“There is something about the outside of a that is good Racing the irish way A GUIDE TO in racing for the inside of a man” Sir Winston (1874 – 1965)

racing the irish way

A GUIDE TO racing in ireland

Published by: Phone: +353 (0)45 455 455 Ireland, Fax: +353 (0)45 455 456 Ballymany, The , Email: [email protected] County Web: www.goracing.ie 26 IRISH RACECOURSE Locations by region

CORK 53 MEATH Bellewstown 51 Fairyhouse 58 Navan 68 Laytown 63

GALWAY Galway 59 NORTH Down Royal 55 Downpatrick 56

KERRY Killarney 62 NORTH Ballinrobe 50 Listowel 66 WEST Roscommon 70 Sligo 71

KILBEGGAN Kilbeggan 61 NORTH 57 EAST

- National Hunt & Flat KILDARE The Curragh 54 SOUTH Gowran Park 60 - Flat Naas 67 EAST Tramore 74 Punchestown 69 Wexford 75 - National Hunt

DUBLIN 64 TIPPERARY Clonmel 52 Thurles 72 Tipperary 73

LIMERICK 65 - National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt

- National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 12 -- Office/InfoEntrance Point 6 - Tote 5 - Food 10 - Pavillon Stand 9 - Weigh Room 23 -- GrandOffice/Info Stand Point7 - Race Cards6 - Tote 11 - To ilets 10 - Pavillon- National Stand Hunt & Flat 34 -- BarGrand Stand 8 - Parade7 Ring - Race Cards12 - Saddling Stalls 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling- Flat Stalls - National Hunt

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls Introduction

Horse Racing is many things: a has the added benefit of a It is difficult not to catch Will it win one race? Will it get to sport, an industry, a hobby and a breathtaking setting. once you attend a race meeting. the track? social outlet. The The smells, the sights and has always been close to our You have the bustling, non-stop the sounds that are exclusive This is a more comprehensive hearts in Ireland and in every activity of the Galway festival, to this roadshow have a habit guide to racing in Ireland though, corner of the country the the more relaxed ambiance of of drawing people in. Once and apart from providing an evidence presents itself. It is a Naas or Down Royal, the that happens, they want to be insight into the horse’s journey why we are a powerhouse in once-a-year drama of educated about what is enfolding from the breeding barn to the terms of breeding and training beach-racing at Laytown, in front of them. Horse Racing racecourse, it also explains how equine and human champions. the scenery at Killarney, the Ireland has published quite a it started and developed and The best in the world absolute top-class action at bit of material in recent years how it is run. It takes you behind are Irish. So too are the premier Punchestown, The Curragh and to aid this process and Racing the scenes of a race day… those Trainers and Jockeys. Fairyhouse, the all-weather The Irish Way is the latest. fences didn’t just sprout up out at Dundalk and the absolute of the ground you know! With 26 racecourses in the guarantee that no matter how It is easy to forget that when a country, there is no shortage inclement the conditions, racing horse lines up at a starting tape What significance does the going of opportunity to experience will go ahead at Thurles. or stalls for a race, so much have? How do you read form? the thrills and spills of racing. time, work and preparation And when you’ve learned that, After all, that represents more The 1.24m people that attended involving many people has gone what are the betting options? In tracks per head of population meetings throughout Ireland into getting it there. From the short, this booklet is designed to than anywhere else in the in 2009 did so for a variety day of a foal’s birth and those give you a greater understanding world. The diversity of of reasons. Most are vastly first faltering, unsure steps, and deeper appreciation of what experience at these courses knowledgeable people with so much takes place to keep it happens in the background. is part of the uniqueness of a keen eye and expertise. healthy, educate it and have it racing in Ireland. Each one has Plenty more are first-timers, ready for the sales, even before Mostly though, it is here to its own quirks and landmarks, travelling with friends for some the actual training for racing enhance your racing experience… and with the renowned revelry – dinner, drink and begins. Everyone is living the beauty of the Irish landscape, entertainment… dream. Will this be a superstar? Horse Racing… Let yourself go!

