVESTING IN RACING’S FUTURE Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner on the world class Curragh training grounds

38 NAILED ON Meet three well-known farriers

46 MOVING ON Remembering those who retired during the year

40 THERAPEUTIC SHOEING Josh Zacharias explains

48 MILL HOUSE LLC Lissa Oliver meets a family of racing royalty!

42 HRI OWNERSHIP A word from Aidan McGarry, owner relations manager

49 CULLENTRA HOUSE STABLE STAFF SYNDICATE AIRO manager Regina Byrne paid a visit to Cullentra House stables

45 POINT-TO-POINT 2020 REVIEW Eogháin Ward reports on a season brought to a premature end

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Beautifully

50 TAKE 3 HORSES The horses who lifted the spirits for owners during 2020 52 DOOLEY THOROUGHBREDS Meet the family syndicate

CAPTURED

53 TAILGATE LIKE A PRO We have everything needed to elevate the average carpark picnic

Pat Healy captures all the emotions in a turbulent 2020

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AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS Meet the AIRO team and get an overview of member benefits

70 WELFARE MATTERS John Osborne, hri director of equine welfare and bloodstock, on inury prevention and traceability to protect our horses 76 FAMILIAR FACES Rachel McMahon catches up with some much-loved, longserving racecourse staff 79 THE DREAM MAKER A tribute to Pat Smullen 80 JUMPING THE FENCE Fran Berry on moving from race riding to reporting

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| NEWS |

NEW SURFACE AT DUNDALK During April, May and June 2020, Dundalk Stadium replaced the artificial horseracing surface on the track with an all new all-weather surface. The results have been very well received and have resulted in huge entries and extra fixtures at the Co. Louth venue.

Congratulations to Jim Martin and all the team at Dundalk for all their hard work.

CHELTENHAM SUCCESS

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AIRO will continue to sponsor two categories in the Dundalk Winter Series programme namely the ‘Horse with most wins’ and ‘Horse with most points’ for 2020/21.

Congratulations to last year’s winners: n Horse with most wins 2019/20 – Major Power, owned and trained

by Edward Lynam n Horse with most points 2019/20 – Sayesse, owned by Hasson Syndicate and trained by Noel C Kelly.

Iri

Revamp at Leopardstown Racecourse Leopardstown racecourse completed their new renovations this year to a magnificently high standard. The new developments are a sight to behold and owners should be very impressed with the new facilities at the Co. Dublin venue.

DUNDALK WINTER PROGRAMME SPONSORSHIP

The

It was announced during the year that Coolmore Stud was making a substantial three-year financial commitment to the Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR), the charity running Ireland’s first community funded air ambulance. There have been a number of accidents in our industry over the last few years where the air ambulance was required and we are all aware that swift intervention and immediate assistance are paramount in such instances. We commend the Magnier family and the team at Coolmore Stud for supporting this great initiative.

a as

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

New Grade 2 Mares Chase at Cheltenham 2021 National Hunt fillies/mares have really been to the fore in recent years thanks to an improved mares programme and initiatives like the Weatherby’s ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme. There will be a new Grade 2 Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase over 2m4f on Gold Cup day in Cheltenham to aim your mare at. This is a huge incentive to reward owners for keeping their mares in training and giving her black type over fences on the biggest stage.

COOLMORE STUD SUPPORTS AIR AMBULANCE

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The Irish horses enjoyed tremendous success at the Cheltenham Festival this year with 17 winners including nine of the 14 group races. Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott fought it out for the leading trainer with both men enjoying seven winners and seven seconds, Willie finally pipped Gordon for the title with one extra placed horse. The leading owner at the Festival was JP McManus with seven winners and Jockey Paul Townend won the newly named ‘Ruby Walsh Trophy’ for leading jockey.

Hopefully, we will all be fully vaccinated and ready to party, make sure to put the date in your diary.

12/02/2021 13:00

| NEWS |

NATIONAL HUNT LEADING OWNERS 2019/20 The National Hunt season was cut short with the pandemic and our premier festivals were unable to proceed, but the 2019/20 season produced very worthy winners.

The six champions for the 2019/2020 National Hunt season were: n Champion Owner: Gigginstown House Stud n Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins n Champion Jockey: Paul Townend n Champion Conditional: Darragh O’Keeffe n Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins n Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Lisa O’Neill

CELEBRITY IRELAND’S FITTEST FAMILY Over the Christmas, the celebrity version of Ireland’s Fittest Family saw Katie Walsh together with her family members Ruby Walsh, Nina Carberry (married to Ted) and Killian McCarthy (married to Jennifer) take on other celebrity families in three gruelling challenges for charity. It was highly entertaining and the Walsh’s emerged victorious, winning €10,000 for their chosen charity Laura Lynn. Congratulations to all the Walsh’s on their victory which made for very entertaining viewing.

FLAT AWARDS 2020 COVID-19 The response by the industry to the Covid-19 pandemic has been phenomenal. During the first lockdown three racecourses, Cork, Punchestown and Leopardstown, opened their facilities as test centres to accommodate and assist government. Dr Jennifer Pugh went back to the hospital wards to help out while working behind the scenes to develop the protocols, and HRI and her team at the IHRB deserve a lot of credit in ensuring racing was able to continue once it was safe.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

While the 2020 season was slow out of the blocks, the team in HRI made sure the programme was completed and we enjoyed some fabulous racing with extra coverage on RTÉ.

Champions for the 2020 Flat Season were: n Leading Owner: Mrs John Magnier n Leading Trainer: A P O’Brien n Champion Jockey: Colin Keane n Champion Apprentice: Gavin Ryan

HRI AWARD WINNERS. The winners of the Horse Racing Ireland Awards 2020 were announced on December 15. The 50-minute programme, presented by Gary O’Brien, was broadcast on Racing TV and across all HRI social media channels.

THE 10 WINNERS OF THE 18TH ANNUAL AWARDS WERE: n Contribution to the Industry Award: John Oxx n Irish Racing Hero Award: Barry Geraghty n of the Year Award: Al Boum Photo n Emerging Talent Award: Gavin Ryan n National Hunt Award: Rachael Blackmore n National Hunt Achievement Award: Eugene and Maxine O’Sullivan n Point-to-Point Award: Colin Bowe n Flat Award: Colin Keane n Flat Achievement Award: Tony Mullins n Ride of the Year: Gavin Ryan

NEW APPOINTMENT Regina Byrne joined us as the new General Manager/Company Secretary.

Prior to joining the ranks in AIRO Racing CLG she spent 12 years working with the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Over the years, she has built a very strong relationship with the breeders of Ireland and indeed all other industry stakeholders which will serve her well in this role.

New Stables at Bellewstown Racecourse In July, Bellewstown Racecourse launched their new development of an extra 100 stables at their Co. Meath venue. With seven races and a maximum of 14 runners per race they can guarantee each horse a dedicated stable. They have 112 stables now so could host eight races without any difficulty from a stabling perspective and have extra fixtures scheduled for 2021. Looking forward to checking out the new facilities.

Horse sales were wildly interrupted during 2020, with sales dates jumping from one date to another and lockdowns resulted in our Flat yearling sales happening in the UK. While figures are down, the sales companies should be applauded for their resilience in keeping the show on the road and horses circulating during these unprecedented times.

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| HISTORY |

MAGICAL MEMORIES

The Legends of Monasterevin DAVID MONGEY TAKES A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE AND WANDERS THROUGH THE RICH HISTORY OF MONASTEREVIN

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| MAGAZINE 2021 |

went to visit the late Stan Hon. Henry Francis Seymour Moore Cosgrove before he passed away in 2019. Stan is a legend in Irish racing and equestrian circles. He was the founder of Troytown Veterinary Hospital, RACE, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the manager of Moyglare Stud and a member of the Turf Club for more than 40 years, making an outstanding contribution to the advancement of horseracing both in Ireland and the rest of the world.

Stan kept a beautiful home in Monasterevin by the banks of the River Barrow in a town of unique heritage and history. On those banks not far from Stan’s home, St. Evin founded a monastery in the 7th century and it was refounded as a Cistercian Monastery in the 12th century.

With the suppression and dissolution of monasteries by King Henry VIII between 1536 and 1541 the estate ultimately came to the Moore family and became known as for five years from 1849. Moore’s first win at the Moore Abbey.

Curragh was in 1871 when King Rene defeated On 14th August 1825 this great house eight of his opponents for the Trainers Stakes. produced another great racing and equestrian The Marquess was a man of extraordinary legend – the most Hon. Henry Francis Seymour vision. In 1863 he was elected a Steward of the Moore, 3rd Marquess of Drogheda. During Turf Club and marked his new status by preparing the mid-1800s Henry Moore became one of a comprehensive set of regulations under the title the keenest and most influential supporters of ‘The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules’. To horseracing in Ireland and England. As well enforce this new code he promoted the formation as yachting, he was very involved in country of the Irish National Steeplechase Committee. sports and was Master of the Emo Hunt where In 1866 he combined forces with Lord Howth he encouraged race meetings at the Heath in and the Earl of Charlemont to inaugurate the County Laois. running of the Irish Derby and he added the Henry trained his horses at Moore Abbey and Conyngham Cup to the Punchestown fixtures, became hooked on Punchestown as a young man which became one of his most prestigious events. when his favoured hunter, Westmeath, won the One of the big attractions at Punchestown were Kildare Hunt Point-to-Point. In fact, Westmeath the bumper races where you could see his hard went on to win the coveted Kildare Hunt Cup work in play. The amateur status for jockeys was

enforced in 1877 and qualification was opened up to a wide pool of horsemen.

Prior to that you had to be a serving Military Officer or belong to a select group of hunt club to take part. He also introduced numbered saddle cloths to these islands, an innovation he picked up in Australia.

He made further contributions which touched upon thousands of lives in Kildare and across Ireland in founding a hospital for sick and injured jockeys on the Curragh. Formerly known as the Jockey Hospital or more correctly Drogheda Memorial Hospital and now known as St. Brigid’s Hospice, providing palliative services in the tradition of care and compassion.

He was serving his 26th year as a steward of the Turf Club when he died on the eve of the 1892 Irish Derby. Many believe that the big race should be cancelled but it went ahead and no doubt that is the way he would have wanted it.

No different to that of Stan in his time, Henry Moore, 3rd Marquess of Drogheda, was a pillar of racing in his day and his lasting impact on Punchestown, The Curragh and Irish sporting life gives him a lasting place in the history of the Irish Turf.

Stan Cosgrove

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Three exciting new sires for 2021 World Champion 3YO

SOTTSASS (SIYOUNI)

He won the French Derby-Gr.1 (in record time from Persian King) and the Prix Ganay-Gr.1, both over 10½f., then defeated a very strong field to win the ‘Arc’.

He’s the best son of his sire and a half-brother to a 7-time Gr.1 winner.

Brilliant Miler

CIRCUS MAXIMUS (GALILEO)

He won the St James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.1, Prix du Moulin-Gr.1 and Queen Anne Stakes-Gr.1 beating top-class opposition on each occasion.

He’s by the best sire in the world, out of a Gr.2-winning miler at Royal Ascot and from the family of top US sire Munnings.

Top-Class 2YO Speed

ARIZONA (NO NAY NEVER) He was a Gr.2-winning 2YO at Royal Ascot, just like his exceptional sire, landing the Coventry Stakes-Gr.2. He’s a full-brother to a Gr.2 winner and his grandam, Bright Generation, was a Gr.1 winner and runner-up in the Moyglare Stud Stakes-Gr.1.

Starting from €7,000, call today!

Christy Grassick, David O’Loughlin, Eddie Fitzpatrick, Maurice Moloney, Gerry Aherne, Hermine Bastide, Jason Walsh, Tom Miller, Neil Magee or Mark Byrne. Tel: +353-52-6131298.

David Magnier, Tom Gaffney, Joe Hernon, Paddy Fleming or Cathal Murphy. Tel: 353-25-31966/31689.

Kevin Buckley (UK Rep.) T: +44-7827-795156. E: sales@coolmore.ie W: www.coolmore.com

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| INVESTMENT |

MOYGLARE STUD

INVESTING IN RACING’S FUTURE A HORSERACE BEGINS LONG BEFORE THE TAPES GO UP OR THE GATES OPEN. EVA-MARIA BUCHER HAEFNER RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORLD CLASS CURRAGH TRAINING GROUNDS AND HAS RAISED THE STANDARD TO A NEW LEVEL

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

The Haefner family’s support of Irish racing goes back to 1962, when Walter Haefner founded Moyglare Stud in Maynooth.

“Mr Haefner always endeavoured to buy the best broodmares and send them to the best sires,” Moyglare’s breeding consultant, Fiona Craig, says. “At the beginning the stud was commercially orientated, but that changed in 1980 when he retained stock for racing.”

Walter was an active supporter of racing, through his association with The Turf Club, RACE and the Equine Centre. In 1973 he founded the Moyglare Stud Stakes, one of the Group 1 highlights of the Curragh’s Longines Irish Champions Weekend and boasting one of the longest continual race sponsorships in the world. When Walter passed away in 2012 at the age of 101, the tradition of Moyglare and its greater link with the industry as a whole has continued in the safe hands of his daughter, EvaMaria Bucher Haefner.

Last year, Moyglare Stud’s positive impact on racing extended beyond the racecourse and Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner and Moyglare’s Fiona Craig are among the driving forces behind the redevelopment of the Curragh racecourse and, importantly, the world-renowned training grounds, home to more than 50 trainers and over 800 racehorses. Ireland’s largest training centre, covering 1,500 acres, is also used by trainers based elsewhere in the country, who regularly bring their horses to use the facilities.

Thanks to the support of Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner those facilities have now been enhanced, most notably with the addition of the Free Eagle Gallop, the new all-weather gallop that runs alongside the Old Vic woodchip gallop. Both gallops provide a gradual incline for nine furlongs, enabling horses to work sufficiently hard without being overexerted, thus reducing the risk of injury.

Given our notorious and unpredictable weather conditions, the all-weather gallops have been an invaluable addition in recent years but are only part of the high-quality work options available to trainers, complimented by 70 miles of grass gallops and 12 miles of peat gallops. All were fully refurbished last summer as a result of Moyglare Stud’s financial support.

Pat Keogh, Chief Executive of The Curragh Racecourse, says, “the Curragh Training Grounds are recognised as a truly world class facility. The range of gallops gives the trainers all the options necessary. Thanks to the generosity of Eva-Maria Bucher Haefner, the facilities on the Curragh Training Grounds have never been better and this is reflected in the performance on the track of the horses trained there.”

NEW FACILITIES

• MADDENSTOWN Maddenstown has both a 7-furlong grass gallop and a 7-furlong wood chip gallop. These have now been complemented by an 11-furlong sand and fibre gallop thanks to the support of Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner. This gallop is a major addition to the Curragh facilities and is proving very popular with trainers.

• GRASS GALLOPS The grass gallops are rotated throughout the year in order to provide fresh ground all year. Walshe’s Hill opens each March and has a variety of canters, grass, trial and peat gallops ranging from 8-12 furlongs. The Flat Rath grass gallops open each May and run for a mile in front of the racecourse stands. The Bush gallop provides a stiff test for National Hunt horses during the winter.

• THE LITTLE CURRAGH The Little Curragh provides a 7-furlong round woodchip gallop with a shoot, as well as a 5 ½-furlong sand and fibre straight gallop.

• RACECOURSE SIDE The flagship Old Vic woodchip runs in front of the racecourse stands and climbs steadily for 9 furlongs.

Thanks to the support of Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner, the Free Eagle is a new uphill 9-furlong sand and fibre gallop running alongside the Old Vic. Boasting all the benefits of the Old Vic, it provides the option of a slower surface rather than woodchip.

The Round Sand is a 9-furlong sand and fibre round circuit used for cantering horses, providing the strongest test of the all-weather gallops available and therefore ideal for fast work by National Hunt and Point-to-Point horses.

• NATIONAL HUNT SCHOOLING GROUNDS The training grounds include an all-weather schooling strip as well as extensive schooling options over both hurdles and fences on grass, with a mixture of regular and Easy Fix hurdles as well as the new padded hurdles. The round circuit with eight hurdles provides a valuable racetrack experience. A strip of three fences are available on grass and additional Grand National-style fences are dressed by Aintree twice a year to provide experience for Irish horses in preparation for their trip to the Aintree festival.

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A CONSTANT PARTNER TO THE EQUINE INDUSTRY

I RISH F ERRIES F R E I G H T

...attitude is key

®

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| OWNERS |

THE

FAIRY TALE | MAGAZINE 2021 |

PRINCESS BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN MEETS PADDY KEHOE AND PHILOMENA CRAMPTON, FOR WHOM PRINCESS ZOE IS A DREAM COME TRUE

“Stradivarius is not going to beat us if we’re in top form.”

Proud Wexford man Paddy Kehoe has enjoyed great success as an owner over the past 40 years. The legendary mare Grabel, trained

by Paddy Mullins, won 17 of her 34 races in the owners’ purple and gold colours. Those wins included the 1990 $750,000 Duelling Grounds International Hurdle in Kentucky, the world’s richest hurdle race.

Lady Daisy cost €11,000 and won 11 races, running in two Champion Hurdles, the Keeneland Chase, and won at Punchestown.

The Glynn-native also had one winner at the Cheltenham Festival with the Pat Hughestrained Frank Berry-ridden Antarctic Bay in the 1985 Sun Alliance.

This year, however, another special mare

has put Paddy Kehoe and his sister Philomena Crampton back in the limelight, with the meteoric rise of Princess Zoe. The German-bred daughter of 2011 Irish St Leger winner Jukebox Jury, a first Group 1 winner on the Flat for her sire, achieved two wins on the Continent before the Stefan Richtertrained handicapper was purchased for €41,000.

Though the mare had not run beyond 11 furlongs prior to her arrival in Ireland, according to her new owner: “The form was there. All she needed, or all any of those (German-based) horses needed, was longer distances. Bernard Cullinane who bought her for us said ‘you won’t see the best of those horses until they run over longer distances’.”

Joint-owner Philomena Crampton explains

how she became involved with Princess Zoe: “I always wanted to have a share in a grey horse. This was my opportunity. When I saw this animal, she was a lovely fine mare so I decided I’d take a chance. We were really impressed with her; she’s just a beautiful animal to look at.”

Her new trainer Tony Mullins admits to being personally disappointed with her action upon arrival at Wateree Stud in Gowran: “I was very disappointed when she arrived and I thought her action wasn’t good. I certainly wasn’t excited when I saw her at the start,” he says. “We knew that she wasn’t the best actioned filly in the world but at the same time we didn’t quite expect it to be as bad as it was. Our expectations were high when we bought her but they went down a lot when she arrived. Then almost immediately when we worked her we

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| MAGAZINE 2021 |

| OWNERS |

knew everything was fine.”

The former jockey says the mare’s purchase price now looks great value. “For the money we bought her for, we were expecting to win a couple of nice handicaps. Instantly when we worked her, we knew we had a filly good enough to do that. Then the dream started after that.”

That dream, despite a disappointing runner-up finish in Division 1 of the Oristown Handicap over 1m 5f at Navan on her Irish début on 23 June 2020, included a sequence of five wins in a seven-race season, culminating in the Group 1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp.

The mare’s five-race winning sequence (three of them under Joey Sheridan) began with an emphatic victory in the Kildare Village Ladies’ Derby Handicap at The Curragh on 18 July 2020.

“WE KNEW THAT SHE WASN’T THE BEST ACTIONED FILLY IN THE WORLD BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE DIDN’T QUITE EXPECT IT TO BE AS BAD AS IT WAS. OUR EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGH WHEN WE BOUGHT HER BUT THEY WENT DOWN A LOT WHEN SHE ARRIVED.”

A brace of Premier Handicap victories during the Galway Races saw the mare claim the €75,000 Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap (2m) and score a comfortable half-length success in the €75,000 Galway Shopping Centre Handicap (1m 4f).

The Galway Races success had a huge bearing on the rest of the season, as her delighted handler explains: “When I saw her burst through in the amateur race in Galway on the Monday evening, I thought I saw a burst of speed that only a real class one could do. It raised my hopes – still not dreaming of where we ended up – I knew she was even better than what we had hoped at the start. That burst of speed she showed in the last 100 yards – it’s only a top-class horse does that.”

