Latest Blogs from Vincent Finegan and "My Racing Story"

Galway delivers despite the weather

Crowds at Galway were up on six of the seven days when compared to 2022 which is some achievement considering how bad the weather has been. In total 122,362 people attended across the week, an increase of 5,642 on last year’s total of 116,720. The biggest day crowd-wise was Galway Hurdle day on Thursday when 25,924 showed up.

11.32AM

Yudish Geerdharry

I'm originally from Mauritius. I wanted a pony for my sixth birthday and I started going to riding school over there. I started riding ponies, doing showjumping and all that. Mauritius is a small population and most people follow the racing. There is only one track, but is the crowd there that makes the racing out there. It is usually the same temperature and weather. The likes of Frankie Dettori and Johnny Murtagh all went out there and the racing is good enough. I saw Christophe Soumillon riding out there. I went to watch racing there, but never rode racework.

8.24PM

A tough week in store at Galway

Galway and Cheltenham are my two favourite racing weeks of the year, but in so many ways they are polar opposites.

9.46AM

Dean Curran

I'm 22 and from Kildare town. Lots of my extended family are involved with horses and racing so the whole game was drilled into me from an early age.

10.48AM

Waterlogging in July

Irish horse racing really could be doing far more to promote its premier fixtures. One of the chief reasons that Cheltenham gets so much media coverage so far in advance of the Festival is the early entry system that British racing has in place.

10.06AM

Amy Jo Hayes

I'm from Fethard, Tipperary and we always had horses at home. My grandfather bred a Grand National winner in 1986 with a horse called West Tip, so there was history going back long ago. I always had ponies at home and I did pony club, hunting with the Tipperary Foxhounds and showjumping. I always wanted to be a jockey. Any time we had to dress up for primary school I was in my gear! It was the same for my confirmation, we had to pick a name of who inspires you and everyone was picking their mother or grandmother or someone they looked up to. Of course, I picked Ruby Walsh and the name I chose then was Ruby! I can say that Ruby inspired me to grow up and be a jockey.

11.24AM

Gambling Advertising

It is finally beginning to dawn on horse racing that the proposed Gambling Regulation Bill could have dire consequences for the industry if it gets passed into law in its current form.

10.18AM

Shane Ryder

I train in Laurencetown Co Galway which is my home place and it’s located about halfway between Ballinasloe and Portumna. I’ve had my licence since 2007 and have trained about 30 winners. We've had some good horses along the way including some smart point-to-pointers that went on to do well on the track.

12.38PM

Voice of the punter

When I first started working at Irish race meetings David Power was the undisputed king of the ring. This quiet unassuming pipe-smoking layer was in a different league to the other bookies on the circuit. He had an unrivalled list of private clients and all the biggest punters gravitated to him.

9.57AM

Claire O'Connell

I'm from Ashbourne, Co Meath and my dad actually bought the farm off Mick Dreaper who would have been Tom Dreaper's older brother, so we train here in the original Dreaper home. I would have been at home with my dad helping in the yard riding ponies, pony club, and helping him at the point-to-point where he was a steward. From a very young age, I was always working with the horses. My most memorable day in racing was when Classical Charm was second in the Champion Hurdle (of 1988 trained by my father Al O'Connell). My dad bought him as a yearling and he was a pet horse around the place. He probably gave us our greatest memories.

11.05AM

Don’t shoot the messenger

Last Thursday morning’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing into the circumstances that led to Denis Egan, the former CEO of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB), receiving €142,000 more in early retirement payments than the maximum allowed under the scheme he availed of was overshadowed by new revelations from his successor, Daragh O’Loughlin.

11.01AM

Killian Hennessy

I’m from Youghal and I’ve been working in Ballydoyle for around four and a half years at this stage.

10.28AM

Vets and Barristers are the real winners

Royal Ascot turned into some bookies’ benefit. Just 8 favourites managed to win out of the 35 races and the average SP of the winners across the week was a staggering 17/1. Over half the winners returned at double figure odds and of course we saw a three figure winner courtesy of Adrian Murray with 150/1 scorer Valiant Force in the Norfolk Stakes on Thursday.

10.34AM

Niall 'Bubba' Amond

I'm from Ballygowan just outside Carlow. My father and uncle worked in Milford Stud, it was a big commercial stud in the 60s, 70s and 80s. At its height, they had six stallions there. The interest is from there, obviously. I always had an interest in horses. My granny on my mother's side only lived a couple of hundred yards from Paddy Mullins. My brother Ian was an amateur jockey, so he was interested in riding. I was always too big. We were down there when we were 14 or 15 and you would have been delighted to be handed a brush to brush one over. We were creosoting fences and painting stables. Ian would have been put up riding a quiet one. Ian went to RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education) when he was 16 and I was in school along. Then it was summers with Pat Fahy in Leighlinbridge and Willie Mullins. I had a summer job in Willie's mucking out and brushing over and putting horses on the walker.