RACING the IRISH way 1 with

2 RACING the IRISH way contents

Chapter 1 04 Origins of horse racing in Ireland Chapter 2 08 The development of racing in Ireland Chapter 3 16 Organisation of modern racing and industry bodies “There is Chapter 4 22 Thoroughbred ancestry no secret Chapter 5 28 so close The Thoroughbred - Some interesting facts Chapter 6 36 as that Foal to Final Furlong - Breaking, training and selling Chapter 7 42 between a Behind the scenes Chapter 8 48 rider and Racecourses, maps and descriptions his horse” Chapter 9 76 How a race day is run - Ground maintenance and key personnel Robert Smith Surtees, Chapter 10 82 Mr. Sponge’s Sporting Tour, 1853 Going Description - Why is it so important? Chapter 11 88 Jockeys - How to ride a race Chapter 12 96 How to read form Chapter 13 102 Betting

Special thanks to the following people and companies for their assistance and contribution to Racing – The Irish Way HRI Marketing Department, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, Tote, , RACE, Swerve Design, Racing Post, Darragh O’Conchuir, Tyrone Molloy, Martin Murphy, Jason Morris, Tony Sweeney, Guy St John Williams, Pat Healy, Caroline Norris, Fennell Photography, David Casey, Declan McDonogh, Joe Collins, Richie Galway, Vincent Liffey.

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4 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 1

Origins of Horse Racing in Ireland

The first manuscript relating to actual horse races is a royal warrant from 1603 which entitled the governor of Derry to hold fairs and markets at which horse races could be held.

RACING the IRISH way 5 he sport of racing one A poem from 1622 tells the tale Club. In 1790 it published the horse against another of a young man (Owen O’Hara) first volume of the Irish Racing is probably as old as killed by a horse at the races at Calendar. This document the art of riding horses’ Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. A 1652 provided details of races run in T book by an English visitor tells of itself because people (especially Ireland (previously such details Irish people) have a strong and horse-matches taking place on were published in the English innate pride in their horses’ the strand at Youghal. Racing Calendar). prowess. An old saying goes that “one may get away with As the 17th century progressed, The Irish National Hunt insulting a man’s wife or family place here. Match races (one racing became more organised Steeplechase Committee was

c but never his horse.” nobleman’s horse racing against and competitive in Ireland incorporated into the Turf h In particular horse racing in another to determine which especially with the introduction Club around 1866 to organise a p Ireland has a long and rich was faster in order to establish by King Charles II (The Merrie National Hunt (jump racing) t e history. Legends tell of mythical bragging rights) were Monarch) of valuable King’s Plate in the same way as Flat racing. r warriors like Fionn MacCumhaill occurrences in the 16th and 17th races. These Plates were the Jump racing at Punchestown racing their horses across the centuries. A famous match race equivalent of today’s Group 1 1 Curragh plains while ancient took place at the Curragh in 1634 races and were fiercely contested. The horses which won them were much sought after for breeding. “All men are born free and equal and each man is entitled to life, liberty and There is evidence that the Royal Plate races at the Curragh horse racing…” had become well established Australian poet Andrew ‘Banjo’ Patterson ‘features’ by the 1690s.

manuscripts relate that chariot in which the Earl of Ormond’s In the mid 18th century a races did take place on the horse beat Lord Digby’s horse. regulatory body for Irish racing Curragh in the third century AD. was formed, at the Rose and However, the first manuscript Bottle Inn on Dame Street in Hard, documented evidence of relating to actual horse races is . Originally called the organised racing taking place a royal warrant from 1603 which Society of Sportsmen, it then in Ireland is another matter entitled the governor of Derry to became the Irish Club and we do not actually know hold fairs and markets at which and around 1784 took the the date of the first race to take horse races could be held. permanent name, the Turf