Her trainer then went in search of some black

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| OWNERS |

Princess Zoe with Joey Sheridan up wins the Qatar Prix du Cadran at Paris Longchamp racecourse, France

THIS MARE WANTS GOOD GROUND. WHEN THIS MARE WILL GET GOOD GROUND, YOU’LL SEE THE REAL PRINCESS ZOE.” | MAGAZINE 2021 |

type in the Listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes back at Ballybrit on 8 September 2020, feeling “… it was worth the chance at a Listed race. We were happy enough though we knew we were going from handicap to Pattern company. We passed that test. Then I thought to myself, ‘we’ve gone a long way – this is unreal,” Tony adds.

Further improvement was soon noticeable in the mare, as the Goresbridge-native explains: “You had to really be here – it was just the massive improvement in her after winning the Galway race – I’ll probably never see it again in my life. I never saw a horse improve as much in 14 days in an aged hardened horse. To improve a full stone within 14 days – I didn’t actually think it was possible.”

Tony felt being placed in the Prix du Cadran would make Princess Zoe a valuable broodmare, but his expectations rose the Saturday prior to visiting the Parisian capital.

“Joey Sheridan came to ride work the Saturday before she left for France and it’s hard to put into words,” Tony says, “I knew what we had. It even frightens me now thinking about it.

I went from hopeful to being very disappointed if this one was going to get beaten. I just knew her last bit of work was Group 1 stuff.”

The grey mare duly obliged in France when reeling in the front-running Alkuin in the dying strides of the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran,

with a thrilled Tony conceding, “I think big, but never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d be in Paris winning the French Gold Cup.” A return visit to ParisLongchamp in late October saw Princess Zoe finish fourth in another Group 1, The Prix Royal-Oak, a performance her handler would describe as “a great performance, and it told me that we are going to be a formidable stayer next year,” he asserts.

Describing 2020, the year of Princess Zoe, Philomena Crampton acknowledges: “I went to the races (in Paris) just hoping she would win. It was a dream come true, a brilliant experience. It has been unreal. It’s a great story.

Nothing like this ever happened to us before. I never thought I would have a horse that would win a Group 1 – I never dreamed of it. I just couldn’t believe it was happening.”

Her brother, Paddy Kehoe, agrees. “I never thought that the day would come when I’d have a runner there (ParisLongchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day). To have a winner there was incredible.”

Unable to contain her delight and surprise, Mrs Crampton adds, “We never thought we would be so successful – it’s just a dream come true. Hopefully she’ll run for another while and that everything will be well with her and she won’t get injured.”

Dublin-based businessman Paddy outlines the 2021 plans for Princess Zoe, stating that the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan over 1m 6f or the 1m 2½ f Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh will start her campaign, before a trip to Royal Ascot for the Gold Cup. Her trainer isn’t looking any further than the Ascot Gold Cup, he says, adding, “I have still not dispensed of the Arc. If it looks like she is more comfortable in the staying races, we’ll probably end up going back for the Prix du Cadran, but at the moment, I still have hopes that she will figure in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.”

Princess Zoe’s connections believe many people have misconstrued the type of ground the Group 1-winning grey requires.

“People are saying this mare wants soft ground,” says Paddy, “this mare wants good ground,” he adds firmly. “When this mare will get good ground, you’ll see the real Princess Zoe.” Tony Mullins goes further by saying, “All grounds come alike to her. There are people who are going to get a land next year because they have her down now as a soft ground mare.

I had her on soft ground because of her feet and muscle problems. I feel they’re going to get a land in next year’s Ascot Gold Cup if they just consider this one a soft ground mare who won’t count in it; I’m telling you, she’s going to count.”

Would Stradivarius in the Gold Cup concern the Princess Zoe Team?

“Stradivarius is not going to beat us,” Paddy bullishly declares, adding, “if we’re in top form, we’ll really and truly go there with a real chance.” Tony Mullins reiterates the point by saying, “Stradivarius and the like wouldn’t scare me in the least.”

Princess Zoe began the 2020 season with an official rating of 64 and concluded it well in excess of 100 following five wins. “I believe and I hope that next year will be the same (in terms of success and improvement),” states Tony, as Paddy concurs while adding, “next year will probably be her best year.”

If these bold predictions come to fruition, plenty more fun and enjoyment will hopefully lie ahead for Paddy Kehoe, Philomena Crampton, Tony Mullins and jockey Joey Sheridan.

| 12 | THE ASSOCIATION OF IRISH RACEHORSE OWNERS

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09/02/2021 27/01/2021 17:01 10:00

| OWNERS |

A FIRST CLASSIC WINNER FOR THE JUDDMONTE -GER LYONS PARTNERSHIP

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

SISKIN

BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN CHATS WITH GER LYONS ABOUT THE SUPPORT OF PRINCE KHALID ABDULLAH, THE IMPACT OF JUDDMONTE FARM AND THE THRILL OF A FIRST – AND SECOND! – CLASSIC WINNER

One of the horses racing fans were most looking forward to seeing in 2020 was the Ger Lyonstrained Siskin. The Juddmonte Farms-owned colt, running in the colours of the late Prince Khalid Abdullah, had gone into the winter of 2019 as arguably the most talked about horse in Ireland. He had been an unbeaten juvenile with the colt’s high-point of his two-year-old campaign coming in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at The Curragh.

Siskin didn’t half live-up to his promise in 2020. He won the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh under a calm Colin Keane ride, before coming home an impressive third behind older horses in the Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. The First Defence

colt was later fourth to Persian King in October’s Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp before finishing his racing career in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the USA. Speaking to Siskin’s trainer Ger Lyons, the first-time (and later second-time) Classicwinning handler in 2020 spoke of how his association with Juddmonte began.

“I got a letter into the office saying Juddmonte would like to send me some horses to train for the Prince. I’m around a long time and I take every day and every phone call with the idea that if it happens, it happens. I never put any expectations on – except that once I knew those colours were coming in, you’re liable to get anything. And that’s exactly what happened.”

Being in the racing business long enough to know there are many disappointments in the game, Lyons’ attitude about the potential quality of horses being sent to him is simple.

“I train what’s in front of me. I don’t go dreaming about them. Whatever’s in the yard, I train. It is what it is. That’s the way I play it. I’ve been disappointed all my life – it’s the way I do it. Whatever happens happens.”

Siskin was showing early signs though of real potential when Team Lyons began stepping their two-year-olds up in 2019.

“He was precocious. You dream January and February but as soon as you start stepping up March time, it will sort of become obvious you have a nice one.”

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The son of First Defence was a two and threequarter length maiden winner over six furlongs at Naas, with his handler admitting: “We knew going to his maiden, he was going to win it. When you see him win his maiden, you knew the route you were going – it was pretty obvious. We were heading towards the Marble Hill, the Railway Stakes, the Phoenix Stakes – that became very apparent.”

When stepped up to Listed level in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Marble Hill Stakes less than a fortnight later, the Glenburnie inmate won again. Reflecting on his horse’s upward momentum, Ger said: “He stood up to that.

Having a nice one is a long way from winning a Group 1. You have to win the Railway to be

THE GOODWILL THAT CAME MY WAY WAS OVERWHELMING. IT WAS LOVELY AS WELL; IT WAS BEAUTIFUL.”

a genuine Phoenix (Stakes) horse, and he did.

That’s probably when we said, yes definitely, we have a Phoenix horse.”

In the weeks that followed, Siskin returned to The Curragh on two further occasions to claim both the Group 2 Railway Stakes and the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, both over six furlongs, and take the scalp of Aidan O’Brien’s Monarch Of Egypt both times.

A trip to Newmarket for the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes on 28 September 2019 saw the first chink in Siskin’s character as he became unruly at the stalls and was withdrawn.

“A complete utter shock” is how Ger describes the incident. “Disbelief; it was totally out of character. Anybody who has met him will know the horse he is. He’s like a pet dog, he walks around eating grass and has his routine and loves his routine. He’s the kindest gentlest most straightforward horse you’ve ever set your eyes on.”

The Clane, Co. Kildare-native continues: “It was a windy day and when you get to the Middle Park, you have the gun loaded – you’re as ready as you’re going to be. These are thoroughbreds at the end of the day. They’re half a tonne of pure muscle and up to the last ready to rock. He just went a fraction of a second sooner than he should have gone – that’s the reason. He went to go, the gates didn’t open and up he went. These aren’t pet ponies, these are loaded guns. It was the way circumstances transpired; that’s what happened. We couldn’t do anything about it. The good news was that he didn’t break a leg which he could very easily have done.”

Fast-forward to the day of reckoning, 12 June 2020, Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas Day. The 2-1 favourite had spent most of the previous winter towards the top of the betting market, which for some trainers can put added pressure on them. Not so Ger Lyons.

“It wasn’t pressure. That never bothered me,” he reveals. “That never bothered me until he was on his way to the start in the Guineas. You’ve got to understand the person you’re talking to.

I don’t read the race in papers. I’m not a betting man. They’re all opinions – I have my own opinion. It certainly didn’t affect my prep; it certainly didn’t affect my night’s sleep. Probably the only time I got jittery was when I let him down to the start. Then it dawned on me what

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

LEFT: Trainer Ger Lyons pictured at Glenburnie Stables with his Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes winner Siskin on the gallops ahead of the 2000 Guineas.

BELOW Prince Khalid Abdullah

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| OWNERS |

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

was going to happen. You still have Newmarket in the back of your head. The most nervous you’ll ever see me is when they are loading in the stalls because that is out of everybody’s control. When the gates open, then I relax.”

Siskin stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to take the Group 1 contest. He defeated the Ballydoyle brigade which filled places 2-4, with his old adversary from 2019, Monarch Of Egypt, five and a quarter lengths back in seventh this time.

Despite the absence of crowds at The Curragh that day, the outpouring of goodwill from both inside and outside the racing family stunned the popular Ger. “Absolutely so, very much so. The goodwill that came my way was overwhelming. It was lovely as well; it was beautiful – it was a lovely lovely feeling because I would have always had that ‘I’m an outsider’ vibe in the industry. I’ve always felt outside the industry because I’m not born into it. I’ve always felt outside of the racing inner circle. The goodwill that came – yeah, what a feeling that was. That made up for whatever I was losing with no crowds. It was just lovely – it was absolutely lovely. Thinking about it now it’s a feeling few will get – a feeling to be treasured. You can’t put it into words. It’s a warm glow. For that moment in time, you felt ‘wow’. It was definitely the best feeling in my sport for me.”

To win the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas, a first Irish Classic, now means Ger Lyons has made it as a trainer, doesn’t it?

“No, not at all,” the former jockey says firmly.

“No; no because that’s not what this game is about – made it is a dangerous thing to say in our game. What it did say was, look you got the favourite for the Guineas and you delivered because that’s the job. Getting a favourite is one thing but delivering is another thing. I delivered, and that’s a good thing because you know you can deliver, and you’ll revert to history of how you did it in the future. That will only make you a better trainer. I knew I could deliver, but knowing it and doing it are two different things.”

A third-place finish behind the four-yearolds Mohaather and Circus Maximus in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood was being misread by some as a bad race for Siskin according to his handler.

“He ran a career best in the Sussex, so that’s not a downward move. It took two older horses to beat him in that – that’s not a downward fall.

He came up against the English Guineas winner (Kameko) and beat him that day. I won’t have it that the Sussex was a downturn in his form – it was a good turn in his form for a three-year-old.

Many good horses have gone to the Sussex and haven’t won it. I thought the Sussex was a great run. I don’t care how they dress it up – he was the best three-year-old. The only thing that beat him was older horses.”

In Siskin’s final European outing at ParisLongchamp on 6 September 2020, “his race didn’t happen for him; it’s not an excuse,”

says Ger. “You could see when he got down to the start and they put a hood on him a row developed.

He probably ran his race on a par with the Sussex in that he was the same distance behind Circus Maximus as he was in the Sussex. You could argue that he ran his race, but it was a messy race and it was a disappointing race. The two negatives on his card are the Middle Park and the Moulin – they’re the only two negatives as far as I’m concerned.”

Siskin completed his racing career in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile in Keeneland on 7 October 2020 when finishing ninth, five lengths behind Aidan O’Brien’s Order Of Australia. The Juddmonte-bred colt has since moved to Japan where he will begin his stud career in 2021, standing at Shadai Stallion Station, with his fee set at €29,000.

So, after a successful 2020 season for the team at Glenburnie, might Ger Lyons have another Juddmonte-bred star to unleash in 2021?

“The beautiful thing about the draft you get from Juddmonte is it’s very much not just a pipe dream, but in your head you know this could be a Guineas horse,” he admits. “You look forward to their draft because history has proven that they know how to breed good horses and whatever they send in is good enough for me. That’s the dream thing about training for them – from the ordinary horse to the very top horse, nobody will be surprised because it’s Juddmonte.”

REMEMBERING KHALID ABDULLAH

Prince Khalid Abdullah wasn’t often seen on a racecourse, gave very few interviews and avoided the limelight. He allowed his horses to do the talking and, through them, he became the most well-known and well-respected figures in racing. That, alone, speaks volumes of his knowledge and influence on the modern thoroughbred. He purchased his first yearlings in 1977 and in what is a comparatively short space of time has bred and owned four champions and countless top-class performers. He has purchased very few horses since initially establishing his broodmare band, and yet Juddmonte Farm horses have won all five British and French Classics and in 2003 Prince Khalid’s owner-breeder empire was crowned leading owner in both Britain and France while also winning Eclipse Awards in the USA as leading owner and leading breeder. His presence in Ireland was brought to a fitting close by his last Classic winner, Siskin, featured within these pages. The Juddmonte farms of Ireland were an integral part of his success, welcoming every winter the foals born and reared in the UK, who benefited from the nutrient-rich pastures of New Abbey Stud in Kildare, before moving on to Ferrans Stud in Meath to be broken and pre-trained. He employed 300 people on his farms, but his greatest legacy will be the horses in their care. He personally planned the 2021 matings of his broodmares and even though he will not get to see the outcome, he will have an influence on the Classics of 2025.

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09/02/2021 12/01/2021 16:37 09:56

| NAMES |

WHAT’S IN | MAGAZINE 2020 |

AN NAME?

SAMANTHA OLIVER EXPLORES THE INTRICACIES AND DELICACIES OF NAMING A RACEHORSE In order for a horse to be eligible to race they must be registered with a unique name, which will remain with them for life. Choosing the perfect name is no simple task. Do you name them for the mother, the father, a distinguishing feature… or do you just try and see how clever you can get within the eighteen-character limit?

For many owners, naming a horse is a chance to get creative, and maybe make the poor race commentator’s job a little more interesting. This certainly must have been the motive behind the naming of Hoof Hearted, or Wear The Fox Hat; two names that were on the banned list in Britain, but managed to slip past the censors in the US Jockey Club and France Galop. If you’re looking for the joke, try saying the names aloud!

But it could be worse. Just ask the racing commentator of the 2008 race, where New York born Arrrrr ran a last to first finish, which led to a memorable commentary of ‘Arrrrr, Arrrrr, Arrrrr!’ Or the commentator at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park, for 2010’s classic stride-bystride battle between Mywifenosevrything

and Thewifedoesntknow. In the end, the Mywifenosevrything beats Thewifedoesntknow.

In fact, it seems that spouses are a common source of inspiration in America. American billionaire Mike Repole names his horses in honour of his wife Maria. A touching gesture, and one can only imagine how she must feel as she follows the progress of Stopshoppingmaria, Stopspendingmaria, and 2015 Breeders’ Cup winner Stopchargingmaria. Truly an honour!

Meanwhile, American owner Dr Russell Cohen decided to keep things simple when he named his horse Effinex, after his ex-wife.

Of course, inspiration can come from anywhere, and many owners look to the horse’s parents when choosing a name for the foal.

Sometimes, the combination of the mother and father’s names provides a perfect opportunity to get clever with naming the offspring. Lawyer Talk may seem like an odd choice of name at first, but becomes very fitting when you know that the parents were Alleged and Jibber Jabber.

Similarly, Cutting Humour is the perfect name

for the offspring of First Samurai and Pun! And when you combine the Australian sense of humour with a stallion named Foreplay, the possibilities are endless. For example, when Foreplay meets Gold Genie, the result is Magic Carpet Burns!

Some owners may instead choose to pay homage to their favourite books, movies or TV shows when naming their horses, or slip in a sneaky pop culture reference for those in the know. And some are not so subtle, with owners putting a clever equine spin on an instantly recognisable reference, like memorable examples Maythehorsebewithu and Fiftyshadesofhay. These names will certainly stand out on a race card, and may even encourage fans to put on a bet or two!

And if you’re still struggling to come up with that perfect name, why not follow the example of the British public and go for a name that does exactly what it says on the tin, which is exactly what the owners did when they named their horse Horsey McHorse Face, after the infamous Boaty McBoat Face!

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09/02/2021 04/02/2021 16:47 09:59

| OWNERS |

THE SWEET SMELL OF

HONEYSUCKLE SUCCESS | MAGAZINE 2021 |

BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THE OUTSTANDING MARE AND HER EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL OWNER, KENNY ALEXANDER

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Healy Racing

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle was one of the stand-out National Hunt horses of 2020, with the daughter of Prix du Jockey-Club winner Sulamani remaining unbeaten over hurdles. Bred in England by Dr G. W. Guy, Honeysuckle was an impressive 15-length Point-to-Point winner as a four-year-old at Dromahane, Co. Cork, in April 2018, when ridden by Mark O’Hare for trainer J. G. Cosgrave. She was bought later that year for €110,000 by Kenny Alexander, the former CEO of the sports betting and gambling company, GVC Holdings, when offered at the Goffs Ireland Punchestown Sale.

The Scot’s racing manager, Peter Molony, of Rathmore Stud, explains why they purchased the Shanrod Stables’ mare: “She came highly recommended to us.

We watched the video and she was very impressive in her Point-to-Point. Then we saw her at the Punchestown Sale and fell in love with her. She was a lovely big athletic mare, a very good mover – loads of quality.”

Despite having purchased a horse with form, the success of Honeysuckle to date has pleasantly surprised Molony: “When you buy something, you can legislate for them being useful, especially when you buy one with form, but you can’t legislate for one being quite as good as she has turned out to be – it’s incredible.”

Though she has spent much of her career racing beyond two miles, Honeysuckle reverted back to two miles for the Grade 1 PCI Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February 2020. Her trainer was confident, however, the shorter trip would not cause her a problem.

“She won a Listed race over two miles (Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles), she won a Grade 3 over 2m 2f (BetVictor Solerina

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

| OWNERS |

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In the course of our conversation, we return to the topic of the two-mile distance.

“We’ve no problems (with two miles),” asserts Henry. “She’s won the Irish Champion Hurdle already. We don’t really have an issue with dropping back in trip. We’ve never gone up over two and a half miles but I’m not sure we’d have an issue with that either. We’re lucky, she’s just a really classy mare and she seems to be pretty effective at two to two and a half miles and hopefully further in time.”

But what about the quick pace of the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in comparison to the more pedestrian speed of the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle in February?

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Mares Novice Hurdle). We were looking for a nice race between Christmas and Cheltenham and that (PCI Irish Champion Hurdle) seemed a good choice,” explained Henry de Bromhead, before adding “She seems to be very effective over any trip.”

Interestingly, Peter Molony believes her two best runs to date were the baroneracing. com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in 2019 over two and a half miles and the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle over the same distance at Cheltenham.

“They were probably her two best runs to date. I think she was getting slicker and slicker with her jumping as she progressed last year.”

Despite her unbeaten record during the 2019-20 season, the Limerick man explains why connections decided to aim Honeysuckle at the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, instead of the Unibet Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last season.

“Last year, she was jumping quite big and novicey and slowly in the Irish Champion Hurdle,” Molony asserts. “We took the view that the two and a half miles would play more to her strengths at Cheltenham than the Champion Hurdle.”

Her handler Henry de Bromhead has planned a similar route this campaign to that of the 2019-20 season, namely the baroneracing.com Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Punchestown, the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle and then the Cheltenham Festival. Speaking to me prior to her season opener in November 2020 at Fairyhouse, the Co. Waterford man said: “We’ll get our season started and see where we are. If the Hatton’s Grace goes well, hopefully we’ll head for the Irish Champion Hurdle.”

SHE HAS BEEN PROGRESSING ALL THE TIME WITH HER JUMPING. IF SHE CONTINUES TO PROGRESS THAT WAY THE CHAMPION HURDLE WILL BE IN THE CONVERSATION THIS YEAR. SHE’S GOT A FANTASTIC CRUISING SPEED.” When asked which of the Cheltenham Festival races his star mare would be aimed at, Henry admitted to keeping his options open for the March 2021 Festival. “She’ll probably be entered for the Champion Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle again like last year.”