10.54AM

Stronger together

Last week the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) issued a statement announcing that the apparently toxic split within its ranks over Media Rights had been resolved and all 26 racecourses will now sign up to the deal brokered on their behalf by Horse Racing Ireland’s Media Rights Committee.

11.48AM

Charlie O'Dwyer

I’m 20 years of age and am delighted with the way things are going in my riding career. I’ve had four winners this season and had my claim reduced to 5lb after winning on Goodnightngodbless for James Motherway at Wexford last month.

9.19AM

Keith Clarke

I'm from Pelletstown, Co Meath and I got into racing through my family - my mother is a Geraghty, her brother Tucker is Ross and Barry's father. We were always riding ponies and going to riding school and it went from there. Barry took me pony racing one day and I got the bug, and I wanted more and more. I used to love going racing with a horse that had a chance and then leading in that winner. It was a buzz and I remember getting off school to go with my uncle Tucker for a winner in Kilbeggan. That probably gave me the biggest buzz to want to be a jockey.

10.27AM

Eoin Walsh

I’m 26 and from Banteer, which is near Mallow, in Co Cork. I was delighted to ride my fiftieth winner recently which reduced my claim to 3lb. It’s something that had been on my mind for a while so it was great to get it done.

2.00PM

Stewarding errors erode confidence in the sport

Last week the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) overturned two controversial decisions made by Raceday stewards two weeks earlier.

11.04AM

Pamela Ballantine

I'm from Belfast and I first got into racing through watching Grandstand (on BBC) with my mum, my brother and my wee sister on Saturday. We would all pick a horse, and nobody was allowed to pick the favourite, and it was sixpence in. Then I think we might have gone up to 5p or 10p and whoever's horse came closest to the front got the money! It was just a bit of craic and a very good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. My dad was out playing golf and thinking that his wife and children were up to nice pastimes at home.

3.01PM

What is the Social & Economic impact of Irish racing?

Last week Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) published a report into the social and economic impact of the breeding and racing industry in Ireland which it commissioned Deloitte to compile on its behalf.

10.00AM

Paddy Harnett

I turned 21 last month and am from the Co Limerick end of Abbeyfeale. If you cross the bridge you’re in Kerry and if you go out the road a bit you’re in Cork, but I’m definitely Limerick.

1.09PM

Media Rights money now linked to betting turnover

Last Tuesday was a watershed moment in the history of the Association of Irish Racecourses (AIR) with 5 racecourses breaking away from the other 21 in relation to Media rights for the sport.

10.40AM

Liam McKenna

I was born in Benburb, Co Tyrone and then I moved out to Blackwatertown about five miles out the road. My mum met James Lambe, my step-father. Some of my family are into horses, but James is into racing and I got into racing through him. If you ask my mum, I was into horses very, very young. Then when we moved in with James, he had a yard full of racehorses. I started off going point-to-pointing with my cousin Conor McKenna (former All-Ireland SFC winner with Tyrone and current Brisbane Lions player in Australian Football League). We would have gone religiously every weekend. Conor's father Pat is a trainer and he's my uncle. He would train as a hobby.

10.19AM

David versus Goliath

Can you work out this riddle? - A man takes his son for a drive in his car. The car crashes, the man is killed and his boy is injured. When the boy arrives in hospital he is taken for surgery. The surgeon takes one look at the boy and says “I can’t operate on that boy, he is my son.”

11.24AM

Kieran Callaghan

I’m 19 and from Old Leighlin in Carlow. I’m not from a racing family but some of my school friends were into ponies and I sat up on a pony one day and that was the start of it.

11.47AM

Record-breaking National Hunt season for Willie Mullins

The Punchestown Festival is a brilliant way to end the National Hunt season each year. A five-day long party that manages to achieve the right blend between the business, the sport and the fun of a day at the races.

9.58AM

Paul Flynn

I'm from Celbridge and my father was reared up in Moyglare Stud. He mainly worked in Ballygordon Stud (now Derrinstown) when I was growing up and I always went to work with him when I could. I just had a keen interest from the start. There was no riding or anything like that, just helping him out. I used to follow him around for a good few years until I met David Behan who was a jockey. He put me up on the donkey, so I started riding he donkey up and down the road. I went to David Behan every day after school then.

10.52AM

How much is a horse’s performance improved by the whip?

There was an interesting comment posted below my blog last week in relation to the Grand National protest that got me thinking about the whole whip issue and if it’s about time the industry did a proper study into its merits.

12.43PM

Diarmuid Moloney

I'm 24 and from Ardnacrusha in Co Clare. I'm based at home with my parents and twin sister. They wouldn't have had a great interest in racing before I started riding but they follow it closely now and are great supporters of mine.

11.42AM

Saturday’s protests a wake up call for the sport

For some reason the Irish as a nation struggle with the concept of protest. No matter how unjust or ludicrous Government policies are we prefer to grumble about it amongst ourselves rather than take to the streets in mass protest.