6 RACING the IRISH way racecourses), results of races financing of the sport and from strength to strength in from where were published racing thrived with building Ireland and is now a leisure in the Racing Calendar. Places projects and increased prize- pursuit that everybody, such as Ballingarry in money. In 1994 the Irish Horse especially young people, have Co. Limerick which held one Authority came into being embraced. Importantly, the meeting in 1882, Curry in and this body oversaw further very infrastructure of the sport Co. Sligo which held two investment in racing and is being copper-fastened meetings (1879 and particularly in racecourses. through substantial investment 1887), Ennis in Co. Then to bring racing into the in racecourse facilities and Clare which held racing 21st century a semi-state body, capital projects like Ireland’s

intermittently from 1763 (HRI), first state-of-the-art c to 1924 and the course was set up in 2001 and since All-Weather track at Dundalk h a in in Dublin that time racing has gone racecourse. p t which held racing as far e r back as 1833 but closed for “Horses in Ireland are a drug.” Racing in Leopardstown good in 1990. Sir Temple wrote to King Charles II in 1673 1888 1 Successive Irish governments (first recorded in 1824) became have understood the importance a permanent fixture in 1860 of horse racing to the Irish when stands and enclosures economy and life in general, and were erected and many other have helped to drive this industry racecourses soon followed. and sport forward. In 1926, a bill was introduced by the However, funding for racing Free State government which has always been a fundamental legalised off-course betting issue and was the reason why shops. The Tote was many racecourses came and introduced onto racecourses went. Between 1751 and today, in 1930 to much opposition there are documented records of from bookmakers. racing having taken place in 409 separate locations throughout In 1945 the Racing Board The new HRI headquarters in the Curragh Ireland (including our current was set up to deal with the

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Stallion viewing at Kildangan Stud

8 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 2

The Development of Modern Racing in Ireland

Through the sixties and seventies the racing and breeding industries in Ireland were starting to prosper. This is due in no small part to the fact that, in the last three decades, some of the best in the world have stood in Ireland thanks to the hard work and investment by some immensely skilled horsemen.

RACING the IRISH way 9 English Classics in the 19th Century, including the , Ireland was seen as very much a peripheral nation in horse racing. Ireland ranked behind and in European pecking order and the notion that top-class horses could be trained in Ireland was somewhat fanciful. No Irish-

c trained horse had won the h English Derby and some a p believed that one never would. t e “The turf in Ireland has no r Richard ‘Boss’ Croaker spring in it, the climate is too However, due to the determination depressing, and no Irish trainer 2 and drive of Richard “Boss” knows enough to even dare Croker, the Irish-trained won compete for the greatest race in the great race in 1907. Croker was the world.” William Allison, a returned emigrant from New The Sportsman. “No Irish horse will ever win an English ...” York whose parents had fled the famine. He became an influential It is difficult to appreciate now here have been so many leader. Many factors came and controversial politician in New the enormity of this feat, but instrumental figures together to make this happen, York before returning to Ireland back then it was a colossal in the development of but the most important factor where he built up his stable at . The Irish Times TIrish racing over the is the people. After all, it’s the Glencairn in , Dublin and Special correspondent reported last two hundred years but it is people that make a place and installed Colonel Freddie McCabe on the day: primarily in the last fifty years Irish horsemen and women have as his trainer. “...it was a triumph for the that the industry has grown made Ireland a centre of horse island, which in its small exponentially, in which time racing excellence. The horse’s chance of winning compass contains a larger Ireland has gone from being the English Derby was rubbished percentage of horse-lovers a bit-player on the fringes of Though Irish-bred and owned by the ‘home’ sporting press of than any country on the face world racing to being a world horses won the most prestigious the time: of the earth…”

10 RACING the IRISH way On his return home, the horse Irish racing, and a number of Dr Vincent O’Brien, trained his was paraded through the streets men were responsible for this first winner, Oversway, having of Dublin and Croker was change which elevated Irish taken over the family’s training awarded the Freedom of the horses, owners and trainers licence on the death of his City. To show that this was to new heights and levels of father Dan. O’Brien raised the not a fluke, the same team respect worldwide. bar for Irish racing throughout combined to win the English his career, setting ever higher 1,000 the following year Mick Rogers standards and then continually Vincent O’Brien Paddy Prendergast with , also a first That next Irish-trained winner breaking them himself, firstly Irish-trained win in the race. of the was in 1958. Vincent O’Brien & in the National Hunt field and