Where she stands in the pecking order of the good horses the experienced trainer has managed, the Knockeen resident says without hesitation, “She has to be right up there, absolutely.”

As an individual, the multiple Grade 1 winner is “pretty laid back. She’s really straightforward. She likes her routine and she’s lovely to have around the place,” Henry offers.

For a mare that has been healthy to this point in her career, her successful handler shies away from the suggestion that she is easy to train.

“I don’t want to tempt fate to be honest – easy is a word that really doesn’t go with training horses, I find,” preferring to state, “She’s straightforward.”

“I think if you can perform around Leopardstown, you can perform around Cheltenham,” Henry states as he puts the questioning about the two-mile distance for Honeysuckle to bed. Peter Molony agrees with him, stating, “She’s very adaptable trip wise.”

Listening to Peter Molony, son of legendary jockey Martin Molony, one feels the Unibet Champion Hurdle might be the Cheltenham Festival target this year instead of a defence of her Mares’ Hurdle crown.

“She has been progressing all the time with her jumping. If she continues to progress that way the Champion Hurdle will be in the conversation this year. She’s got a fantastic cruising speed.”

With five Grade 1 victories on her C.V. at the time of writing, does Peter Molony think Kenny Alexander’s star mare could improve even more?

“She could improve,” he offers, before explaining why he believes she could develop even further, “Rachael (Blackmore) rode her lately and felt she got stronger and bigger from last year. If she has, that is quite a scary prospect.

She certainly has scope to improve further.”

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| OWNERS |

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

He Knows No Fear and Chris Hayes win for owner & trainer Luke Comer with groom Nathen Stern and Jim Gorman

AGAINST THE ODDS

ONLY PUNTERS KNOW FEAR!

300-1 SHOT HE KNOWS NO FEAR MAKES HORSERACING HISTORY AT LEOPARDSTOWN BECOMING THE LONGEST-PRICED WINNER IN BRITISH AND IRISH RACING.

BY LISSA OLIVER

H

e Knows No Fear caused the biggest upset in the history of both British and Irish racing when the three-yearold colt won the 1m Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown on 13 August 2020 at 300-1, providing Luke Comer with his first Flat win for nine years.

The previous longest-priced winner in Ireland was 200-1 Killahara Castle over the jumps at Thurles in December 2017.

The Betfair starting price for the Luke Comer-owned and trained colt was 1000-1, but his lower industry SP of 300-1 still meant he bettered 250-1 shot Equinoctial, successful

over jumps at Kelso in 1990 when becoming the biggest-priced winner in both Britain and Ireland at the time.

Trained by property developer Luke Comer, whose Comer Group business is a worldwide operation and the sponsors of the Irish St Leger, He Knows No Fear had finished 12th of 14 on his debut at Limerick in July 2020 when sent off at 250-1.

Ridden by Chris Hayes, He Knows No Fear finished with a late burst to overhaul the Jim Bolger-trained favourite Agitare and create history. Luke Comer wasn’t present, but his assistant Jim Gorman said, “He got left half a furlong on his first start in Limerick so we didn’t

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| OWNERS |

Healy Racing

really know much after it and because some of our horses weren’t in great form at the time, we backed off them. Going to Limerick we thought he was a real nice horse, but he got left so far we couldn’t get any kind of guide to him. It was great because it’s one of Luke’s own stallions, Mourayan, and his own mare. That gives him the greatest thrill, to breed his own.”

Paddy Power said almost 100 of its customers had backed the winner to small stakes. “These punting heroes have either been struck by divine inspiration or are extremely shrewd form judges,” joked a spokesman. Ladbrokes Coral reported 63 winning bets taken through their websites, the biggest stake being £2.50 each-way, while a single punter in a Dublin branch had staked €100 each-way for a pay-out of €36,000.

William Hill took 86 bets on the winner, the biggest returning £5,400.

Other big price winners Killahara Castle made history at Thurles on 17 December 2017 when she became the first horse this century to win at 200-1 in Ireland, causing a huge upset in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle.

It was the six-year-old maiden’s 21st attempt at victory. Trained locally by Holycross-based John Burke, she was ridden by his brother, Martin, and owned by their sister, Elaine. The winning rider, Martin Burke, said, “We were just hoping for a bit of Black Type and stuck her in hoping it would break up a bit better than what it did, but once she was in, we said we might as well run her. We have four horses for the track and 14 altogether between breakers. That’s my biggest win and first Listed win.”

The previous biggest SP returned in Ireland was 100-1, with the most prominent at that price being Miss Therese in the 1973 Blandford Stakes at the Curragh, beating no less than Hurry Harriet and Cavo Doro.

Across the water, the longest-priced winner in British racing history was Equinoctial at

250-1 at Kelso in November 1990. Trained

by County Durham-based Norman Miller and ridden by 7lb claimer Andrew Heywood, the five-year-old, in four previous starts, had been pulled up twice, fallen once and been beaten 62 lengths at Hexham.

Though rare, there have been a handful of 200-1 winners in Britain, the most recent being Intercessor at Newbury in June 2020.

The John Gallagher-trained three-year-old was the outsider in a field of 10 for a one-mile novice stakes at and ridden by apprentice star Cieren Fallon, son of Kieran, making virtually all the running to hang on by a head in a bunch finish, with just half a length covering the first five.

The two-year-old Nando Parrado created history in 2020 as the biggest-ever priced winner at Royal Ascot when winning the Coventry Stakes at odds of 150-1, but the most high-profile shock winner remains the 1822 St Leger winner Theodore, who

won at odds of 200-1. The longest-priced Classic winner in history, Theodore was trained by James Croft, who “did an Aidan” by saddling the first four home in the Doncaster Classic.

The longest-priced winner of the Irish Derby was Zarathustra at 50/1 in 1954. In 2018, Billesdon Brook defied odds of 66-1 to become the longest-priced winner in the 204-year history of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, for trainer Richard Hannon Jr and jockey Sean Levey.

The most recent longest-priced Group One winner was Eddie Lynam’s Sole Power when winning the 2010 Nunthorpe Stakes at York at odds of 100-1, giving jockey Wayne Lordan his first Group One success in the process. Coincidentally, the third horse home in the race was Piccadilly Filly, also 100-1. The previous Group One record had been held by 100-1 Hittite Glory in the 1975 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster, a race since downgraded to Group Two.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

“IT WAS GREAT BECAUSE IT’S ONE OF LUKE’S OWN STALLIONS, MOURAYAN, AND HIS OWN MARE. THAT GIVES HIM THE GREATEST THRILL, TO BREED HIS OWN.”

He Knows No Fear and Chris Hayes win for owner & trainer Luke Comer

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12/02/2021 12:17

W 21 NE R 20 FO

EQuiaNo Fee €3,000

SIRE OF 29 STAKES HORSES

Multiple Stakes winner Equilateral including 2nd King’s Stand Stakes Gr.1 to Battaash

Apollo One placed in the Solario Stakes Gr.3

Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Gr.1 winner Belvoir Bay

Dakota Gold, multiple Stakes winner including Bengough Stakes Gr.3

Gustavus Weston, Phoenix Sprint Stakes Gr.3 winner

Triple Group 1 sprinter The Tin Man, pictured winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot Gr.1

Contact: Cathal Beale, Gary Swift +353 (0)86 6031979 or Patrick Diamond +353 (0)85 1299236 Tel: +353 (0)45 521251 www.irishnationalstud.ie

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15/02/2021 09:29 18:17 17/02/2021

| RACE DAY |

THE STEWARDS

WHO ARE THEY & WHAT DO THEY DO?

A key role is played by both the amateur and Stipendiary Stewards in maintaining the integrity and the high standing of horseracing in Ireland, with each race meeting having a minimum of three and a maximum of five Stewards. Every racecourse has a panel of Stewards, from which a Chairman and Deputy Chairman are appointed annually, while some of the bigger tracks may have two Deputy Chairmen. The Stewards who are selected from an individual racecourse panel to officiate on race days are individuals with a detailed knowledge of and interest in horseracing. Both the Turf Club, which governs Flat racing, and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee, which takes charge of National Hunt racing, each has a Senior Steward and two other Stewards. These six people are the directors of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, which subsumed the roles of the aforementioned bodies when it was constituted in January 2018. Acting Stewards work in a voluntary capacity and as officers of the IHRB are advised by a Stipendiary Steward, who is a professional employed by the IHRB. For an acting Steward, a background in racing is essential, but there is also a trainee Stewards’ scheme whereby they are trained on the racecourse with the various professionals the IHRB employs. They are made members of either the Turf Club or the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee once they successfully complete their apprenticeship, and are then permitted to put their names forward for the role of acting Steward. Breandán Ó hUallacháin spoke to two acting Stewards, Faith Morris and Robert Hall, and one of the country’s six Stipendiary Stewards, Liam Walsh.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN FINDS OUT WHAT A RACE DAY ENTAILS FOR IRELAND’S STEWARDS

Faith Morris Faith Morris is a relatively new acting Steward, having commenced last year after completing what she describes as “a detailed and comprehensive programme of training covering all aspects of running a race meeting.” Coming from a strong equine background on both sides of her family, Faith now officiates at Gowran Park, Tramore, Clonmel and Wexford. Asked what is important about the role of the race day Steward, Ms Morris, replies: “Fairness is really important. We want to be fair to all parties involved. The reputation of horseracing has to be upheld. Integrity and accountability are to the fore.” Personal planning for her role she believes is essential and admits to preparing by following the entries and the declarations for a day she is working. On the day, Faith performs various tasks, as she points out: “We have to go into the parade ring to make sure everything is alright – check that declared cheek pieces, for example, are on the assigned horse and then we disperse to each of our positions. All of the Stewards report back to the Stewards’ room and go through the recording post-race.”

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| RACE DAY |

Liam Walsh

Robert Hall

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Robert Hall has been a Steward for the past decade and concedes his passion for the sport is what first attracted him to the role. “Racing is my passion and this is another aspect,” he says. “I’ve done quite a lot in racing and felt qualified to do what was being asked of me. It was an interest, a way of keeping me involved. All through my life I’ve sought fairness and safety – to protect the integrity of the sport.” Robert, who describes being “apprenticed” at Naas racecourse, is full of praise for the system of training Stewards. “I sat in the Stewards’ room. I did a bit on the scales; I was with the judge, with the vets. I did a little with everybody just to get an understanding of what their roles are.” Over the years he has fulfilled the role of acting Steward at Dundalk, Gowran Park, Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, Naas and Punchestown. Describing what he believes is necessary for a race day Steward, Hall says: “I suppose being level-headed is important. It’s got to be about fair means and that’s what we have to ensure. Having an awareness of the capabilities and the dangers involved in horses is crucial, as riders’ safety is paramount.”

Liam Walsh is a Stipendiary Steward with 15 years’ experience, having initially fulfilled the role for two years on the Point-to-Point circuit. The former amateur rider also worked as a vet’s assistant, trained as a starter and operated as a judge, as he believes doing each of the jobs “puts me in a better position to advise the acting Stewards. The more informed you are the better,” he adds. The North Tipperary native believes the Point-to-Points were an excellent preparation for his current role.

“That was a good foundation.

It was a great learning curve as you’re doing all the different roles.

I was lucky enough to then get a part-time job on the track as an official. I did all the roles and it gives you a better understanding.

If you know how things work then you can advise the Stewards as you’re better informed,” he says. As the paid professional, his role is to advise the acting Stewards at a race meeting. “The acting Stewards do a minimum of eight days per year whereas the Stipendiary Stewards are out all the time,” Liam explains.

“We see more incidents, more scenarios. Essentially it is my job to interpret the Rulebook, explain the rules and advise the Stewards. I’m bound by the Rulebook. I have to work all the time to the Rulebook.” Liam Walsh clarifies the procedure regarding the holding of a Stewards’ enquiry: “I advise the Chairman on the calling of an enquiry. We only call one to the public for possible interference, if is there is a possibility the result will be changed. “In the case of possible interference, we only take into consideration ground lost by the horse that was interfered with. We don’t take into account any ground lost by the horse that caused it.

We assess whether the winner improved its finishing position as a result of the interference caused.” Ultimately, Stewards view races to ensure the Rules of Racing and INHS Rules are complied with. They may penalise licensed persons found in breach of the Rules and also have power to make (and if necessary to vary) all arrangements for the conduct of a race meeting as they think fit. They may also abandon the meeting, part thereof, or one race of the meeting or declare a race void.

ESSENTIALLY IT IS MY JOB TO INTERPRET THE RULEBOOK, EXPLAIN THE RULES AND ADVISE THE STEWARDS. I’M BOUND

BY THE RULEBOOK.

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Fairyhouse winner of AIRO Racecourse Award in 2015 & 2018 are looking forward to welcoming you back www.fairyhouse.ie 250480_2L_Fairyhouse Racecourse_JM_AIRO 2021.indd 1

OWNERS

26/01/2021 11:47

www.navanracecourse.ie

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT We look forward to welcoming you back to Navan when we can

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26/01/2021 11:50

10/02/2021 15:00

| FAMILIES IN RACING |

My Family JANE MANGAN

GRADE 1-WINNING AMATEUR JOCKEY JANE MANGAN SPOKE TO BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN ABOUT HER POST-RIDING CAREER, HER FAMILY’S INVOLVEMENT IN HORSERACING AND A CERTAIN AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL WINNER.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

J

ane Mangan, a regular face on RTÉ Racing and Racing TV, comes from a family steeped in racing. Well, in fact, comes from two families with a long time connection to the sport of kings, the O’Briens and the Mangans.

“We can definitively go back at least four generations,” Jane proudly admits. “My grandfather Frank O’Brien rode as an amateur and the Mangans were always involved,” she adds. Her father, Jimmy, and mother, Mary, run a successful breeding and training operation in the East Cork village of Conna, ‘The Home of Monty’s Pass’ as the sign entering the country village elucidates.

“We’re one of those operations that are all-round,” explains the former amateur jockey, before clarifying, “I would say we’re primarily breeders to be honest but we have around 15 horses in training at the moment. It’s a handy and manageable number.”

The current generation of the Mangans are active in the horse world with Jane and her older brothers – three years her senior – twins Patrick and Bryan also involved. Bryan is a farrier as well as being a breeder who keeps his own broodmares, while Patrick, a former professional jockey, now assists with running the farm and is involved in the racing side of the family’s business.

In a career spanning over a decade in the

saddle, Patrick rode a number of blacktype winners, among them the Oliver McKernantrained Follow The Plan in the Grade 2 Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles in January 2011.

Arguably his biggest win came in the Grade 2 Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Fund Mares Novice Chase at Thurles on 17 January 2013, when scoring on Noras Fancy for his father.

Jane started out along the Pony Club route before riding racehorses when she was 15 years old. Having attained her amateur jockey’s licence, she had her first ride at 17, with her first racecourse start, and winner, coming in the form of her father’s 20/1 shot Jamie’s Darling in the Cork & Waterford Mares Point-to-Point Flat Race at Cork Racecourse on 25 April 2011.

Much of her improvement as a jockey in the ensuing years she attributes to one of her favourite horses, Conna Castle.

“It was all down to that horse. Crucially he was a Grade 1 horse so I was essentially taking a Grade 1 horse into point-to-points and he won a few races the first season. That kind of confidence (you get from winning), you can’t buy. He minded me and he taught me a lot about race-riding,” the 27-year-old explains.

Though steeped in National Hunt racing, her interest in the Flat was ignited when riding out as a teenager at David Wachman’s Longfield Stables outside Cashel, as Jane reveals: “I had never

IT WAS SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOYED. I LOVE GOING RACING AND WHEN YOU STOP RIDING IT WAS A VOID THAT I HADN’T FILLED.”

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| FAMILIES IN RACING |

Healy Racing

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Jane Mangan

really been exposed to the Flat until I’d been to David’s. I was 14 years old; I didn’t have a bike and I was running here and there. When you’re doing that you see everything. I was riding those really well-bred horses out of the mares I had been watching on the track, and that’s how the Flat interest came about.”

A year later, beginning what would be a regular summer job for her, riding out at Ballydoyle, she became more intrigued with the Flat code. With the summers spent in County Tipperary having clearly influenced her greatly, Jane continues: “It gives you a real appreciation for how

competitive this game is. They (Ballydoyle) are the standard setters every year. They ensure that Ireland is competitive on an international scale. We’re very lucky in Ireland to have all that quality here. That’s what makes us the best in the world at what we do.”

Ms J M Mangan’s career highlight in the saddle came when partnering the David Pipetrained The Liquidator to success in the Grade 1 Betdaq The Peoples Exchange Champion INH Flat Race at the Punchestown Festival on 24 April 2013.

While completing her four-year Marketing Degree in Cork Institute of Technology, the

Cork woman was still riding, maintaining a fine balancing act between horses and study. That would soon change, however. “I knew that as soon as I entered the workforce properly the riding would have to be 100% or 0%.”

Riding in bumpers soon gave Mangan her break into the racing media when Robbie Irwin of RTÉ Radio Sport asked her to join him in his reporting from the parade ring at various race meetings. Jane takes up the story herself: “I used to ride in the bumpers and I’d be at the races anyway. Robbie Irwin gave me my start. He did the radio and he asked me to join him in the parade ring.”

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| FAMILIES IN RACING |

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

One thing lead to another and after two years of contributing on the radio Jane was asked by RTÉ to do a day at the Galway Races.

This was the beginning of more regular work with the national broadcaster and “it was something I really enjoyed. I love going racing and when you stop riding it was a void that I hadn’t filled,” so working at the racecourses of the country assisted in dealing with the loss.

With her move to the TV screens, Mangan benefited from the knowledge, experience and expertise of Ted Walsh and the now-retired anchor Robert Hall, two people she praises highly for helping her.

“In any walk of life, no matter what field you’re in you need to have people to guide you and support you the right way – I found that with both Ted and Robert. They are both very different men; both have their own views and you learn so much from standing between them.

You pick up a bit from each of them.”

Jane speaks about the unusual feeling of standing beside Hall, RTÉ Racing’s anchor man for decades. “Robert was the guy who started and ended the programme. He had a way of navigating adversity without being controversial. He was there doing that job long before I was born. I grew up with him. It was almost surreal then to be beside him after all those years,” she discloses.

Jane’s popularity with TV viewers and her excellent knowledge of bloodlines brought her to the attention of Racing TV shortly after they won the contract to cover Irish racing.

“Racing TV was about a year into it when they called me and gave me the opportunity. It fits in lovely as I get to go racing even more. I am blessed that I have both of them (RTÉ and Racing TV). I don’t take it for granted – I’m in a unique situation. To be involved with the two networks is a blessing. I feel really lucky to be doing something that I don’t consider to be work, and that’s something not everyone gets to say,” the bloodstock consultant affirms.

Jane has been fascinated by breeding since childhood. “I remember when I was young and my parents were up at the foal sales while I stayed with my grandparents. I rang them each evening to find out how much each foal made and I wrote it all down in my Granddad’s catalogue. I always wanted to know why one cost more than another.”

We couldn’t end our conversation without mention of Monty’s Pass, the 12-length winner of the Grand National at Aintree on 5 April 2003, under jockey Barry Geraghty. Jane succinctly explains what the horse meant, and still means, to the Mangan family: “He was a lifetime ambition, not just for this generation of our family, but for generations.

That’s the aspiration for anybody that breeds or trains or rides – the Grand National is the race.

“He made it all wworthwhile. You know when you have doubts and you have days and you wonder why you do it, and then you remember his win in the Aintree Grand National. That’s why you do it.”

THE LAST WORD COMES FROM DAD!

“Jane hadn’t much choice but to be horse mad!” laughs Jimmy Mangan. “But from when she was very small, just two or three, when we came back from the sales she’d always grab the catalogue and be asking what price this made or how that one did. She had a terrific interest in the pedigrees and a great knowledge. The rest of us wouldn’t show an interest in a book at that age unless it had plenty of pictures in it, but Jane just loved the catalogues. “I never really wanted her to be riding in races, but behind my back she got her Point-to-Point licence and Conna Castle was a great start for her. And it’s funny, but when she was ready to give up I didn’t want her to stop riding!

But it was the right decision, I can see that now. “I have to say a big thanks to Michael O’Leary. I remember standing at Cheltenham eating a bag of chips and being thankful that Jane was OK, after Oscar Delta jinking in the Foxhunters. And I got an enormous thump in the back from Michael and the next thing he’s telling me, ‘don’t be disappointed, we’ll give that girl plenty of rides.’ And he was true to his word, he really put her back in it.”

JANE MANGAN

Jamies Darling provided Jane Mangan with her first track success on her first track ride, pictured with parents Jimmy and Mary.