11.31AM

George Kingston

I'm from just outside Drogheda in Co Louth. My parents would have gone racing when I was young and would have had plenty of friends at the races, so that's how I started going. I started riding a pony for a local man, Maxie Collins, and he would be well known in coursing and greyhounds, and as a bookie at the point-to-points. Maxie always had horses and I started riding his pony when I was a child.

10.06AM

Records are there to be broken

The US Masters Golf was a great watch last week despite the persistent weather interruptions. The best golfers on the planet competing on one of the best courses is only a part of what makes the Masters so special. The myriad of unique traditions that are associated with the event are what really elevates it to its iconic status.

12.48PM

Mpumelelo Mjoka

I'm 26 years of age and from Durban and am called Mpumi by those who know me.

10.24AM

Betting Matters

The Dundalk stewards took an unusual course of action following a race at the track on Friday evening. They initially enquired into the improvement in form of the Charles Byrnes’ trained Miss Abby Jools after it won a handicap. This is standard practice and 99% of the time ends up with the stewards noting the explanations given by connections, but on this occasion they referred the matter to a Senior Racing Official of the IHRB for further investigation.

11.23AM

Neve Bennett

I'm from Newent, a town in Gloucestershire, England. I got into racing through my mother as she always had something to do with horses and there were horses on the farm that I used to go to. I was involved with horses from about 11 or 12. When I was older, I saw an advert up for the British Racing School in Newmarket, so I went up there and did the course. It was a good experience and I was glad to get a job after it.

9.47AM

Good luck to Bryan Cooper

The mandatory requirements of having to wear a helmet and back-protector and also having two ambulances follow you around while doing your job paints a clear picture of how dangerous the life of a jockey is.

11.37AM

Jack Kearney

I'm 17 and joined Ger Lyons last August as stable apprentice. They look after me very well and it's very exciting to be involved in such a top yard.

2.27PM

Hurdles or fences for Constitution Hill?

Last week’s Cheltenham Festival provided us with some amount of drama, stunning performances and shock results in almost equal measure.

2.26PM

Ruth Morrison

I grew up on a small farm in Dromore surrounded by horses. From a young age I had no real interest - there was always stories dad would come home from the hunt with about broken legs and cuts. So I thought I would stick with hockey. Mum was keen to maybe have a girly girl, she was keen on music or dancing. That was never really going to happen. Then as I got a little bit older, i got more involved. My dad was Field Master and Point-To-Point Secretary for the Iveaghs. I got involved in helping out at the point-to-points which i loved. I was selling racecards from when I was no age.

10.23AM

The best week of the year

Cheltenham is finally upon us. The build up seems to get longer and longer each year, but fortunately the Festival always lives up to the hype. The best four days racing of the year, bar none.

1.06PM

Aidan Kelly

I'm 21, was born and reared in Monasterevin and still live at home with my parents and my brother. They are all great supporters of mine and are the first ones on the phone when I have a winner.

9.34AM

An Absolute Freak

Barry Connell gave a very refreshing interview to At The Races last week about the chances of Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham. Most trainers tend to be quite guarded about the chances of their horses ahead of these big races and end up using a string of cliches that leave you none the wiser to what they really think.

1.59PM

Paddy Orr

I'm from Blackrock, Co Dublin and my father was a bookmaker, so I started going racing with my dad when I was about 14 or 15. Watching racing with my dad, and coming home and getting the results on the radio sparked my interest in racing. I was on the box giving tickets to punters and helping to pay out if I could. I clerked for him from a very young age. I used to do a lot of point-to-pointing with my dad, which I absolutely loved, around the country especially around the south-east. That took me to working for several bookmakers along the way.

10.12AM

Disgruntled Punters

News in the Irish Times last week that Arena Racing Company (ARC) is in negotiations to buy Dundalk Racecourse has the potential to further complicate an already precarious Media Rights situation for the sport.

10.54AM

Richard O'Brien

I qualified as a dentist but it was always a lifetime ambition to train racehorses and I've managed to unearth some smart performers along the way. I took out a licence in late 2016 and am based in Ballingarry, Co Limerick.

2.54PM

Whipping up a storm

UK racing has really got itself into a proper old mess over the use of the whip and it’s all largely its own fault.

11.23AM

Elliott fine was appropriate sanction

Gordon Elliott ran 60 horses at the Cheltenham Festival last year and there were no issues with 59 of them, but that doesn’t matter to a significant cohort of the public who have been up in arms over a positive sample taken from Zanahiyr after the horse finished third in the Champion Hurdle.

12.39PM

Garvan Donnelly

We're all enjoying the journey with Final Orders and obviously he's been a revelation over fences. I used to train him myself and we schooled him once over fences at my place. The young lad who rode him said he'd never ridden anything like him over a fence.

2.20PM

Sandra Hughes

I was born and bred on the Curragh and my dad was Dessie Hughes the horse trainer. When I was younger, I got married and moved away to England, had children and returned home about 17 years ago. I came home with the three children and started working with my dad straight away. In the early days, I took a prominent role in the office on the business side of things. Then as the years went on, I would have taken more of a role in supporting him and going to race meetings and sales he couldn't get to.

10.11AM