Hard Ridden was bought for only Paddy Prendergast then latterly in the Flat racing c This was seen by many 270 guineas at Goffs sales as a Now the floodgates to big-race sphere. Over jumps he sent out h a observers as an aberration in yearling by the dominant owner success had started and Irish- an extraordinary three winners in p t the history of the great race and of the time Sir trained success in the signature a row of each of the e r it wasn’t expected to be a feat and he was trained by Mick Flat and National Hunt races in Gold Cup ( 1948-50), that would be repeated too often. Rogers on the Curragh. Although England was, if not an everyday Hurdle (Hatton’s Grace Indeed, it was quite a while having charge of only a small occurrence, then certainly not 1949-51) and , 2 before another ‘’ string, Rogers went on to win a rarity. This was due to mainly (1953 Early Mist, 1954 Royal Tan winner was trained in Ireland the 1964 Derby with , to two master trainers, Vincent and 1955 Quare Times). but the period from the 1940s a tremendous feat for a O’Brien and Paddy Prendergast. onwards was one of change for small stable. At a period of harsh economic May 20th 1943, a nondescript times for the country, he gave Mick Rogers Trained Santa Claus to win the Derby in 1964 day in most people’s lives, the people a reason to cheer. was the start of a phenomenon, His Cheltenham and Aintree not just in Irish racing, but exploits were the equivalent of in world racing. Those who the football, rugby and athletic attended Limerick Junction (now teams all rolled into one. He known as Tipperary) racecourse showed that Ireland could be were privy to the opening great at something during a time sequence of that amazing story. when the country had very few For that was the day when the sports stars. His domination of most important figure in Irish the Cheltenham jump racing racing history, the late, great festival was a phenomenon

RACING the IRISH way 11 and set the scene for the Irish be trained from what was, gifted at training two-year-olds. involvement there that continues until O’Brien transformed it, The two best horses he trained “A big man in to this day. essentially a Tipperary farm. during his illustrious career every sense, in He died in 2009 at the age of were and , stature, achievement O’Brien was to win six Derbies 92. The esteem in which he both winners of the Irish and legacy, that, and the names of his greatest was rightly held by the racing Derby and the prestigious King on his death in horses trip off the tongue like the public was acknowledged when George VI and Queen Elizabeth 1966, he bequeathed poetry of W.B. : , he was voted by the readers of . Irish racing and breeding.” Gladness, , , the Racing Post as the greatest, Tony Sweeney, Racing Historian , , , most influential racing figure of

c , , all time. He was truly the man h Sadler’s Wells, , who made dreams come true. which badly-needed funding for a p legends all. And his legacy lies Irish hospitals was garnered. t e in more than just the memorable Paddy Prendergast r racecourse performances of At the same time, another His persuasion of the Turf those horses, for they have Irish trainer, Paddy ‘Darkie’ Club to allow the Irish Hospital 2 all exerted a lasting influence on Prendergast was making Sweepstakes to sponsor the Irish the breed as their waves at home and in England, Derby transformed the race, bloodlines are to be to such an extent that he became almost overnight, into the richest in the pedigrees of horses the first non-British-based Derby in the world and one of the all over the globe. He was trainer to be Champion Joe McGrath most important races in Europe. also an innovator and pioneer Trainer there in three The first running under this Joe McGrath sponsorship was in 1962 and saw “He was blessed with a priceless asset, The industry was put on a good arguably the biggest modern- a wonderful eye for a young horse.” footing too, thanks in no small day crowd ever assembled at Tony Sweeney, Racing Historian measure to one of the most the Curragh. This ushered in a important changes in Irish racing, new era in Irish racing. Among in the art and science of consecutive seasons, 1963-65. instigated by a legendary figure, McGrath’s other achievements training racehorses and took Based on the Curragh, the Joe McGrath. A member of the was to found the Irish Racing it to a new level. It shouldn’t centre of flat horse training first Irish Free State Dail and a Board in 1946, the first time that be underestimated how in Ireland, he concentrated cabinet Minister, he left politics to a government actively helped extraordinary it was at the primarily on Flat horses from concentrate on his brainchild, the racing’s finances.T his obtained time for Derby winners to the start and was especially Irish Hospital Sweepstakes, from extra revenue for racing from