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17/02/2021 09:58

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09/02/2021 19/01/2021 16:45 14:26

| COMMERCIAL FEATURE |

Where Class Meets Functionality Leopardstown Racecourse

T

REGINA BYRNE, GENERAL MANAGER AIRO VISITS THE NEW FACILITIES AT LEOPARDSTOWN RACECOURSE.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

he old proverb ‘When fishermen can’t go to sea, they mend their nets’, reminds us there will be times where we may not be able to do things we’ve always done but that doesn’t’ mean we sit around being idle, the team at Leopardstown Racecourse embody all that is good about this old saying and AIRO director Caren Walsh & myself met with Tim Husbands (CEO) and Vicki Donlon (Marketing, Sponsorship & Events Manager) for a tour of their new facilities. 2020 has been extremely challenging for everyone and racecourses have certainly felt the sting in terms of commercial business. To pull the positives, it gave the team at Leopardstown the opportunity to proceed full throttle on renovations and although not fully finished it would make you want to put a horse in training just to have a runner here!

‘Where class meets functionality’, is the tagline I would put on this racecourse. They have thought of everything and consulted all the right people to make it so impressive. The working area to the right of the parade ring consists of the weighroom, press room, stewards room, medical room, Jockeys changing facilities, valet room, trainers area, offices and winners’ suite. The racegoers hospitality areas & owners’ lounge, members area, restaurants and tote hall facilities are all to the left. The new ‘Kids Zone’ with outdoor & indoor play areas, café, toilet facilities and pop-up shop facilities mean that racegoers can enjoy their race-day as a family unit yet are well connected to racing with their close location to the parade ring and plenty of TV’s so you don’t miss out on the action. Development of the pavilion area, the old club 92 (one of many haunts in my misspent, happy youth!) the new members section and ten new toilet blocks all connected to give the racegoer a real cohesive feeling, where they are never too far away from anything. To top everything off, the racecourse itself has never looked better!

Our tour guides explain that the customer experience is paramount for them and they are determined that every patron leaves this racecourse happy & satisfied. They are also really enthusiastic about opening up their pavilion area

as a corporate and events centre and promoting non-race day events, which is a very welcome and intelligent addition to their revenue stream.

What can owners look forward to?

We are reassured that Owners are always to the forefront for plans at Leopardstown and the facilities reflect that commitment. The Owners’ lounge is still located on the first floor with parade ring access to the front and racetrack access to the rear, the perfect viewing point for any owner. Aesthetically, it is warm and welcoming with comfortable furnishing to accentuate the race-day experience where each owner will enjoy four lounge passes per horse. The winners suite overlooking the parade ring is big and airy and the one location on this racecourse we hope each and every owner gets a look inside at some stage!

What’s the deal for syndicates/ racing clubs?

We have seen an explosion of syndicates and racing clubs forming which is a very welcome addition

to our industry and Leopardstown are more than willing to help in any way they can. In addition to the Owners’ lounge facilities mentioned above, Leopardstown are happy to provide up to 20 admission tickets for syndicate/racing club members and parade ring passes for all members when their horse is running. In addition, they have numerous facilities available for hospitality to cater for individual syndicates and racing clubs. The team at Leopardstown have extended an invitation to any syndicate or racing club representative to contact them directly for any race-day needs.

Once these restrictions are lifted and giving their close proximity to Dublin and new worldclass facilities, a day at the races in Leopardstown is a must-have addition to any social calendar. I look forward to meeting all our AIRO members there..

Owners can contact Regina at AIRO (Association of Irish Racehorse Owners) on 087 151 5119 or info@irishracehorseowners.com for information

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| SAFETY |

SAFETY FIRST

Racing During COVID-19

T

he role of Director of Racing encompasses a broad range. It starts with the creation of the fixture list, which underpins everything. My department makes the decision on our racing programme, while the Pattern races involve international discussions. At the heart of the job is the budget and how best to maximise the prize money available. We are also responsible for the daily running of the sport, handling the race entries, registration and administering on behalf of the industry. The racecourse services provided

by HRI including starting stalls, photo finish and the production of integrity pictures also come under the Racing Department’s remit.

Of course, 2020 was very different. By Cheltenham week we knew we were running into difficulties, so we very quickly anticipated that and were able to run 10 meetings behind closed doors. It all had to be implemented by the end of that week, so I didn’t see much of Cheltenham!

Then it just became a continuing process of new scenarios and protocols and re-drafting a fixture list, which was very difficult. By the time we started back with racing on 8 June, I think we were already on Draft Five scenario! But the outcome of that was that we were racing ready. It took an awful lot of work behind the scenes and much midnight oil and effort from the whole team to create a new fixture list from scratch; we’d never done this before.

We created a 70-page document to protect those working in the industry and to ensure racing could operate safely. Our efforts were well-recognised and that stood to us; in advance of government requirements we went further than was necessary.

From the start, we knew we had to try to retain all the Flat black type races, then look at the premier races, and we were in a lot of discussions with France and Britain to try to

keep the original dates if possible. Some trials became consolation races, but they fulfilled their function of being the next step on the ladder.

I worked with the finance team when revising the calendar. It was not the same in-depth investigation as normal, but we wanted to preserve prize money at the lower end and midtier and support all members of the industry, particularly the owners. It was unfortunate to have to cut the prize money for the Irish Derby, but we were still offering competitive prize money at the upper levels while preserving grass root level and ensuring horses still earned a decent rate. The minimum prize level fell by just €1,000 to €9,000 to encourage owners to keep going, and the success of this has been proven by the number of runners and increase of horses in training. The most satisfying aspect of 2020 was the commitment of everyone in the game; and the owners who continued to support the industry, despite their horses running behind closed doors.

We took a lot of precautionary measures to protect our own staff and we split the Racing Department in two, alternating working at home for a week and the next week in the office. We were already actively pushing our online services, with 80% of declarations and 90% of entries already done online prior to the pandemic, but it is still incredibly difficult and there is still a lot of manual checking required. All of the team have gone above and beyond, there has been a lot of weekend working, which is not the norm, and tremendous flexibility has been needed.

One of the best things is that the industry fully supported the measures, even though it meant it was not an enjoyable working environment and created a very different experience of going racing. We were conscious of the long hours worked by people and that it was a very busy fixture list. Although we added a significant number of races, we tried not to add

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

JASON MORRIS TAKES US INSIDE THE RACING DEPARTMENT AND REVEALS HOW THE TEAM ADAPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC

ABOVE: Jason Morris, HRI Director of Racing

evening fixtures. The commitment of owners, stable staff and trainers has been amazing and I can’t thank racecourse managers enough in terms of their cooperation and flexibility. We saw the impact on other sports where they didn’t satisfy that high bar.

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| SKILLS |

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

IN THE RIGHT HANDS

IT’S NOT A CASE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICATION VERSUS ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT FOR VETERINARIAN ANTHONY COYNE, AS BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN DISCOVERS

When your horse is sick or injured, the first port of call is, and has always invariably been, your local vet. Times are changing, so that may not always necessarily be the case nowadays.

Anthony Coyne, a UCD-educated veterinary surgeon, based at Athboy Veterinary Hospital in the Royal County, has other possibilities for improving the health of thoroughbreds.

Anthony is a believer in the attributes of acupuncture, osteopathy and traditional Chinese herbs for animals. “I’m a vet first,” the Co. Westmeath-native affirms, “but I would probably be mostly known as an osteopath acupuncturist by most of my clients outside of the veterinary practice.

“When I’m working as a vet in the practice I will always do the veterinary side first. I don’t work in the practice the days I do the herbal

treatments. I will do acupuncture, osteopathy and occasionally the horse may need some Chinese herbs. It’s mostly acupuncture and osteopathy,” he clarifies.

It isn’t a case of traditional veterinary medication versus alternative treatment, though, as he sees the benefits of a combination of both, particularly in the remedy of back pain.

“When I go and look at horses, the alternative medicine is only going to be a part of their treatment,” he explains. “A lot of racehorses need some of my treatment to align the spine or the chest and I’ll do acupuncture to take away the pain. Some horses may have x-rays, more may have injections in the back, some will have surgery on their back, others will have treatments like shockwave, but it’s a bit multifaceted the treatment of back pain in horses.”

In stubborn back pain cases involving kissing spines, electro stimulation of acupuncture points can enhance an acupuncture treatment by altering endogenous opioid release and by induction of descending pain control from the brain, acting at the level of the spinal cord.

Interestingly the profile of those same pain controlling opioids produced in the body have been shown to be dependent on the frequency of the electro stimulation, with low frequency stimulation recruiting one family of opioids and higher frequencies recruiting an entirely different family of pain controlling chemicals.

Electro acupuncture has a body of scientific evidence now backing up its clinical benefits.

Coyne believes that both acupuncture and osteopathy make a significant contribution to the solution of pain relief in animals, stating,

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IN EQUINE PERFORMANCE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LIMITING FACTORS IS THE AVAILABILITY OF OXYGEN TO POWER THE VARIOUS METABOLIC PROCESSES”

“Some of the horses that have had all the treatments will really respond when they get the acupuncture and you take their pain away. I don’t see it as a standalone but it certainly helps in the majority of cases.”

Having spent summers working with animals in America during his college years, and a year in Germany following his 1994 graduation, Coyne returned to Ireland with an interest in doing what he calls “something different.”

He had witnessed the use of acupuncture on horses while in Germany and this experience had awakened his interest in exploring the area, though he was still sceptical about the practice at that stage.

He decided to sign-up for a course in Thurles on acupuncture which was being given by Florida-based Chinese vet Huisheng Xie. It

provided him with knowledge of acupuncture but also gave an introduction to herbal medicine.

“I probably always had an interest in understanding horses from a fundamental point of view. I was looking for other ways of treating them, just apart from conventional ways.

“I was very lucky, as the very first horse I treated was tying up for about a year with a muscle condition – he couldn’t be got right,” Anthony says. “Despite being treated by three different vets from various practices, it wasn’t working out. I asked the trainer if I could have a go at treating the horse, so I started doing some acupuncture on him and then put him on a herbal tonic.”

The success of the treatment was soon evident, as Anthony continues, “The very next day one of the lads who was riding out the horse said that he felt better, and 8-10 days later we blood tested him and his muscle enzymes which had been up at 20,000 units per litre came back down to 250 units per litre. The horse never tied up again afterwards – that was my very first equine case. It was a great first case to try something different on. I’ve used the same programme for other horses since then.”

The Thurles course on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine also saw Anthony meet a Belgian-born qualified Chinese herbalist called Gilbert de Meester, who had treated both humans and animals with herbs. In the intervening years, both have worked successfully together treating numerous different conditions and syndromes with herbal medicine. They set up their own business called The Animal Herbal Company selling herbs suitable for preventing respiratory problems, promoting healthy hoof growth, digestive complications, calming temperamental horses and fertility issues.

“In equine performance, one of the most important limiting factors is the availability of oxygen to power the various metabolic processes that generate energy in the body,” according to Anthony. One of the key focuses in treating horses osteopathically is identifying disturbances in the chest, ribs and diaphragm as small dysfunction involving these structures can affect breathing which may lead to small reductions in oxygen levels and this can alter performance, especially at the business end of racing, the race finish.

Mare fertility is one of the areas in which the equine osteopath’s treatments have been very successful, as he explains, “I successfully used fertility supplements on a mare that for

no reason couldn’t go in foal. In one stud farm there were four barren mares that hadn’t been in foal for three years. The stud owner who knew about my herbs asked me if they could use the herbs on the mares as he had tried everything by that stage.”

Anthony placed the mares on the fertility herbs and all four produced foals. “You wouldn’t believe how much success we had. Out of the four mares, we got four live foals, and these were mares that couldn’t be got in foal for three years.

There is something very fundamental to the herbs for improving fertility,” he stresses.

While Anthony can deliver numerous examples of when Chinese herbs worked successfully on horses, he is insistent that they are not to be used without cause, as the root problem needs to be discovered before their adoption.

“When I look at racehorses, I only see certain scenarios where I see a definite need for the herbs. Some horses have what I call ‘liver pattern’, others have ‘kidney pattern’ and they have patterns from a Chinese medicine perspective.”

In the ‘liver pattern’, those horses are mostly muscle sore, can be angry, tense, highly-strung, and have digestive issues. Horses in this category have reacted well to the Chinese herbs but diet is also a crucial factor with them.

Horses that display a ‘kidney pattern’ often see dryness in their joints. The joints of these usually nervous horses are a little stiff; the animals can suffer lower back pain and regularly have fluid retention. “I treat those horses with Chinese kidney tonics as well. It’s very good for improving joint health. Kidneys are also important in allergies so I use kidney herbs to treat lung allergies.”

Most trainers are open to alternative medicines, Anthony feels, as “there has always been a history of trainers having different people coming into their yards with divergent treatments that are a little off the conventional spectrum.”

Despite being the only Irish vet on the acupuncture course when he qualified in England, acupuncture as a treatment means and the use of Chinese herbs is gaining in popularity with members of his profession. And the results speak volumes.

As Anthony Coyne concludes: “People are seeing at first hand the differences that osteopathy and acupuncture are making. It was all alien to them at first but when they are seeing the evidence it is hard to argue with black and white results.”

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

| SKILLS |

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| SKILLS |

NAILED ON

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN SPOKE TO THREE WELL-KNOWN FARRIERS, EACH WORKING IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE INTRICACIES OF HOOF CARE

Paul Fahey Jessica Harrington’s yard and Willie Mullins’ yard Paul, who trains horses part-time, is one of three Fahey brothers who are in the farriery business, with three nephews also farriers. Along with his brother Tom and their team, they have been involved with the Harrington yard since Johnny had the licence. “We used to do a couple of eventers for Jessie and a couple of horses for Johnny,” Paul says.

They shoed horses for Paddy Mullins at the end of the Grabel era and then began doing the same for Willie when he started training. Fortunately for the Faheys, both the Harrington and Mullins yards have grown exponentially in the past decade meaning they have been kept busy. Paul Fahey’s daily routine involves rising around 6.30am each morning in order to supervise the riding out of his horses. He, or one of the farriers working with him, visit both the Harrington and Mullins yards five mornings a week. For a man who works as both a farrier and a trainer where “both jobs take up a good bit of time,” Paul tries to find a happy balance between the two.

“You can’t stay working eight or ten hours a day (as you get older),” he reveals. “Years ago you did. I like to do a little less of the physical work as shoeing is

very physical. I finish up the shoeing around half four in the evening, come home and do the horses again.” There is a noticeable difference between working with younger horses as opposed to more experienced ones, as Paul explains: “The yearlings and two year-olds are very different to work with compared to the National Hunt horses that have a couple of years training under their belt. They nearly stand on their own whereas the two-year-olds and the younger flat horses take a little bit more time.”

With so many Faheys involved in the business, I guess he would recommend the career. “I wouldn’t discourage anyone, but they will be working. I have worked with horses now for many years and none of the jobs have got easier. It’s still a labour intensive job. All the physical side is still essentially in it,” he maintains. “They’d want to like and understand horses because you have to understand about a bold horse, a nervous horse. A background in horses isn’t essential. Horses nowadays are way better handled.

They’re at the sales more often and are handled much better as young horses, but the physical work is still there.”

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| SKILLS |

Martin Leahy Irish National Stud and Kildangan Stud

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Limerick man Martin Leahy is farrier at both the Irish National Stud and Kildangan Stud. He qualified at the age of 20 through the Bord na gCapall apprenticeship scheme, before moving to Kildare, where he stills remains 45 years later. Luckily for Martin, Michael Osborne was seeking someone to work in the Irish National Stud and hired him to shoe horses like Giolla Mear, Tudor Music, Lord Gayle and African Sky, names he can still recall with ease. Later when a farriery school was founded, Osborne asked the Bruff native to work there during the off-season. The Michael Osborne link would be lucky again for Leahy when the former became manager of Kildangan Stud. Initially they had about 40 horses there but within a short period they were breaking 350 horses, with Martin Leahy as the stud’s farrier. Martin, who now deals a lot with lame horses, explains the main issues he encounters as part of his work: “Very high moisture content in the foot can penetrate the souls of the feet. It’s very easy to get a foot abscess when the ground is very wet. I get a lot of animals with hoof cracks, white line separation, a bacteria growing in their foot. A horse’s foot is hot and has a lot of moisture in it. They’ll break the foot down pretty quickly to get a foot abscess.” What advice would a farrier of over 40 years’ experience, who also shod showjumpers for Iris Kellett and Jack Doyle, give someone starting out in the career? “The quieter the person is around the animal (the better). I don’t think horses like loud people. Your hand movements have to be relatively slow around their faces as well. Farriery is a subject there’s a lot to be learnt about. Every day is a school day. You can come across things every day that you’ve never come across before and you’d think when you’re round long enough that you’ve seen everything.”

Martin Leahy

EVERY DAY IS A SCHOOL DAY. YOU CAN COME ACROSS THINGS EVERY DAY THAT YOU’VE NEVER COME ACROSS BEFORE AND YOU’D THINK WHEN YOU’RE ROUND LONG ENOUGH THAT YOU’VE SEEN EVERYTHING.”

Éamonn Behan The Curragh, Punchestown and Naas. Éamonn Behan is the farrier at The Curragh, Punchestown and Naas, three of the top racecourses in the country. “I could be shoeing any of the best horses in the world,” he proudly admits. “I’m doing the home of the Classics and I do all the big Grade 1s in Punchestown. I really appreciate it as I’ve got a lot of work out of being a course farrier with some of the biggest tracks in Europe.” A man of vast experience in dealing with Ireland’s equine stars, Éamonn describes the experience of being a racetrack farrier as “very intense.” “You’re dealing with horses that are 500 kilos of flesh,” he explains. “They know where they are and they know what they want to do. When they come out of the horsebox, they are fully wound up and you have to be very careful.” On racedays, Éamonn spends the early part in the yard as horses arrive. He then moves onto the pre-parade ring and eventually the parade ring. With The Curragh having two farriers, the Kildare native covers the pre-parade ring, whereas at Punchestown “as soon as the last horse leaves the parade ring, I go down to the start to make sure everything is ok there and that nothing has pulled a shoe. I come back up and do it all over again,” discloses Éamonn. With the majority of Irish races now being broadcast live on Racing TV, there is added pressure to ensure races begin on time. Some of it ultimately falls on the farrier when he is called into action. “You just have that window on a racecourse. TV is down on you because the race is going out live so you’re under pressure. You put this out of your head, you put that aside – you just do your job. It’s more intense, it has more pressure.” So, what makes a good farrier, Éamonn? “It’s not just about picking up a horse’s leg. You have to stand back and look. I think being a horseman is a big help. If you have an eye for a horse, it’s a big help. You listen, you watch, you learn. You would want to be strong, aware and willing to learn.”

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| VET |

THERAPEUTIC SHOEING

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

pplying shoes to the feet of horses has been a common practice for over 1,000 years, while the first horseshoes may have been used as much as 2,500 years ago.

Generally, the feet of domesticated horses are trimmed to balance and reduce excessive hoof length and, in many cases, horseshoes are applied as an aid for traction, protection, and to reduce wear of the hoof wall. Therapeutic horse-shoeing, therapeutic farriery, corrective shoeing, and podiatry are some of the terms that have been used to describe the care of a horse’s hoof to address abnormal conditions beyond this common practice. Since many farriers use various shoes, pads, and application methods, therapeutic shoeing is practiced by most farriers at various levels. It could also be argued that basic horse shoeing is therapeutic in nature.

There are various certifications and endorsements that farriers can acquire from a handful of farrier organisations, indicating specialty or ability. These involve additional training, apprenticeships, case studies and testing. Additionally, there are veterinarians who are trained farriers with experience and specialty achieved beyond the scope of what is provided in vet school. Depending on client base, geography, experience and preference, veterinarians and farriers often specialise in certain disciplines or breeds.

As much as 80% of equine forelimb lameness is due to problems involving the feet. Some of the usual conditions where therapeutic horseshoeing is utilised include laminitis and founder, navicular disease, hoof cracks and defects, coffin bone injuries or disease, infections such as canker, white line disease and abscesses.

Soft tissue injuries involving tendons and ligaments, as well as diseases involving bone and joints, can also be addressed with modulation of the foot, even though these injuries may be located further up the leg. For example, shoeing applications to reduce strain on a suspensory ligament can greatly improve healing and comfort for suspensory desmitis. Conformational abnormalities may be accommodated with proper attention.