12 RACING the IRISH way the hard work and investment breathtaking victory in the by some immensely skilled in 1964 horsemen, most notably and the second was ’s . The latter’s brave win in the same resident Sadler’s Wells was race in 1986. Both horses’ wins the outstanding of had a deeper significance too modern times, being because their connections Champion Sire in the UK and have established deep family Ireland on no fewer than 14 associations with racing that occasions, thus breaking are still thriving today. (the

the record of the legendary greatest Steeplechaser ever) c foundation stallion St Simon. was trained by h a His deceased former studmate whose son Jim is also a p t took over the successful trainer today and he e r Champion Sire mantle from was ridden by whose him in latter years as well as son Tom was himself a top-class dominating the Australian jockey and is now a successful 2 racing scene. trainer. Dawn Run was trained by whose sons Racing Dynasties – Willie, Tony and Tom are now top Dreapers, Taaffes, trainers and whose grandsons Aerial view of Coolmore Stud Mullins, Walshes, Emmet, Patrick and Danny are Carberrys & Moores... all fine jockeys. betting and built the foundations Coolmore Stud Of course the Cheltenham for the current regulatory Through the sixties and This exemplifies another body that runs racing now, seventies the racing and Festival is a special place great strength that Irish Horse Racing Ireland. McGrath breeding industries in Ireland to both English and Irish racing possesses: namely also, along with the other were starting to prosper. This horsemen alike, and there great racing families and shareholders, sold Leopardstown is due in no small part to the have been two defining continuity of horsemanship racecourse to the Racing Board fact that, in the last three moments there for Ireland through the generations. for a nominal price to ensure decades, some of the best that fall into the category of The Walsh, Carberry and Moore that racing continued at the stallions in the world have “Where were you when this racing families are also great famous course. stood in Ireland thanks to happened?” The first was Arkle’s examples of this.

RACING the IRISH way 13 Aidan O’Brien , Jim Bolger The people are the key and & none of Ireland’s success John Oxx and Jim Bolger have would be possible without the also contributed hugely to immensely skilled horsemen Ireland’s lofty reputation on the and women who are a part of world’s racetracks, both winning the fabric of Irish life. Currently, the English Derby plus Group Ireland is in the midst of the 1 races at the Breeders’ Cup in career of one of the most America and amazing horsemen the world Dermot Weld the

c has ever seen, Aidan O’Brien. International h Since taking out a licence meeting. a p to train in 1993, O’Brien has Dermot Weld, t e broken all conventions and (like one of the r his namesake, but no relation, undisputed Vincent) he has reached the masters of world 2 top echelons in both National training, is still Hunt and Flat racing. As his the only European trainer to win the “Other trainers have had the cream of Melbourne Cup, which the best-bred yearlings and haven’t he has done twice come up with the goods but Aidan has.” with Vintage Guy St John Williams, Racing Historian Crop in 1993 and Media frequent 1-2-3s in the Irish Aidan O’Brien Puzzle in Derby and other Group 1 races 2002, and demonstrate, he is simply a also to win genius with horses. Yes, he an American has the might of Coolmore Triple Crown Stud behind him, but having race, the the ammunition is only half the Belmont battle in racing. It’s how you use Stakes with Go Jim Bolger it that’s more important. and Go in 1990.

14 RACING the IRISH way John Oxx with Sea the National triumphs, the Dan The importance of all these Stars after his famous Moore-trained L’Escargot in 1974 figures and their achievements victory in the Prix de l’ de Triomphe to the -trained should never be underestimated Bobbyjo in 1999. Incidentally, or underplayed simply because Tommy Carberry was the rider of the enormous work done by so of L’Escargot. many people over so many years to make such wonderful sporting occasions a reality. And that is what it takes, years of hard work, dedication and investment.

These great horses don’t come c along by accident and they don’t h a win big races due to luck. p t e r The people involved in racing today in Ireland have inherited a legacy that other nations can 2 only dream about because they are standing on the shoulders of Tommy Carberry on L’Escargot so many giants.