Each breed and discipline also has a set of nuances and problems specific to the group. The farrier is part of a team which also

includes the horse, owner, trainer, grooms, and veterinarian. This team approach is never more evident than when a horse has an injury or disease. Occasionally, multiple farriers or veterinarians will work together on a case via referral or consultation. It is important to note that an accurate diagnosis is essential for successful treatment.

Shoeing has evolved from the use of standard steel “keg” horseshoes. Manufacturing technology has brought a multitude of therapeutic shoes to market. A farrier can also modify pre-made, or build shoes from scratch, to custom fit each foot and need. In addition to steel and aluminium, plastics, fabrics, composites, epoxy and acrylic adhesives, and even wood, is often utilised. Pads and impression support materials have evolved, offering different application methods, hardness and even incorporated medications tailored to the needs at hand.

Although craftsmanship and skill in building a foot appliance is important, the knowledge of how therapy will affect the horse (positive or negative) in every aspect is imperative. An example is how a wide-webbed shoe with a pad and rolled toe and branches might benefit a horse with navicular pain but will reduce traction and seal a sole from air, causing other concerns that may result in different problems.

Therapeutic goals may include protection of internal or external injuries and wounds, stabilisation of the hoof capsule, orthotic support, modification of static and dynamic biomechanics of the foot-ground interface, and protection or support of structures above the hoof. To properly address the needs of the condition and the horse, one must have an intimate understanding of the anatomic, physiologic and biomechanical relationships of the foot and leg. There should be an understanding of the disease process at hand. One application for a certain problem may be detrimental for another. This is the main reason that a farrier and veterinarian are most efficient when they have a good working relationship.

COURTESY OF EQUINE DISEASE QUARTERLY JOURNAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

NO FOOT, NO HORSE – HORSESHOES HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR AT LEAST 2,500 YEARS AND JOSH ZACHARIAS EXPLAINS FOR US THE MANY THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS OF SHOEING

“AS MUCH AS 80% OF EQUINE FORELIMB LAMENESS IS DUE TO PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE FEET.”

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| COMMERCIAL PROFILE |

Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital

An inside view

SIMON HENNESSY, SPECIALIST SURGEON AT ANGLESEY LODGE EQUINE HOSPITAL, TELLS US ABOUT THE PRACTICE AT THE FOREFRONT OF IRELAND’S VETERINARY CARE

I

Simon Hennessy

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

joined Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital a year ago and one of the main reasons I came here was its very good reputation.

The practice likes to be pioneering and to be at the forefront of veterinary care in Ireland. For example, it’s known for providing the best foal medicine, we have excellent specialists who produce well-respected research papers, and it’s a progressive practice continually striving for excellence, and clients can see that. We offer value for money and a world class service, so the continuing success of Anglesey Lodge since its establishment in 1974 is no surprise.

As a vet I have taken a traditional route, first working in a mixed practice before specialising in equine care, becoming a stud farm vet, but I had a particular affinity for surgery. I have been fortunate enough to work all over the world and I have spent time at the universities in Melbourne, Glasgow and Liverpool, working in Australia, Sweden and the UK. I’m lucky to be part of an excellent team here at Anglesey Lodge. Juan Francisco Perez Olmos and myself are the specialist surgeons. Juan is very experienced and extremely good in colic cases, we work well together and complement each other.

Ana Moreira from Portugal is in her second year and is very level-headed and thorough.

Out on the road we have Tom Austin and Mark MacRedmond, they are the pillars of the place, and then there are multiple associates including Bena Hickey, who has been here from the start. We’ve an extensive nursing panel and five interns, plus the two grooms in the yard, so 29 staff in all. That’s really why I came here, it’s such a very professional well-run outfit, with nothing left to chance.

As a practice we try to offer everything. We are proud to provide the most up-to-date diagnostic equipment, allowing us to detect a range of problems that might occur in an equine athlete, such as subtle musculoskeletal, upper and lower respiratory tract and any cardiac performancelimiting abnormalities.

We can provide advanced lameness investigation, gastroscopy, digital radiography,

digital musculoskeletal ultrasound including 3D, extra corporeal shock wave therapy, over-ground dynamic endoscopy, cardiac ultrasound, exercising and 24-hour telemetric ECG monitoring and cell-based therapies including stem cells, PRP and IRAP. From the surgery point of view, we’re a big fan of minimally invasive surgery. The less invasive you are, the less scar tissue and less inhibitory restriction of motion. I’ve really pushed the level of keyhole surgery we provide wherever possible.

Anglesey Lodge makes continued investment throughout the practice, both in our training and the equipment we use. The most recent example would be the latest locking plate compression system for fracture repair, which is the newest state-of-the-art technology. We are also proud of our oral endoscope for dental work, and we have a bone scan unit for the early detection of stress fractures, which especially in the racehorse population has saved a great many lives.

We also perform pre-purchase examinations on racehorses, foals, yearlings, broodmares, stallions,

sport horses and leisure horses and can tailor the examination to the purchaser’s requirements and the horse’s intended use. We have representatives on the pre and post-sale Veterinary Panels at Tattersalls Ireland and Goffs, and also on the panel of Hong Kong Jockey Club Nominated Veterinarians.

Last year was a difficult one for many businesses, but thankfully the covid pandemic impacted on the practice less than expected. A lot of our clients continued on with racing, and it doesn’t seem to me as though the place is any quieter. It has made things a little bit trickier in terms of managing staff safely and how we work together, but it has always been a very busy hospital and that hasn’t changed.

The Curragh, Co Kildare. Tel: 00353 45 521373 Fax: 00353 45 521114 / www.aleh.ie email: info@aleh.ie

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| OWNERSHIP |

Faugheen, Leopardstown 2020, crowds before lockdown

HORSE RACING IRELAND

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

OWNERSHIP AIDAN McGARRY, OWNER RELATIONS MANAGER, TALKS US THROUGH A DIFFICULT YEAR

A

s has been the case with every industry and organisation, 2020 has been a difficult year for racehorse owners. Covid-19 has curtailed most activities including the all-important day at the races for owners, but the loyalty and support displayed by racehorse owners to their trainers and their teams has been outstanding and it has been hugely appreciated by all. The full 2020 Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) statistics will be released in January, but initial figures look relatively positive in the context of the year we have had. The 2021 HRI Budget outlines some of the key priorities of HRI with the aim of mitigating these impacts and once again build on the really positive growth levels experienced in ownership in 2019.

Most welcome for owners is the increase in the minimum race value back to €10,000 and an increase in the number of fixtures providing further opportunities. While the Ownership Departments’ activities for 2021 will support these broader budgetary plans, your views will also play a significant part. Each registered owner has recently been surveyed by HRI. This survey gives each owner another opportunity to offer feedback and insights to the Ownership Team on how best HRI can continue to try and improve the ownership experience. The team of Amber Byrne, Caroline Townend, and I, have used these findings in the past to drive a variety of activities such as improvements at the racecourses, increase ticket allocation for all owners and relaying views on the importance of minimum prize money levels to the HRI Board. The greater the engagement with these surveys, the clearer the views and priorities of owners will be. This is not just a one-off opportunity to engage with the team. Throughout the year I have spoken to and liaised with owners on any number of queries or concerns that arise. My colleague Amber Byrne assists owners and trainers by aiming to grow the pool of people looking to get involved in ownership, working with owners to promote this great sport. Caroline Townend manages our website and social media outputs as well as numerous day to day requests that arise. The full details of the team are available on our website, www.racehorseownership.ie under “Meet The Team”. The Ownership Team, working together with owners and AIRO, is vital to not only grow our base of owners, but just as importantly to keep those who are already involved in the sport.

Wishing you a Happy & Healthy 2021.

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10/02/2021 15:01 11:44

| COMMERCIAL FEATURE |

Irish Equine Centre’s Bespoke Equine Probiotic ProSol

B | MAGAZINE 2021 |

illions of bacteria inhabit the horse’s team can manufacture the autogenous probiotic digestive tract. These ‘gut flora’ are containing these live beneficial bacteria. The essential for breaking down the mostly autogenous probiotic ProSol is unique to that horse fibrous diet of the horse to give energy and is easily administered on a daily basis. for optimum performance. Healthy ProSol contains only the horse’s own beneficial gut flora also plays a major role in immunity and bacteria in sterile water and no other additives. The prevention of certain diseases. Protecting the pink colour of ProSol is a natural phenomenon and balance of the gut flora is vital for racehorses. Gut ProSol does not contravene any rules of racing or flora can be adversely affected by many factors competition. Using ProSol over a period of three including stress, illness, antibiotics, poor diet and weeks can drive improvements in the health and the horse’s environment. condition of horses where a gut imbalance had The IEC has been involved in gut flora research been diagnosed. The horses typically thrive and for the past 20 years and our team are able to detect maintain better condition after exercise and racing. gut imbalances in horses from faecal samples.

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10/02/2021 14:10

11/02/2021 14:35

| POINT-TO-POINT |

POINT-TO-POINT

2020 REVIEW THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WAS FELT PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE POINT-TO-POINT SPHERE AS THE 2019/20 SEASON WAS BROUGHT TO A PREMATURE END IN LATE MARCH JUST IN ADVANCE OF THE PEAK MONTHS OF THE SPRING TERM. EOGHÁIN WARD REPORTS

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Borris House

rior to the racing shutdown, a total of 55 fixtures were staged and it was Barry O’Neill who maintained his position at the top of the sport’s riding ranks, winning a fourth consecutive national riders title, whilst also adding a northern and eastern regional title to his collection for this year, sharing the latter award with Jamie Codd, who also claimed the Senior title. n The other regional prizes went to Pa King in the South, his first award since winning the Under-21 prize 12 years ago, and Rob James in the West, as he ended Derek O’Connor’s 11-year run in that region. The Champion Lady rider award was split three-ways between Maxine O’Sullivan, Moira McElligott and Liz Lalor, with another tie for the Under-21 prize, which was shared by Ben Harvey and Brian Lawless. n Meanwhile, Colin Bowe extended his domination within the training ranks, as he was crowned leading handler for an eighth time. n Of the equine awards, It Came To Pass unsurprisingly was declared the Champion Hunter Chaser, following his emphatic victory for owner Alurie O’Sullivan in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, whilst the season’s only four-time winner, Eddies Miracle, was the deserving champion point-to-point horse title winner for Belfast owner Ray Nicholas, who has proven to be such a big supporter of point-to­points. n Sean McParlan’s Holycross Lito was the champion mare in a season which saw her return back between the flags to record an impressive success at Loughanmore in the autumn, whilst Jimmy and Eileen Furlong from Thistletown Stud won the Breeders Award having bred four individual winners who won a combined six races, courtesy of Jay Bee Why, Found On, Beatthebullet and Double Smart. n Following the loss of such a crucial part of the spring season, the INHSC made the wise decision to bring forward the start date of the current campaign, and since the resumption of point-to-pointing at Ballingarry on September 19, the sports stakeholders have pulled together to stage a very successful enhanced programme of 37 fixtures. n Although taking place behind closed doors, the meetings have proven to be a credit to all involved, as committees have been able to take full advantage of the vast open spaces to run safe and Covid­compliant fixtures. n Their perseverance has been richly rewarded with increased entries right through the pre-Christmas term including a bumper ten-race card at the always popular Borris House in late November, which has proven to be a significant boost in advance of Horse Racing Ireland’s very welcome announcement that an additional €1,000 per fixture in funding will be provided throughout 2021.

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| RETIRED FACES |

MOVING ON

WE BID A FOND FAREWELL AND GOOD WISHES TO THOSE WHO RETIRED DURING THE YEAR

Barry Geraghty

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Twice Champion Jockey in Ireland, Barry won a total of 1,920 races, 121 at Grade 1 level, including a famous victory on the Jimmy Mangan-trained Monty’s Pass in the Aintree Grand National for the Dee Racing Syndicate. He also partnered the much-loved Moscow Flyer and Sprinter Sacre. Barry is the second most successful jockey of all time at the Cheltenham Festival, his tally including two Gold Cups, three Champion Hurdles and five Champion Chase wins, culminating with five wins at the 2019 Festival.

Margaret O’Neill Margaret joined Tattersalls in 1995 and moved to the Bloodstock department two years later, becoming Manager in 2008, where she was responsible for correlating the sales catalogues and ensuring their accuracy, as well as organising the sales staff. Margaret has been a mentor to many young bloodstock enthusiasts over the years and her welcome smiling face at the sales will be greatly missed.

She is married to trainer Tommy O’Neill and their daughter Lisa has followed his footsteps as a jockey, enjoying a great deal of success including a famous Cheltenham win on Tiger Roll.

Aiden Burns Aiden had been Manager of the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) since 2005, when membership stood at just 235. He built up the Association to 2,056 members and in 2009 introduced an invaluable Public Liability Insurance Policy for members. He also set up the very popular Members Marquee at the Punchestown and Galway Festivals and liaised with France Galop and ROA for members’ exchange privileges for the major French and UK Festival race days.

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| RETIRED FACES |

Niall “Slippers” Madden

The consummate professional, Robert became RTÉ’s racing presenter in 1982. It all began with the radio commentary of Dara Monarch’s Irish 2000 Guineas win at the Curragh for RTÉ. In the early 1990s Robert filled in for Tony Sweeney as a paddock judge, but it was his long-term broadcasting partnership with Ted Walsh that viewers will always remember and cherish. Robert may be gone from our screens, but as you will read elsewhere in these pages he is still to be found in a new role on the racecourse.

Dot Love Trainer of the 50/1 shot 2013 Irish Grand National winner Liberty Counsel, owned by the Neale/ Murtagh Partnership, Dot retired on a winning note when Flindt, owned by Kieran Clarke, won at Fairyhouse. Born in Denmark, Dot started her career as a Three-Day Event rider and was selected to represent Denmark at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, but disappointingly a clerical error prevented that. Dot took out her trainer’s licence in 2001 and trained 74 winners, as well as nurturing many more through her very successful pre-training yard.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Robert Hall

It was fitting that Niall, whose big race wins included Galway Hurdles on More Rainbows and War Of Attrition, retired on New Year’s Eve at Punchestown, the course where he had his first ride in 2001. Just five years later, he partnered the Martin Brassil-trained and Bernard Carroll-owned Numbersixvalverde to a dream win in the 2006 Aintree Grand National. Later that year he won the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Jazz Messenger and the two-mile chase at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting with Nickname. And speaking of which, Niall was dubbed “Slippers” thanks to his father Niall, also a jockey, being known as “Boots”!

John Oxx John first took over the Currabeg licence from his father in 1979, having graduated as a vet in 1973. In that time he has trained 35 Group One winners and 11 Classic winners, most notably Azamour, Alamshar and Ridgewood Pearl. He sent out Sinndar for the unique hattrick of The Derby, Irish Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the best was yet to come. In 2009, the great Sea The Stars was impeccably trained to sail unbeaten through six Group 1s in as many months, the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe among them, a feat unlikely to be bettered.

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| OWNERS ABROAD |

MILL HOUSE LLC

A Passion for Irish Racing LISSA OLIVER DISCOVERS IT’S MORE LIKELY TO BE GREEN BLOOD THAN BLUE FLOWING THROUGH THE VEINS OF THIS FAMILY OF RACING ROYALTY!

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Kim Brady Cutler says of her late uncle, Jim Brady, “he had racing in his DNA”, so it’s good to know she and her father Nick share those genes. “When Grandpa passed away in 1971, Dad, Uncle Jim and their sisters took over Mill House LLC, but eventually all the siblings retired from racing so Dad asked me to be his partner in 2012,” explains Kim. “Dad still has plenty of knowledge and enthusiasm even at 90. It’s a passion that keeps your mind active.”

Mill House is the family farm in New Jersey and racing stable of the Brady family, but how did a family with such a rich North American racing pedigree come to own horses with Jessie Harrington?

“My grandfather, James C. Brady, had horses with Vincent O’Brien and he was very close with the O’Brien family, and we remained incredibly close to Phonsie; Dad even named a horse after him!

“My great grandfather came to America from Ireland in 1857,” says Kim, “and my grandfather at one time owned the Cashel Palace Hotel.

Through the years Dad has gone over and toured Ireland with Phonsie and his daughter, Yvonne, who organised the trips.

“In 2012, we took a family trip to Ireland for my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. The last night we had a wonderful dinner with all the O’Brien clan. That sparked Dad’s interest in reconnecting with Irish racing and David Wardell put him in touch with Patrick Cooper. Patrick has done just an amazing job and we absolutely admire Jessie. It’s a wonderful combination, Patrick’s knowledge of the bloodlines and Jessie having trained those bloodlines.”

Kim loves visiting Commonstown Stables and racing in Ireland. “It’s killing me not being there; as a horse person I love watching them work and seeing them race, but Jessie and her crew are so good with technology, they do a

fantastic job filming the work. She sends us the film with her comments and it’s just like I’m watching in person. Patrick goes down constantly and sends separate pictures, they are so good at communicating. And we get to watch the races live, which is great, and Patrick calls right after the race with a debrief on the performance.

“Jessie is a real horsewoman. I love that she was an Olympic level three-day eventer, a jump trainer who has come to the Flat. It’s so wonderful that it’s a real family operation, with Kate, Emma and Richie.”

Ireland’s racecourses are a big draw, too. “It’s more natural and the tracks are just as nature made them, it’s not just level counter-clockwise tracks which is all we have here at home, and because of that it’s much more exciting. Dad and I just love it when the horses go to the gate, without being ponied, it gives you such a good feeling seeing them cantering on their own.

“And we love the fact that in Ireland you give Mother Nature a chance. If things aren’t right, Jessie will say let’s give them time. We have two unraced in 2020, Boola Boola, which is a Yale fight song, and Sign From Above.”

Which brings us to the subject of names. Kim likes to relate to the breeding, while her father has a penchant for history and humour. “He chose the name Rockaway Valley, a railway that used to come through New Jersey. Then there’s Mulligatawny, he just wanted to see how they would pronounce it!

A Cooper’s Hawk hovers around his house, so he thought it would be amusing to name a horse after it and see what Patrick thought of that!

“We have a saying I use a lot, ‘oh brother bear!’

So we had Brother Bear, by Kodiac, then Papa Bear, followed by Boston Bruin, after the hockey team. The King, by Mastercraftsman, was the nickname of Arnold Palmer and Dad considered him to be the ultimate master craftsman. Hell Bent is by Mastercraftsman and hopefully hell-bent on perfection!

O’Reilly, by Frankel, is named after our Stan Cosgrove good friend Tony O’Reilly. And McPherson, by Golden Horn who was owned by the Oppenheimer family, is named after a man my father did business with who worked for the Oppenheimers. It’s funny what a small world it is, as it turns out McPherson was bred by Mary Oppenheimer Slack, married to a close family friend of ours. She contacted Dad saying, I think you just bought my horse!”

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| OWNERS |

SYNDICATE

Cullentra House Stable Staff AIRO MANAGER REGINA BYRNE PAID A VISIT TO CULLENTRA HOUSE STABLES TO MEET THE STAFF WHO HAVE MORE THAN JUST A PASSING INTEREST IN THE HORSES IN THEIR CARE

Is it successful? So far this 2020/21 season, the Cullentra House Stable Staff Syndicate has enjoyed three wins at Point-to-Points. It’s All Guesswork won twice under the stewardship of Aubrey McMahon, at Umma House and Knockmullen House Point-to-Points, and Evalabrune D’or won at Umma House (South Westmeath Hunt). Prince Of Scars is a previous Grade 1 winner and if he regains any of that form he could be a very interesting contender for the syndicate in the future.

Gordon Elliott’s training facilities at Cullentra House Stables operate like a well-oiled machine.

Every employee moves around with military precision, addressing their tasks in an extremely professional manner. The team is treated with the utmost respect, and responsibility is delegated expertly, resulting in total buy-in from all members of staff. The contentment of the staff is palpable, which can only have a positive influence on the horses, and is further enhanced by the incentives that Gordon has introduced for them. Cullentra House Stable Staff Syndicate is just one of those incentives that intensifies the team element at Gordon Elliott’s yard. Every racing groom regards the horses in their care as their own, but in this instance the horses really do belong to the staff, who reap the rewards and pleasure just as all owners do. The syndicate has four horses currently in training, Clondaw Native, Prince Of Scars, It’s All Guesswork and Kashmir Wilde. Another horse, Evalabrune D’or, won her

Point-to-Point for the Cullentra House Stable Staff Syndicate before being sold at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham Point-to-Point sale.

How the syndicate works? Gordon trains the horses for the stable’s syndicate and any prize money earned is added to the stable staff pool, which is divided equally between all the full-time staff members at different times during the year.

It means that every quarter, each staff member receives a nice bonus.

Who rides the horses? There are aspiring young jockeys in the yard, Cian Chester, Eliece Elliott, Aubrey McMahon, Jack Ruddy and Kyle Twomey, who each get a chance to ride as Gordon’s selection at Point-to-Point meetings. It is a brilliant opportunity for these jockeys to get a chance to ride in a competitive race, develop their racing technique and understand what would be expected of them at a professional level. They

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

may also get a chance to get additional rides at Point-to-Points, which is always encouraged by the man in charge.

What does it mean to the team? Local lad Cian Chester, from Longwood, Co Meath, has been a full-time employee for the last two years at Cullentra House Stables and tells us, “it’s a fantastic place to work.” He never sat on a horse before joining Gordon’s yard and in October rode his first ever winner on board Evalabrune D’or.

“This is a great scheme, it gives us the chance to own a horse and if we’re lucky enough to ride a winner, its brilliant!” Cian enthuses. “What’s even better is that it is shared out equally between all 40 full-time staff. Gordon is so supportive and attends the Point-to-Points whenever he can.”

As an aspiring young jockey, Cian sees this as a brilliant opportunity for him to showcase and hone his talents and maybe get a few outside rides Point-to-Points, while working with the StaninCosgrove best horses in the country every day. From the trainer’s perspective, Gordon explains, “It’s a great scheme to bond staff together, keeps them coming to work every morning, smiling, and encourages them to stay here at Cullentra House Stables! As we all know, happiness inspires productivity! I like to make sure I get to the Point-to-Points as often as I can.”

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| OWNERS |

TAKE

HORSES THE HORSES WHO LIFTED THE SPIRITS FOR OWNERS DURING 2020

MAC SWINEY Jackie and Jim Bolger’s star writes a Classic script | MAGAZINE 2021 |

Barely had Mac Swiney passed the post at Doncaster as the winner of the Gr1 Futurity Stakes for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning, another through-andthrough Bolger-bred with 2021 Derby ambitions, the Mark Johnston-trained Gear Up, won the Gr1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, and the theme of the remarkable weekend continued with the Bolgerbred and trained Flying Visit’s success in the Gr3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown. Throw into the mix Poetic Flare, winner of the Gr3 Killavullan Stakes at an earlier Leopardstown meeting, and Jim’s Redmondstown Stud Classic crop is looking like a force to be reckoned with this year. Named after the playwright and politician, Mac Swiney had already won the Gr2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.

“I imagine he’ll start off in one of the Guineas, but I think he’s a type that the better the race the better he’ll go, as he can cruise at good gear and he’s probably got more pace than I give him credit for,” was Kevin Manning’s immediate post-race reaction following Mac Swiney’s Gr1 win. If the two-year-olds were a strong hand for Jackie Bolger, in whose colours Jim’s homebreds race, the older brigade weren’t doing too badly, either. Twilight Payment, for example; running in new colours for a new trainer, but Jim still retains a small interest in the 2021 Gr1 Melbourne Cup hero he bred at Redmondstown. It may not have been a year to remember for most, but it really was another good year for the owner-breeder and trainer, with better perhaps yet to come for the Wexford colours of Jackie Bolger.

MISS AMULET Colm Griffin’s very own fairytale princess Miss Amulet, one of the juvenile stars of 2020, was pinhooked for just €1,000 as a foal before owner Colm Griffin picked her up at Tattersalls Ascot Yearling Sale for £7,500.

The fact that she is now in the ownership of the Coolmore Stud partners suggests it truly is a story of rags to quite literally riches for Colm. Overcoming the expectations of her modest sales ring appearances, Miss Amulet was one of the best two-year-old fillies last season for trainer Ken Condon, winning the Listed Marwell Stakes and Gr2 Lowther Stakes, before finishing a close second in the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes and third in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf when stepping up to a mile for the first time. Meath man Colm Griffin, CEO of Gael Form and in whose county colours of green and yellow Miss Amulet won the Lowther Stakes, began his early involvement in racehorse ownership with a few friends, but now has a band of broodmares and is breeding to race. “I always engage Michael Donohoe from BBA Ireland when buying at the sales,” Colm says. “Michael has a good eye for picking them and Conor Hoban makes a great job of breaking and pre-training all our young stock.” The proof is certainly in the pudding and although Colm’s fantastic journey with Miss Amulet has come to an end, he is hoping she will bring just as much luck and joy to her new owners.

A STEP TOO FAR Not for Sinéad Dunne’s improving filly Having finished second in a 45-65 sprint handicap at Tipperary off a mark of 48, the Kieran Cotter-trained A Step Too Far began what turned out to be an exhilarating summer for owner Sinéad Dunne. Winning next time out off a mark of 50 on 22 July, the tough, consistent and ever-improving filly proceeded to rack-up six straight wins, culminating in the Joe McGrath Premier Handicap at the Curragh 27 September and earning a rating of 91, virtually doubling her rating. Both Sinéad and her husband, Dermot, have a background with horses. They have been involved with Connemara show ponies for many years and often enjoyed a day at the races.

Dermot formed the Stable Friends syndicate, before purchasing A Step Too Far at Goffs as a yearling. “She’s known fondly as Steps and the excitement and celebrations in our sitting room at home has been the stuff that dreams are made of!” says Sinéad. The downside, of course, is that Sinéad and her family have been unable to enjoy those wins on the racecourse. “We could have gone to the Curragh for her last win, but with only two of us allowed to attend we stayed at home and watched the race with our kids, which we’ve done for all her wins.” It’s very much a family affair and Sinéad tells of the great fun as a family picking colours. “We settled on a mix of our family crests, McCusker for me and Dunne for my husband. We particularly love the yellow cap which is always easy to pick out in a crowd.”

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10/02/2021 15:02

| SYNDICATES |

DOOLEY THOROUGHBREDS

A Family Syndicate

MEET THE FAMILY BEHIND DOOLEY THOROUGHBREDS, THE UK-BASED OWNERS WHO JUST LOVE HAVING HORSES IN IRELAND AND BRINGING THEIR DISTINCTIVE STYLE TO OUR RACETRACKS

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

LEFT: James, Angela, Mark and David Dooley at the Galway 2019. RIGHT: Sir Jack Thomas gives the Dooleys a memorable Galway 2020

As the name implies, the Dooley Thoroughbreds syndicate was set up in 2019 by three brothers, Mark, David and James Dooley from Lancashire.

From a very young age they dreamed of owning a racehorse, being big fans of televised racing and regularly treated to a day at Haydock Park by their mother, Angela.

“We would go to Haydock Park with a picnic and our dog Max. We wouldn’t go in the main stand, but we would go down by the five-furlong start where we would talk to the jockeys and see the horses upclose,” reveals James.

In later years, a pivotal introduction to one of Ado McGuinness’ owners, Bart O’Sullivan, once again enthused them with excitement and when Bart introduced James to Ado McGuinness, the dream became a reality. Ado mentioned he was going to Goffs sales and James decided this was an opportunity he couldn’t miss. Consulting his brothers and setting a budget set, Dooley Thoroughbreds went to their first sales in November 2019 and came away with three horses, Saltonstall, Sirjack Thomas and Kasbah, three horses they will never forget.

The colours of Dooley Thoroughbreds have particular significance for them, having been chosen

by Angela. The black with red chevron are now

part of the family’s regular wardrobe, the syndicate cutting a striking dash on raceday wearing matching coloured shirts and ties, topped off with the ‘Peaky Blinders’ caps for a very definitive style.

“We buy from top sales, leading trainers or from respected breeders and we look to purchase quality horses that run on a regular basis,” explains James.

“But nothing beats going racing at any level when a horse of yours is running, let alone the feeling when you have a winner.”

It may have been a slow start to the year for the Dooley Thoroughbreds team due to the delayed season, but they wasted no time in restoring business as usual. Saltonstall ran fourth in the Irish Lincoln, won by Ado’s Bowerman, before winning the Galway Mile for the second time, under what was crowned the HRI Ride of The Season by Gavin Ryan.

There were plenty of other runners for the Dooleys at Galway, too, and Sirjack Thomas enjoyed success in a handicap, while Politicise was runnerup in the novice hurdle. Current Option then capped an amazing Galway Festival for them by winning the Ahonoora Premier Handicap.

The bar had been set and Current Option, for one, rose to it. He won the Listed Platinum Stakes at Cork, before providing Dooley Thoroughbreds

with their first Group race success when winning the Gr3 Concorde Stakes at Tipperary. Saltonstall, meanwhile, continued in superb form and captured the Munster Mile, the Listed Glencairn Stakes at Naas and an all-weather victory at Dundalk. More Festival success came, too, with a win for Politicise in the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel.

“It may have been a year when we couldn’t make the racecourse as owners, but it is one we will never forget,” reflects James. “We couldn’t do any of it without Ado McGuiness, his assistant Stephen Thorne and his whole team, who continue to guide us and be as hungry as we are for more success.

With two new additions to the team in Casanova and Magnetic North, we are very excited about the new season ahead.”

James also offers others the chance to get involved in racehorse ownership via a syndicate and from time to time offers shares in the Dooley Thoroughbreds horses. “Syndicates are a great way to spread the cost of racehorse ownership whilst also being a great way to meet new friends,” he says.

“The Dooley Thoroughbreds syndicate gives members the full benefits of racehorse ownership, from visiting the trainer’s stables, regular training updates, a share of prize money and the thrill of going racing and making life-long memories.”

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| FASHION |

TAILGATE

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| FASHION |

Courtesy Cathy Grassick

POINT-TO-POINT PICNIC

THE FOOD

EASY PORK PIES 500g Pork mince • 2 tsp mix of dried sage and thyme • 1 tsp of salt • 1/2 tsp black ground pepper • 1 egg • Pack of ready made short crust pastry • Dash of water

Bellharbour Point-to-Point

1

Since the first race in 1817 the historic Bellharbour point-to-point has proven to be an excellent source of young talent. The track is situated between the wild Atlantic and the majestic Burren making the pointto-point in Bellharbour one of the most picturesque meetings in Ireland. Get there early, choose your spot and stay warm with these durable, waterproof picnic backpacks and accessories.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

1 Green folding camping chair , €13, Quecua, Decathalon. 2 1.8L Thermos Mondial Flask, €17.99, Homestore + More. 3 Outdoor Tumblers, £9.99, Homesense.

4 2 person, Bamboo Crockery set, €24.95, Regatta. 5 Large woolen tartan picnic blanket, €99.90, aranislandsknitwear.com

2 3

5

Preheat oven at 220C. Mix mince and salt pepper and pork seasoning in a bowl. Add a desert spoon of water. Roll out pastry and cut a circle big enough for the mince to fit in and have the sides brought up to make a pie shape. Cut a lid for the pie from the pastry and having beaten the whole egg use this as the glue to set the lid on top of the pie.

Transfer pie onto metal tray with baking paper on and brush the whole pie with the egg wash and cut a hole in the top of the pie to let the heat out. Cook in an oven of 220 for 50 minutes or if fan oven check at 40 minutes or lower the heat.

Bring pie out of oven and cool on the tray for about 30 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.

THE DRINK

4

THE BASKET 2 1

3 1

1 Urban Trekking, 2 person backpack, detachable water bottle and cooler compartment, €95.50, Foxford Woolen Mills 2 Insulated tote cooler bag with adjustable strap and grab handle, £40, Croft Collection, johnlewis.com 3 4 person.

Apollo Walker, picnic backpack with cooler compartment, detachable bottle/wine holder, fleece blanket (45”x53”), coffee mugs, plates and cutlery, €50.99, tawaoutdoor.com

CRANBERRY AND RUM WARMER 1L cranberry juice • 1 apple sliced • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 cinnamon quill • 2 cloves • 60ml dark rum • sprig of rosemary and cranberries to garnish Place the juices, cinnamon and cloves in a pan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the rum. Serve immediately.

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| FASHION |

LADIES DAY

1/2 cucumber, peeled • Salt • 6 thin slices of good white bread • Unsalted butter, at room temperature • White pepper

Cut the cucumber into slices as thin as you can make them, and put in a colander or sieve. Sprinkle lightly with salt (don’t go overboard) and leave for 20 minutes. Taste to check you haven’t oversalted them: you can rinse them at this point if so. Lay out a few pieces of kitchen paper on the work surface, place the cucumber slices on them, and pat dry with more paper. Lay out the bread and butter each slice generously. Arrange the cucumber on half the slices, overlapping each round, and sprinkle with ground white pepper. Top with the remaining slices. Pressing down firmly, cut the crusts off, and then cut into neat fingers, triangles or quarters of roughly equal sizes.

Serve immediately, with Pimms.

Bellewstown Races The term ‘Ladies’ Day’ dates back to 1823 in Ascot, when an anonymous poet described it as “Ladies’ Day... when the women, like angels, look sweetly divine.”

Still as dvine, this day sees fashion and glamour reach their zenith and designer creations and millinery masterpieces take centre stage.

2 1 3

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

PERFECT CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

Jane Matthews

THE FOOD

4

1 Tweed blanket, €250, Eddie Doherty, Irish Design Shop 2 LSA balloon gin glass set, €51.50, Brown Thomas 3 Laurens 2 piece chair, €184, Amara.com 4 Paul Costelloe Living leather ice bucket, €20, Dunnes Stores

THE DRINK

THE BASKET 3 2

1

PIMMS S200ml Pimm’s No. 1 • 600ml lemonade • mint sprigs, sliced cucumber, sliced orange and strawberries, to serve Fill a jug with ice and pour over the Pimm’s and lemonade. Give it a good stir then add the mint, cucumber and fruit.

1 6 Person deluxe rope handled tartan hamper, €247, Amara. com 2 Greenfield collection Henley willow 2 person picnic hamper, €78, Amazon.co.uk 3 Piccadilly 2 person hamper, €311, Fortnumandmason.com

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| FASHION | FOR HER

AVOCA

EYE SPY 1 Cashmere wrap, €225, Róisín Linnane 2 Camel trench coat, €77, M&S 3 Deveron Quilt €125, Barbour, Arnotts 4 Double buckle, London Twiggie, knee-high boots, €88, Dune.com 5 Dark Tan Borg Coat, £65, Debenhams.com 6 Wool blend sweater, €295, JW Anderson, Brown Thomas

BE PREPARED: SUNNY DAYS AHEAD FOR HER

Black Adrianna II sunglasses, €136, Michael Kors

Layer up for flexibility and warmth

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

WARM FRONT

Cat Eye sunglasses, €270 Littlewoods Ireland, Versace FOR HIM

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HUDDLE FOR WARMTH FOR A WHILE LONGER SO STAY SNUG AND STYLISH WHETHER WALKING YOUR 5KM OR SOCIALLY DISTANCING AT A CARPARK PICNIC. 2

1

Butterfly sunglasses, €248, Bvlgari, Brown Thomas

Latch sunglasses, €155, Oakley, Littlewoods Ireland

3 Keep it natural, and breathable, with leather and wool.

Mainlink Rectangle Sunglasses €212.00, Oakley. Brown Thomas

4 Square tortoiseshell sunglasses, €140, Persol, Brown Thomas

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| FASHION | Olive birra technical weatherproof fleece €135, Magee

FOR HIM

1 Barbour Yordel Quilt, €125, Louis Copeland 2 Under Armour Beanie, €25, JD Sport 3 Eton Herringbone wool scarf, €70, Brown Thomas 4 Autograph Bomber, €66.50, M&S 5 Green Short Parka, €67.99, Burton 6 Bertie Cannons, £120, dunelondon. com

EMBRACE THE RAIN

THE MOST STYLISH UMBRELLAS TO COMPLETE YOUR RAINY-DAY LOOK ...

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

4

1

2

2

1

5

6

3

3

LET’S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN

4

DON’T MISS ANY OF THE ACTION Steepletone FM/MW Brighton Portable Radio, €54.99, DID.ie

CELEBRATE THE GOOD TIMES Telconi 3 Glass Black Portable Travel Bar Set, €139, Amazon.com

SHARE THE MOMENT Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera, €89, HarveyNorman.ie

1 Portree umbrella €37.50, Barbour, Arnotts 2 Colour block umbrella, £44.00, Kate Spade New York 3 Birdcage 2 Raining Lips umbrella €42, Lulu Guinness, Littlewoods 4 Original Moustache Bubble Umbrella €45.00, Hunter

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| CARS |

PULLING POWER CHOOSING A NEW 4X4 WHICH BALANCES OFF-ROAD OOMPH AND COMFORT CAN BE TRICKY.

The Land Rover Defender Hard Top provides exceptional off-road capability in tandem with strong load carrying capacity and ground clearance – giving commercial vehicle customers the ability to reach the most remote locations. The Hard Top also demonstrates impressive towing prowess, with

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

the ability to pull up to 3,500kg, and it will wade

So how much off-road ability do you actually need? While 4x4s that are brilliantly comfortable on the road to the races and capable in and out of fields, they tend to be pricey. For hardworking 4x4s driving is ultimately about not getting stuck and, at a basic level, that means good tyres and lots of ground clearance.

4x4s designed to be driven off-road will have plenty of ground clearance and a healthy suspension system, plus protection underneath for when you misjudge that pothole. The range of electronic aids for offroading has also improved over the last few years so comfort does not need to be sacrificed completley in lieu of power. In higher-end cars advanced traction control systems are common, as are air suspension systems that can adjust the ride height to suit the conditions. More commonplace are extras like hill descent control that will lower a car down a steep descent automatically using the ABS braking system.

Many 4x4 models also come with 360-degree camera systems to give you a better view of obstacles around the car – handy in a busy stable yard.

The Skoda Karoq’s 2.0-litre diesel version, comes with 114bhp (2.0 TDI 116) and 148bhp (2.0 TDI 150).

The higher-powered version is available with fourwheel drive and the added traction this provides could come in handy when towing a horsebox, boat or anything else reasonably hefty. They’re pretty pricey, as is the most powerful engine in the range, the 2.0 TSI 190 petrol, which gets four-wheel drive as standard. There isn’t a hybrid engine option in the Karoq at this moment.

Volvo’s V60 Cross Country is a 5-door, mid-size all-road estate. Increased ride height of 60 mm and a chassis optimised for comfort and control in all weather and road conditions. All-wheel drive is standard on all Cross Country models and combines automatic braking functionality and collision avoidance systems to cover a range of potential accident scenarios and help keep you safe, detecting pedestrians, cyclists and large animals such as horse and deer.

through water up to 900mm deep, enabling drivers to cross flooded roads or fields with confidence.

The new intelligent driveline system uses sensor data from driver inputs and vehicle surroundings to continually vary axle torque and deliver it to where it’s needed. This torque distribution arrangement optimises the vehicle not only for traction and onroad dynamics, but it also contributes to driveline efficiency with lower CO2 emissions and improved fuel economy, without sacrificing any of the Defender’s unrivalled off-road capability.

The Mitsubishi L200 is a great option for buyers seeking a large, affordable and tough 4x4 vehicle.

Classed as a commercial vehicle for tax purposes, the L200 can save company car users a tidy sum and comes close to matching the family-friendly practicality of a SUV when a load bay cover is fitted. The L200 is a little more rough and ready than most SUVs of a similar size but it does have a strong engine, plenty of standard equipment and impressive off-road ability.

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IRISH INJURED JOCKEYS Many thanks to everyone for the continued support and for creating awareness for our charity

Best Wishes for 2021 Tel: 045 533011 Email: info@irishinjuredjockeys.com www.irishinjuredjockeys.com

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For more information visit:

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Stud farms, Race meetings, Sales, Airports etc.

Safe, professional, reliable service from experienced drivers & grooms For further information contact Patrick on 086 254 0415 or Susan on 087 2725627 Templemore, Co. Tipperary Tel: 0504 32280 | Fax: 0504 32099 Email: services@ballinroe.com | Web: www.ballinroe.com 2L_Ballinroe_JM_AIRO21.indd 1

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11/02/2021 14:34

| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

This is my first address in this publication and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Board of Directors and the members of AIRO for their warm reception since taking up the role of General Manager in November 2020. 2020 will be long remembered in our industry for COVID-19 and the detrimental effects that a looming Brexit brought every day. For owners, we had to endure almost three months of no racing, the reduction of prize money when it returned and when we were allowed back into the racecourse it lasted for three weeks before the country went back into lockdown and the gates closed. Full credit has to be given to each and every owner who kept the show Regina Byrne General on the road during these unprecedented times. We Manager must acknowledge the work of HRI and the IHRB for The Association of Irish Racehorse ensuring racing continued behind closed doors and Owners (AIRO) although it has been frustrating for owners, we have to count ourselves lucky considering the adverse effect the virus has had on so many other industries. We have been assured by HRI and the Department of Agriculture that owners will be top priority once it’s safe for people to attend race meetings. The budget was very positive for the industry with an increase of approx. €9 million allocated in Government funding. The priority of the HRI budget with this extra funding is to shield the industry from the impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit while maintaining standards within racing, with a deeper emphasis on the welfare of animals and staff. From an owners’ perspective, we saw minimum prize money reinstated to €10,000, extra races added to the calendar and positive news of the advancement of the second all-weather track at Tipperary.

HRI’s Brexit Support Scheme for the breeding sector is due to be announced shortly and can only be beneficial to owners and the industry as a whole. The additional €1,000 per point-to-point fixtures is also a very welcome addition. In December, Britain agreed to movement of animals across the british land bridge.

Although this will include significant operational changes for the Irish racing and breeding industry with animal health and transport requirements, it is a very positive step for the relations between both countries. AIRO continues to offer its extensive list of benefits to members, the Members Public Liability Insurance Scheme, half-price Racing TV offer for AIRO members and the 10% discount with the iNUA Hotel Group nationwide, to name a few. We will have to press pause on our racecourse hospitality and overseas trips until we can get owners back racing.

My door is always open and I’d welcome any constructive ideas or suggestions for improvement within the association. We thank you for your patience and commitment to Irish racing and look forward to the days when we can meet in person again. In the meantime, the board of Directors and myself will continue to work tirelessly on your behalf.

Regina Byrne General Manager

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Benefits of Membership

63

Members Public Liability Insurance Scheme

64

Guide to Horse Racing Ireland charges and deductions in relation to racehorse ownership

65

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

A message from our General Manager, REGINA BYRNE

Tips to ensure each owner and horse will have a very positive racing experience.

66

Racing Calendar

68

2021 Council members

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| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

In addition to being represented within the governing body of the industry, members also receive the following benefits

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE All members are automatically covered in relation to sums they may become legally liable to pay (up to €6.5 million) as damages in respect of accidental bodily injury to any person or accidental loss of, or damage to property, arising out of ownership of any horse kept for the purposes of racing.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

OTHER INSURANCE

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL

RACECOURSE HOSPITALITY

The Association’s insurance brokers, Howden UK, who handle the members Third Party Scheme, can also offer other insurance products such as All Risk Mortality at an exclusive discounted rate directly to our members.

Members interested in obtaining a quote should contact Howden UK at 0044/207 1331 382

Opportunity to purchase Marquee tickets at a discounted rate which will give access to the UK Owners Association facility at Cheltenham in March.

Discount Meet & Mingle Owners days at major festivals in Ireland – full details will be forwarded once confirmed.

The Marquee is ideally located in the Club Enclosure. Food and refreshments are on sale inside.

Racing TV has a half price offer exclusive to AIRO members, simply email Regina on info@ irishracehorseowners.com for the application form

RACING POST PHOTOGRAPHS

OTHER UK RACE MEETINGS

FRENCH RACING

Members can avail of a 20% discount on all photos purchased from Racing Post.

Opportunity to purchase tickets at a favourable rate for the UK Owners Association corporate hospitality at Royal Ascot and Aintree Grand National Meeting Thursday and Friday.

RACING TV OFFER

Free admission and access to the Jardin des Proprietaires (a private outdoor marquee in a prime location) at Deauville race

meetings in August.

Details available from the AIRO office.

HOTEL DISCOUNTS Members can avail of a special 10% discount when making a reservation in any of the iNUA group of nine hotels throughout the country including: Muckross Park Hotel, Killarney; Kilkenny Hibernian Hotel; Hillgrove Hotel Monaghan; Tullamore Court Hotel; Fairways Hotel, Dundalk; Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone; Radisson Blu Hotel, Limerick; Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork; Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo Members wishing to avail of this discount should contact AIRO for details.

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| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

MEMBERS PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME

An owner may ask why he/ she would be responsible for the actions of their horse when it is in training or in the care of a training professional. The answer is that unfortunately in the current litigious environment where compensatory court awards for bodily injury are at an all time high, an owner is now more likely than ever to be drawn into an action as well as the trainer should his/her horse cause an incident resulting in bodily injury or property damage to a third party.

With Court Awards reported

to be increasing at around 15% per year it is more important than ever that owners are protected by their own public liability insurance policy should claims exceed the limits provided under another policy.

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners works closely with insurance brokers, Howden UK, to ensure the best possible coverage for the AIRO Members and their horses. Howden UK is a specialist insurance broker, specialising in equestrian associations around the world.

SOME KEY FACTS OF THE POLICY MASTER POLICY HOLDER

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners

LIMIT OF INDEMNITY

€6.5 million

CLAIMS

If any claim is also covered by another insurance, the liability under this policy will be as excess of and not as contributory with the other policy

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Public liability insurance is one of the most important insurance policies that a racehorse owner should have and fortunately all AIRO Members have this automatically covered up to a limit of €6.5million.

The AIRO public liability policy provides cover for third party property damage and bodily injury to any person for any horse kept for the purposes of racing (under the Rules of Racing or National Hunt rules) or point to pointing (if trained by a licensed trainer) should you as an owner be found legally liable.

Cover applies to any horse kept for the purposes of racing under the Rules of Racing and National Hunt Rules or Point to Pointing, providing the Point to Pointer is being trained by a licensed trainer only.

The horse can be (a) in training in a licensed trainer’s yard in Ireland or UK (b) being prepared to go in to training in a licensed trainer’s yard in Ireland or UK (c) out of training provided the horse is only out of training on a temporary basis and is within Ireland or UK (d) temporarily outside Ireland or Great Britain for the purposes of participating in a race only.

COVER

Cover also applies to a yearling purchased at the sales provided it is the intention to begin preparation for training and to a horse being prepared for a breeze up from the time that process begins.

Racehorse owners who are not currently members of the AIRO are encouraged to join as the benefit alone of having this insurance cover will give peace of mind.

Membership costs €80 annually and has many other benefits

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| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

2021 Guide to Horse Racing Ireland charges and deductions in relation to racehorse ownership

The following are the main charges and deductions applied.

REGISTRATION FEES: Registration of Horse’s Name & Issue of Passport

€125

Annual Registration of Authority to Act on behalf of Owner

€40

Annual Registration of Colours

€40

Annual Registration of Partnerships

€40

Registration of Leases

€40

RACING CHARGES

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Bookage Charge for ordinary races – (group & listed cost more) (Bookage charges include €2.50 levy for Irish Equine Centre)

€12.50

Entry Fee

0.8% of Total Race Value

Declaration Fee

0.2% of Total Race Value

Jockey Riding Fee (Flat)

€175 (plus VAT if jockey registered)

Jockey Riding Fee (N/Hunt)

€200 (plus VAT if jockey registered)

DEDUCTIONS FROM WINNERS PRIZE MONEY Trainers Share – 10% of owners winnings less Stable Lads’ and Jockeys’ Emergency Fund payments (Equivalent to approximately)

9.49% of winnings

Jockeys Share - Same as Trainers

9.49% of winnings

Stable Employee Bonus Scheme

3.00% of winnings

Stable Staff Association

0.10% of winnings

Jockeys’ Emergency Fund (Welfare fund for jockeys with permanent disability )

1.00% of winnings

Total deducted from Owners Prize Money including race entry

24%

HRI STATEMENT ABBREVIATIONS E+B.....Entry Fee plus Bookage Fee Fft+Bkge........................Forfeit Fee plus Bookage Fee Del......................................Declaration Fee

RF................................................... Riding Fee JO%....................... Jockey’s Percentage TR%.......................Trainer’s Percentage JEF.......... Jockey’s Emergency Fund

SEBS..............................Stable Employee Bonus Scheme ISA.........Irish Stablestaff Association

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| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

Responsible Ownership

LOOKING AFTER THE OWNER Owners should ensure that they are always protected when deciding to put a horse in training. Insurance: As an AIRO Member you receive third party liability insurance in respect of your ownership of horses in training. This is one of the most important insurance policies you can have as an owner and it is covered up to a limit of €6.5 million. The AIRO policy provides cover for third party property damage and bodily injury to a third party in respect of your ownership of any horse kept for the purposes of racing under Rules or Point-to-Pointing (if trained by a licenced trainer).

Horses can individually insured at the owner’s expense.

TRAINING AGREEMENT It is advised that owners sign a training agreement with their trainer and agree terms and conditions prior to the horse being put into training. The agreement should include details such as training fees, other expenses such as gallop fees, farriery, veterinary, schooling fees, clipping, dentist, physio, worming, supplements,

racing/travelling expenses, staff expenses, and foreign travel. It should also agree a communication and racing plan, and a plan for disputes.

SYNDICATE AGREEMENT Should you decide to either set up or become part of a syndicate, please ensure that you sign a syndicate agreement outlining the following: horse(s) name, shares, costs, duration, manager, trainer and intentions, together with the terms and conditions for the running of the syndicate in accordance with the Codes of Conduct available from Horse Racing Ireland.

RACING CLUB AGREEMENT Racing Clubs are different from syndicates, but the same principles should be involved before you get involved.

Please read carefully the terms and conditions of the racing club and ensure you sign an agreement in compliance with the Codes of Conduct available from Horse Racing Ireland.

LEASE AGREEMENTS If you decide as an owner to lease a horse from a breeder it is essential that you protect yourself and ensure that the terms and conditions of the lease are agreed and signed.

The lease agreement should include the following: owner, lessee, trainer, horse details, passport number, duration of lease, costs, excluded activities, insurance, rights of first refusal if sold or alternative arrangement and termination of lease.

LOOKING AFTER THE HORSE The welfare of the horse is paramount and it is the responsibility of the owner to make sure the horse is properly looked after throughout its whole life. While in training the owner entrusts the welfare of the horse to the respective trainer but keeps a vigilant watch at all times. After racing, the owner must decide what the next step is for their horse. The top horses will always have a place at stud and owners have the choice to keep the animal for breeding or to sell them for these purposes. For fillies whose pedigrees are not strong enough, or geldings, the next step is not so easy. Thoroughbred horses are bred to race and often their temperament means that they are most suited to an active life and the thrill of competition.

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Racehorse Owners are the lifeblood of the racing industry and with it comes serious responsibility. Owners have a duty of care to themselves and their horses before, during and after their ownership is completed. Please find listed below a few pointers that will ensure that each owner and horse will have a very positive racing experience.

The responsibility lies with the owner to find a suitable and safe long-term home for the horse once it has retired from racing. Here are a few options: • Keep it at home • Retraining – speak with your trainer to see if the horse would be suited to a different discipline like eventing, show-jumping, hunting or polo or riding horse.

They may know of people who would be agreeable to taking ownership of the horse.

• Make sure to sign an agreement that the horse will not be put back into training if that is what you desire.

• Injured horses will need to be assessed by the vet to see what is the best course of action, with the best will for the welfare of the horse at heart.

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| RACE CALENDAR |

2021 Race Calendar March - July* *Subject to change

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

MARCH 4th Clonmel 5th Dundalk (e) 6th Navan 7th Leopardstown 8th Leopardstown 11th Thurles 12th Dundalk (e) 13th Gowran Park 13th Navan 14th Limerick 14th Naas 17th Wexford 17th Down Royal 19th Dundalk (e) 20th Thurles 21st Downpatrick 21st Curragh 23rd Clonmel 25rd Cork 26th Dundalk (e) 27th Navan 28th Limerick 28th Naas 31st Dundalk (e) APRIL 1st Clonmel (e) 3rd Cork 3rd Fairyhouse 4th Fairyhouse 4th Cork 5th Cork 5th Fairyhouse 7th Gowran Park (e) 8th Gowran Park (e) 9th Wexford (e) 10th Dundalk 11th Leopardstown 13th Fairyhouse (e) 14th Leopardstown 14th Limerick 16th Ballinrobe (e) 17th Curragh 17th Dundalk 18th Tramore

19th Tramore (e) 21st Dundalk (e) 22nd Tipperary (e) 22nd Kilbeggan (e) 23rd Cork 24th Navan 24th Limerick 26th Naas (e) 27th Punchestown (e) 28th Punchestown (e) 29th Punchestown (e) 30th Punchestown (e) MAY 1st Punchestown 2nd Sligo 3rd Curragh 3rd Down Royal 4th Ballinrobe (e) 4th Gowran Park 5th Gowran Park (e) 6th Tipperary (e) 7th Downpatrick (e) 7th Cork (e) 8th Cork 8th Naas 9th Killarney 09th Leopardstown 10th Roscommon (e) 10th Killarney (e) 11th Killarney (e) 12th Dundalk (e) 13th Clonmel (e) 14th Kilbeggan (e) 14th Leopardstown (e) 15th Navan 15th Wexford 16th Naas 18th Sligo (e) 19th Cork (e) 20th Tipperary (e) 21st Downpatrick (e) 21st Wexford (e) 22nd Curragh 23rd Curragh 24th Ballinrobe (e)

25th Ballinrobe (e) 26th Gowran Park (e) 27th Limerick (e) 28th Fairyhouse (e) 29th Navan 29th Punchestown 30th Punchestown 31st Roscommon (e) JUNE 1st Tipperary (e) 2nd Wexford 2nd Curragh (e) 3rd Leopardstown (e) 4th Down Royal (e) 4th Tramore (e) 5th Tramore 5th Listowel 6th Listowel 6th Kilbeggan 7th Gowran Park 7th Listowel 8th Roscommon (e) 9th Cork (e) 10th Leopardstown (e) 11th Fairyhouse (e) 11th Clonmel (e) 12th Limerick 12th Downpatrick 13th Downpatrick 13th Gowran Park 14th Kilbeggan (e) 15th Sligo (e) 16th Wexford (e) 17th Leopardstown (e) 18th Limerick (e) 18th Down Royal (e) 19th Down Royal 21st Ballinrobe (e) 23rd Naas (e) 24th Tipperary (e) 25th Curragh (e) 26th Curragh 27th Curragh 29th Roscommon (e)

JULY 1th Tipperary (e) 1st Bellewstown (e) 2nd Bellewstown (e) 2nd Wexford (e) 3rd Bellewstown (e) 3rd Naas 4th Limerick 4th Tramore 6th Roscommon (e) 7th Fairyhouse (e) 8th Leopardstown (e) 9th Kilbeggan (e) 9th Cork (e) 10th Limerick 10th Navan 11th Fairyhouse 11th Sligo 12th Dundalk 12th Killarney (e) 13th Killarney (e) 13th Downpatrick 14th Killarney (e) 15th Killarney 15th Leopardstown (e) 16th Kilbeggan (e) 16th Killarney 17th Curragh 18th Curragh 18th Tipperary 19th Ballinrobe (e) 20th Ballinrobe (e) 21st Naas (e) 22nd Leopardstown (e) 22nd Limerick (e) 23rd Down Royal (e) 23rd Cork (e) 24th Gowran Park 26th Galway (e) 27th Galway (e) 28th Galway (e) 29th Galway 30th 29th 29th Galway (e) 31st Galway

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| AIRO MEMBER BENEFITS |

2021 Race Calendar August – December* *Subject to change

SEPTEMBER 1st Gowran Park 2nd Clonmel (e) 2nd Laytown (e) 3rd Down Royal (e)

3rd Kilbeggan (e) 4th Navan 4th Wexford 6th Galway (e) 7th Galway (e) 8th Cork (e) 10th Ballinrobe (e) 11th Leopardstown 12th Curragh 14th Punchestown 15th Sligo 16th Naas 17th Downpatrick 17th Dundalk (e) 18th Gowran Park 18th Navan 19th Listowel 20th Fairyhouse (e) 20th Listowel 21st Listowel 22nd Listowel 23rd Listowel 24th Dundalk (e) 24th Listowel 25th Listowel 25th Curragh 26th Curragh 27th Roscommon 28th Cork 29th Bellewstown 30th Bellewstown 30th Clonmel OCTOBER 1st Dundalk (e) 1st Gowran Park 2nd Gowran Park 2nd Killarney 3rd Killarney 3rd Tipperary 4th Tipperary 5th Galway 6th Navan 7th Thurles 8th Downpatrick 8th Dundalk (e)

9th Fairyhouse 9th Limerick 10th Limerick 10th Curragh 12th Punchestown 13th Punchestown 14th Tramore 14th Curragh 15th Dundalk (e) 16th Leopardstown 17th Cork 17th Naas 19th Gowran Park 20th Navan 21st Thurles 22nd Dundalk (e) 22nd Sligo 23rd Leopardstown 23rd Galway 24th Galway 24th Wexford 25th Wexford 25th Galway 26th Curragh 27th Dundalk 28th Clonmel 29th Dundalk (e) 29th Down Royal 30th Down Royal 31st Cork 31st Naas NOVEMBER 2nd Fairyhouse 3rd Dundalk 4th Thurles 5th Dundalk (e) 6th Naas 7th Navan 9th Fairyhouse 10th Dundalk 11th Clonmel 12th Dundalk (e) 13th Punchestown 14th Punchestown 14th Cork

16th Limerick 17th Dundalk 18th Thurles 19th Dundalk (e) 20th Gowran Park 21st Navan 23rd Punchestown 24th Dundalk 25th Thurles 26th Dundalk (e) 27th Fairyhouse 28th Fairyhouse DECEMBER 1st Dundalk 2nd Clonmel 3rd Dundalk (e) 4th Navan 5th Cork 5th Punchestown 07th Tramore 8th Dundalk 10th Dundalk (e) 11th Fairyhouse 15th Dundalk (e) 16th Naas 17th Dundalk (e) 18th Navan 19th Thurles 26th Down Royal 26th Leopardstown 26th Limerick 27th Leopardstown 27th Limerick 28th Leopardstown 28th Limerick 29th Leopardstown 29th Limerick 31st Punchestown

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

AUGUST 1st Galway 2nd Cork 2nd Naas 3rd Roscommon (e) 4th Sligo 5th Sligo (e) 5th Leopardstown (e) 6th Wexford (e) 6th Tipperary (e) 7th Kilbeggan (e) 7th Cork 8th Downpatrick 8th Curragh 9th Ballinrobe (e) 11th Gowran Park (e) 12th Leopardstown (e) 12th Tramore (e) 13th Curragh (e) 13th Tramore (e) 14th Tramore (e) 15th Tramore 15th Dundalk 16th Roscommon (e) 17th Sligo (e) 19th Killarney (e) 20th Kilbeggan (e) 20th Killarney (e) 21st Killarney 21st Curragh (e) 22nd Naas 23rd Ballinrobe (e) 24th Bellewstown (e) 25th Bellewstown (e) 26th Tipperary (e) 27th Curragh (e) 27th Down Royal (e) 28th Navan 30th Roscommon (e) 30th Downpatrick

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| AIRO COUNCIL MEMBERS |

AIRO COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN: Brian Polly, Co. Down

VICE CHAIRMAN: David Hyland, Co. Laois

GENERAL MANAGER: Regina Byrne, Co. Kildare

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

HON. TREASURER: William Bourke, Co. Meath

REPRESENTATIVE ON HRI BOARD: Caren Walsh, Co. Kildare

COUNCIL MEMBER: John Weld, Co. Kildare

COUNCIL MEMBER: Paddy Roche, Co. Carlow

COUNCIL MEMBER: James Gough, Co. Meath

COUNCIL MEMBER: John Power, Co. Limerick

COUNCIL MEMBER: Sandra Fox, Co. Meath

COUNCIL MEMBER: Richard Pugh, Co. Kildare

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TO ADVERTISE IN

RACING ASSOCIATION OF IRISH RACEHORSE OWNERS

CERTAINTY

To discuss further please contact Heidi Vambeck, Sales Manager Ashville Media Group Tel: +353 (1) 432 2254 Email: heidivambeck@ashvillemediagroup.com

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We look forward to welcoming Owners back racing

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41 fixtures in 2021 COVID19 LET'S STAY ON TRACK WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK

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| WELFARE |

Welfare Matters JOHN OSBORNE, HRI DIRECTOR OF EQUINE WELFARE AND BLOODSTOCK, TELLS US ABOUT INJURY PREVENTION AND TRACEABILITY TO PROTECT OUR HORSES | MAGAZINE 2021 |

quine welfare is uppermost in the thoughts of racing authorities worldwide. The centrepiece of the sport is the horse. In Britain a racegoer attends on average less than twice per year. While it is slightly higher in Ireland it is still less than four attendances per year on average. Our audience therefore needs constant reassurance that the horse is properly cared for.

In 2020, HRI created the position of Director of Equine Welfare and Bloodstock and created an advisory council, the Irish Thoroughbred Welfare Council, to assist with decision-making in this area. The council comprises Caren Walsh from AIRO, John Osborne from HRI, Lynn Hillyer from IHRB, Dermot Weld from the ranks of the trainers, Michael Sheehan from DAFM, Caoimhe Doherty from Godolphin and IFAR, Des Leadon from the ITBA and Alison Hanlon from the animal welfare department of the Veterinary College in UCD.

The council has met on five occasions to discuss the challenges and to develop a pathway towards a position where the industry will have “verifiable high standards in a known population”. It is widely accepted that the standards of care of our horses is indeed very high, but it is no longer enough for the industry to say “take our word for it”. So, the industry is embedding equine welfare in all training and licensing. The best way to improve is to measure, and we are capturing the data around the situations where horses get injured on racecourses to learn from that and find ways to

“IT IS WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT THE STANDARDS OF CARE OF OUR HORSES IS INDEED VERY HIGH, BUT IT IS NO LONGER ENOUGH FOR THE INDUSTRY TO SAY “TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT”.”

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| WELFARE |

Treo Eile

RETRAINING IRELAND’S RACEHORSES Treo Eile, pronounced “Throw Ella”, is Irish for “other direction”, symbolising the change of career for many Irish thoroughbreds.

The Treo Eile website will be the nerve centre of the organisation. It will comprise of the following: • •

• • •

•

•

reduce these outcomes in the future. This process can be extended to learning form the training grounds and sharing the knowledge to, for example, find the best surfaces for racing and training.

The traceability of horses will be greatly assisted by the advent of the e-passport which will be issued to the foal crop of 2021.

This will have improved functionality in identification, medical recording, movement and ownership change tracking. These functions will make it easier to ensure that the horses are cared for properly and that the

Promote the thoroughbred in a second/alternative career.

Connect thoroughbred owners with retrainers who can help their horses make the transition to another career, while also joining riders with experienced coaches and trainers.

Compile an easily accessible list of all events for exracehorses throughout the country, while working on implementing and managing a better funded events calendar for thoroughbreds in a range of disciplines.

Develop a database to record horses leaving training and entering into another discipline and/or retiring to the paddock etc.

responsible person can be linked to the horse.

In December, the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities adopted a set of basic welfare standards which has been endorsed by HRI and dictates that good food/ shelter/exercise/healthcare are all prerequisites for a satisfactory welfare outcome for the horse, but it references a new dimension of “good wellbeing” as the outcome of the various experiences of a horse. We have much of which to be proud in the lifestyle afforded to nearly all of our horses, almost all of the time.

•

• • •

•

Home Page About the racehorse » Basic animal husbandry » A racehorse life (while in training) Rehoming Section » Checklist for people rehoming their animals » Checklist for people who are taking on thoroughbreds » List of people who retrain horses (or someone you can contact for advice) » Contracts, codes of conduct etc.

Database - trying to have an idea of numbers of ex-racers, where they are etc.

Events (Ireland specific classes for ex-racers etc.)

Trainers/Instructors - who can offer lessons advice etc.

Ex-racing Stars (horses who have once raced/been in training now successful competing in other careers) News

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Treo Eile aims to be the umbrella body for the retraining of racehorses in Ireland, championing their versatility and promoting the thoroughbred for a second career in a variety of disciplines, and aiming to facilitate this process through the following aims:

Much attention focuses on the part after racing. Our ITWC member Caoimhe Doherty is a Board member of the International Federation for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) and is also a co-author of a new platform called “treoeile.ie” which will bring together suitable ex-racehorses and suitable new careers, a useful addition to the resources available to owners.

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| PHOTO ESSAY |

Captured BEAUTIFULLY

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

In a year of ups and downs, racing photographer supremo Pat Healy managed to capture all the emotions in a turbulent 2020. His selections capture the true essence of the year with a touch of sparkle added to reflect the true genius of the team at Healy Racing.

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| PHOTO ESSAY |

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

ABOVE: Mirror image at Kirkstown Point-to-Point.

MIDDLE: Toberona Partnership with Latest Exhibition, Leopardstown.

BOTTOM: Somewhere over the rainbow, Clonmel Racecourse.

ABOVE: A pandemic view with Dermot Weld at Curragh Racecourse.

LEFT: Can I have some more please… Curragh Racecourse.

FAR LEFT: Where there’s muck, there’s money...

Sweet Sting at Tipperary Races.

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| PHOTO ESSAY |

| MAGAZINE 2021 | TOP: Slaneyville Syndicate with 2020 Thyestes winner Total Recall, Gowran Park.

MIDDLE LEFT: Socially distancing at Naas Racecourse.

MIDDLE RIGHT: Last one home is a rotten egg!!! Killarney Races.

BOTTOM: What’s the betting on the outcome of this Steward’s Enquiry? Ballinrobe Races.

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| MAGAZINE 2021 |

| PHOTO ESSAY |

ABOVE Washed down at Thurles Racecourse.

LEFT: As the Crow Flies, Borris House Point-to-Point.

Below: Two’s company Limerick Races.

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| PEOPLE |

FAMILIAR FACES

meet them. I enjoyed meeting Jim Gavin, the manager of Dublin footballers. I was in the Irish Air Corps for 31 years with the army. Jim was also a pilot in the Air Corps, so it was nice to have a chat with someone I had not met for many years.”

RACHEL McMAHON CATCHES UP WITH SOME MUCH-LOVED, LONG-SERVING RACECOURSE STAFF WHO PROVIDED OUR FIRST WELCOMING SMILE EVERY PRE-COVID RACEDAY

Paul Keane

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

Paul Keane has been a familiar face for over four decades at the gates of racecourses around Ireland to many owners, trainers, jockeys and spectators. “I have worked at the gates for the last 42 years. I first became involved through my father,” he says. From his base in Swords, Co. Dublin, Paul covers nine racecourses: Leopardstown, Bellewstown, Punchestown, Tipperary, Thurles, Roscommon, Sligo, Naas, and Laytown, with Punchestown being his favourite. “The most enjoyable part of the job is getting the opportunity to meet so many of the high-profile owners, trainers and jockeys.” Since racing has taken place behind closed doors, Paul reflects on the vacant carparks which would normally be heaving on busy race days and the changes to his welcoming role. “It’s very quiet, I stand at a gate at Naas to prevent any unauthorised people from coming in, such as the public.

In Punchestown I divert the people going for the COVID-19 tests around to that area and allow the jockeys and trainers into the main carpark.”

Eddie Moran Eddie Moran is looking forward to welcoming owners back to Irish racecourses in the future.

In recent years, the hospitality shown to owners on tracks has been made more of a priority and Eddie now covers Tipperary, Leopardstown, Cork, Naas, The Curragh, Navan, and Fairyhouse. “Most tracks are looking after their owners now and the most important part of my job is when people are happy,” he says. “A horse might not run well

for owners and they might not be very happy, so it is my job to make their day enjoyable.

When you get to know the owners, they are great craic and it’s easier to please them.” The Tipperary native is no stranger to the owners and trainers lounge himself, as an ownerbreeder he won the 2001 Irish Grand National with David’s Lad. No day is the same for Eddie.

“I’d be out at the front gates, I could be down in the stable yard, I could be anywhere. I enjoy meeting people and like to meet the ordinary punter when I get a chance.” In 2018, Eddie was recognised for his work, receiving an award by the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners for his services to Irish racing.

Tony Byrne Originally from Athy, Co. Kildare and living in Dublin since 1970, Tony has spent nearly 40 years working on Irish racecourses and the past 20 years on the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) Check. A normal race day, outside of COVID-19 restrictions, involves verifying and granting access for non-paying attendees, such as owners, trainers, jockeys, press and photographers. “The best part of the job is meeting people and having the craic with the characters coming in, I have gotten to know them all over the years. You are meeting different people every day. It is nice that my wife, Margaret, works with me as well.” Over the years Tony has welcomed some highprofile racegoers and covers Clonmel, Down Royal, Downpatrick, Wexford, Leopardstown, Bellewstown, Navan and Laytown. “I have met a few well-known sportspeople, golfers in particular. I like to play golf myself so it’s nice to meet the likes of Padraig Harrington.

A lot of GAA stars go racing so it’s nice to

Margaret Byrne Margaret has worked on Irish racecourses for over 20 years. “I first became involved through Tom Bourke (former General Manager) at Leopardstown and then started to help out on racecourses down the country,” Margaret reveals. Now she has a variety of on-course roles including assisting the public and helping husband Tony with the AIR Check. Originally from Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, but now living in Dublin, Margaret commutes regularly with husband Tony to courses such as Wexford, Clonmel, Down Royal, Navan, Downpatrick, Laytown, Bellewstown and Kilbeggan. “I love the work, so it doesn’t make any difference what racecourse I am at on the day.” Her warm and friendly nature makes for great conversations with racegoers, something Margaret is looking forward to again when it is safe to do so. “I love meeting new faces and no day is the same. You’re meeting interesting characters and that is one of the best things, speaking to the older generation and listening to their stories.”

Noel O’Mallery Groundsman Noel O’Mallery has worked at Ballinrobe Racecourse since the 1980s.

“I was about 17 or 18 when I started working at the racecourse. Ballinrobe were looking for part-time staff at the time, which they always do. I knew a few lads that were working there, so I went in and did a few days and then I kept doing a few days,” he quips. Ballinrobe hosts 10 meetings annually from April to September, and Noel and his team spend the summer months ensuring the ground is safe and in good condition for racedays. “We spend two weeks preparing the ground before a race day and afterwards we put the ground back and fill in any holes as well as packing the fences to make sure they are ready for the next race day. The most enjoyable part is being outside. I enjoy working out in the open.”

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S A L E S D AT E S

Cheltenham

Festival Sale March 18 Staged after racing April Sale April 23 May Sale May 27 November Sale November 12 Staged after racing December Sale December 10 Staged after racing

June Sale June 1 July Sale July 13 August Sale August 17 Yearling Sale September 7 Featuring the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes November Sale November 4 December Sale December 6

Tattersalls March Sale March 31 - April 1 Craven Breeze Up Sale April 12 - 14 Europe’s Premier Breeze Up Sale Guineas Breeze Up & Horses In Training Sale April 29 - 30 Two Year Olds & Horses In Training July Sale July 5 - 9 Horses/Fillies In Training,Broodmares, etc.

August Sale August 30 - September 2 Horses/Fillies In Training, Broodmares, etc.

October Yearling Sale Book 1 October 5 - 7 Europe’s Premier Yearling Sale Featuring the £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Book 2 October 11 - 13 Book 3* October 14 - 15 Book 4* October 16 *Featuring the £150,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes Autumn Horses In Training Sale October 25 - 29 The World’s Largest Horses In Training Sale December Sale Yearlings November 22 Foals November 24 - 27 Breeding Stock November 29 - December 2 Broodmares, Fillies/Horses In Training, etc

February NH Sale March 9 May Store Sale May 11 Featuring the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper Goresbridge Breeze Up Sale May 21 Derby Sale June 23 - 24 Featuring the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper July Store Sale July 14 - 15 Featuring the €100,000 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper September Yearling Sale* September 21 - 22 Part II* September 23 *Featuring the €300,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes November NH Sale November 5 - 12 November Flat Foal & Breeding Stock Sale November 13 - 14

All advertised sales dates are subject to change.

Tattersalls: T: +44 1638 665931 sales@tattersalls.com tattersalls.com Tattersalls Ireland: T: +353 1 8864300 info@tattersalls.ie tattersalls.ie Tattersalls Ascot T: +44 1638 665931 ascot@tattersalls.com tattersallsascot.com Tattersalls Cheltenham: T: +44 1638 665931 cheltenham@tattersalls.com tattersallscheltenham.com

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| TRIBUTE |

The Dream Maker Every time an owner buys a racehorse and enters into the wonderful world of racing, they buy a dream. The dream of reaching the highest echelons of the racing circuit in whichever code they prefer, the dream of running into a packed parade ring, arms aloft, excitement searing through their veins and the pure joy etched across their faces as their horse passes the winning post in front. This is the scene that Pat Smullen witnessed on many occasions during his glittering career that spanned almost three decades. He was the ultimate jockey, skilled, professional, knowledgeable, intelligent, considerate and most of all kind. He was the role model that young aspiring jockeys wanted to be and admired, the steely determined professional that every trainer wanted on his horses’ back and the smiling friend that owners welcomed back into the winner’s enclosure. He was the

“To be able to hear Pat give the details of how he was going to ride Harzand at Epsom or The Curragh in advance and then watch him execute his plan was akin to Brian O’Driscoll telling you how he was going to score a try before he scored it.

That was a privilege I was very fortunate to experience on many occasions. Whether it was a Classic, a Group 1 or a country maiden, it never changed, he was an outstanding professional jockey and sportsman but also a tremendously decent man as well.” Pat Downes, Manager HH Aga Khan Studs “Pat caught my eye as he did everyone as an apprentice when he rode Take No Chances for me in 1994 in the Irish Cambridgeshire, they were beaten by a neck by Mick Kinane riding Sailbot trained by D K Weld, with Frankie Dettori fourth on one for John Oxx. Three years later I suggested to Paddy Prendergast that we get him to ride En Retarde. I remember him coming in after the race in Leopardstown and saying she needed a shorter trip. The next time she ran in Naas over 7 furlongs and again he said she needed a shorter trip. Eventually Pat’s advice was taken and she won three times over 5 furlongs and once over 6.” Aidan Walsh, Owner

Pat Smullen

dream maker. Nine-times Irish Champion Jockey, Pat Smullen had done it all many times over. He was the go-to man for most overseas trainers visiting Ireland and the most trusted ally for any National Hunt trainer who dared to dip their toe into the magical

“Pat was a gentleman. His advice on work mornings was invaluable. An excellent example of this was Orangey Red, which he won on twice for us. His professionalism, affability and pleasant approach was refreshing and greatly missed.” Derek & Gay Veitch Ringfort Stud, Owner “I loved to have Pat Smullen ride my horses, as much of course for his great riding skill and knowledge of every racecourse in Ireland, but also for his very concise evaluation afterwards of the race or piece of work. Although, on occasion when there was a homebred filly involved, you might not wish to hear that she is not going to be the star, you knew that Pat was giving it to you straight and that was really appreciated. Pat, you are greatly missed.” Joe Higgins, Owner “When I think of Pat the one word that springs to mind is ‘integrity’, I would have trusted him with my life.” Dr Ronan Lambe, Owner “As a small owner, I was thrilled to have Pat Smullen ride my horses. He was simply the best. He was very courteous and attentive and always waited for me to lead in my winner.” Noeleen McCreevy, Owner

land of Flat racing. In the two seasons prior to his untimely retirement, he had ridden for 83 (2016) and 96 (2017) individual trainers in Ireland while still maintaining his allegiance to DK Weld, which is an unbelievable feat for both jockey and agent.

On receiving his devasting diagnosis in March 2018, Pat Smullen showed his inner strength and kindness, well known in racing circles to the wider public. While enduring the worst battle of his life, he raised over €2.5million for cancer research which shows the selfless, outstanding human being he truly was. There has been a huge void left in the racing and bloodstock world which is most poignantly felt by his wife Frances, children Hannah, Paddy and Sarah, his Mum Mary and his brothers Ger, Sean and Brian who shared him with us for so many years. For all the owners who had the pleasure of having him ride their horse and tip his cap in the winner’s enclosure, he’ll always be part of the dream...

“Pat rode many times for us and was an immense help when Sheila was trying to get a read on the readiness of the horses.

The most memorable race was AP riding Quizical in Pat’s charity race. In relation to race riding for us, it had to be Sevenleft in October 2015 in Naas wining the very first Auction Race Final. He was not favourite by a long way, rated 85 and was carrying more weight than the favourite who was rated 105. Pat rode them all into submission at the two-furlong pole. A true genius in the saddle and a true gent. We have lost one of the best too soon.” John Lavery, Owner

| MAGAZINE 2021 |

REGINA BYRNE AND OWNERS PAYING TRIBUTE TO PAT SMULLEN

“Pat Smullen was a true gentleman and a superb horseman. His many group victories and nine jockey championships are rightfully celebrated. Less so, a single victory on October 25th 2015 in the eighth race at Leopardstown, the very last race of yet another of his championship seasons.

He won the 18-runner 4.25 on his tenth ride of a filly rated 69 and was as thrilled as we were. From the first race of the season to the last, Pat rode every race as if it were a classic.” Lady Chryss O’Reilly, Owner “A loyal and valued friend, who remains Moyglare’s number ONE.” Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner, Owner

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| PROFILE |

Fran Berry

JUMPING THE FENCE AS BREANDÁN Ó hUALLACHÁIN FINDS OUT, FRAN BERRY’S CHANGE OF CAREER MAY HAVE BEEN UNEXPECTED, BUT HE IS TAKING THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF RACING IN HIS STRIDE

| MAGAZINE 2020 |

Fran Berry has become a regular face on Racing TV over the past 18 months. The affable Kildare native who admits “I was always going to be a jockey” saw both some bad luck and then good luck launch him into the broadcasting world.

The former Group 1-winning jockey saw his successful race-riding career end prematurely following a fall at Wolverhampton in January 2019. With, by his own admission, “the rehab not going well,” he was asked to appear on the Friday Club on Racing TV. Fran Berry takes up the story himself: “Three weeks before the fall at Wolverhampton, Racing TV asked me if I would go on the Friday Club. They were doing it from Dundalk so I went on just as a guest.”

Despite the positive feedback, the now 39-year-old didn’t immediately consider a career move, even though he had previous media experience since his arrival in England.

Following his move across the water, Fran began writing a Sky Bet-sponsored blog every week for The Sporting Life, which “introduced me to a lot of the media scene in England whilst I was riding,” he admits.

Riding was all he felt he really knew though, as it was an all-consuming career, 24/7 all year round. It never afforded him the opportunity to think about anything else.

“Riding was going to be the longer term thing,” Fran explains. “I had my best year in England. I had an idea of giving England five years. I was very open to going back to Asia or somewhere like that down the line. I really enjoyed what I was doing, there was never a thought of anything else at that stage but you’re aware that it’s a very short career too and it could end quickly.”

Sky Bet’s Michael Shinners one day jokingly told the Kilcullen man to contact him “if I was thinking of making a career move.” Three weeks later, that career change arose. “I met them (Racing TV) and said I’d give it a go as I love talking about racing.”

On discussing the performances of his former peers he says “I got very good advice from a friend of mine, he said, ‘call it as it is, as you see it happening, and once it’s fair, valid and constructive people are accepting of it’.”

Last year saw rapid change to his life, a period described as “quite a daunting time as my whole way of life was gone in an instant.” He has now become more comfortable in his skin as a media professional, knowing he is making a positive contribution to viewers understanding of and liking for the sport. “I’m eighteen months (in the job). I was probably a bit naïve (in the beginning) but you develop as you go along.”

“When I started I had no idea I’d end up solo presenting. Racing TV obviously had a lot of faith in me.” The former Cheltenham Festivalwinning jockey now regularly presents solo from Irish racetracks.

“When you do the solo stuff, that’s a totally different style to being the pundit. Presenting takes a lot of work – a lot more work to finesse it. You try to pick up the pointers from everywhere you can, things that you can use to your benefit. With the presenting, you have to be a bit more spread out with your opinions, to cover owners, breeders, a lot more things in general. With the punditry, you can stick to one topic. The punditry is about the race itself.”

From the experience of his own riding career ending so suddenly, Berry has advice for jockeys currently in the weighing room: “Keep your eyes open and be aware that the riding is something that could be gone in the morning – be mindful of looking down the line.

Even during your career, the way you conduct yourself has a big bearing on how you get on after riding and how you treat people and deal with people. It’s only a relatively brief period that we ride for.”

During his time in England, Fran benefited from the Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS), and is loud in his praise of the initiative: “They’re very good to deal with. They’ll point you in the right direction and they’ll organise courses for you.”

While further education and training for jockeys in Ireland has started to a small degree, the winner of over 1,300 races is adamant that “it’s something that should be expanded.” He also has suggestions as to how injured jockeys could be assisted, as he explains: “If a jockey gets an injury that will take three months (to heal), they should be contacted within a week or two. After getting home from hospital, being proactive and getting them on a course for six weeks, or doing something.”

Of life’s twists and turns, Fran, speaking literally as opposed to metaphorically, has this to say, “It all came about by accident really”.

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We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

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