Paul and

Irish Racing – hard was won by an Irish-trained horse work, dedication & at the . There investment... was also a 16 year hiatus between However, it hasn’t all been smooth winning the English sailing for the good ship for trainer David O’Brien Racing. There have been times (Vincent’s son) and John Oxx when the ship was becalmed in training to win in 2000. the doldrums. It wasn’t so long Also there was also a gap of ago, 1989 in fact, that not one race 25 years in Irish-trained Grand

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Siobhan Bulfins sculpture ‘Energy’ at the new HRI Headquarters

16 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 3

ORGANISATION OF MODERN RACING

The well known American poet may have been feeling particularly disaffected after another losing bet, but in the modern racing world, there certainly are rules. The Turf Club is responsible for ensuring these rules are adhered to as the racing regulatory body, while Horse Racing Ireland is the national authority responsible for the overall administration, development and promotion of racing in Ireland today.

RACING the IRISH way 17 “In the world of mules there are no rules” Nash

HORSE RACING IRELAND HRI is financed by a combination HRI’s mission statement is of government grant and other “to develop and promote Ireland income streams. as a world centre of excellence for horse racing and breeding.” TURF CLUB Established in 2001 by the Horse The Turf Club is the racing

c and Greyhound Racing Act, and regulatory body for horse racing h included in its functions are: in Ireland, responsible for a p maintaining the integrity of the t e • The development of racecourses sport in this country since its r • the guaranteeing of prize money inception in 1790. Incorporating • The control of authorised the Irish National Hunt 3 bookmakers Steeplechase Committee, it is INDUSTRY BODIES Irish Racehorse Trainers • The allocation of fixtures and responsible for both flat and Racing Academy & Centre Association: setting of race programmes national hunt racing, including of Education: The IRTA has represented • The operation of racecourses the point-to-point circuit. A RACE offers a host of courses licensed racehorse trainers owned by the authority – private body responsible for for people interested in in Ireland since its foundation Fairyhouse, Leopardstown, enforcing racing’s rules, it pursuing a career in the in 1950 by some of the most Navan, Tipperary comprises members elected for equine world, ranging from revered figures in Irish racing, • The operation of the Tote their knowledge and experience jockeys, stable staff, trainers including Vincent O’Brien, Cecil • Supplying grants, loans or of racing, in both a sporting and or farriers. Brabazon, Darby Rogers and other funding to racecourses business sense. The 30-acre site on the Dan Moore. There are • the promotion and export of On the track, between three and Curragh boasts all-weather approximately 430 members at the Irish horse through Irish five stewards police the rules. So gallops, an indoor schooling present, with the Association’s Thoroughbred Marketing when you hear an announcement arena, horse simulators, an collective voice helping to • Representing Irish racing that there’s a stewards’ inquiry, it integrated training centre, improve trainers’ input into the internationally means that something that has sports analysis software, way racing is run in Ireland and • The negotiation of income from transpired during a race is being classrooms and single room to address the major issues media and broadcasting rights investigated. accommodation. concerning them.

18 RACING the IRISH way Association of Irish Racehorse Owners: KEY INDUSTRY STATISTICS The AIRO was set up to promote and protect the • horse racing and breeding supports interests of racehorse owners more than 22,000 jobs mainly in and has been officially rural Ireland. recognised as the representative body of racehorse owners. • there are 26 racecourses in Ireland, Amongst its goals are to which is more per head of population ensure that the level of prize than anywhere else in the world. money is at least maintained c and, where possible, • there are 29,289 stallions, h a increased; to work with HRI and foals in Ireland, this includes p t to obtain more opportunities 271 stallions, 18,851 mares and e r for horses; and to improve 10,167 foals. facilities for owners at tracks. • Ireland is the 3rd largest producer 3 Irish Jockeys of thoroughbred foals in the world Association: (following USA and ). The IJA represents licensed jockeys in Ireland, • there are 11,363 racehorses championing the improvement in Training. in facilities around the country for the men and • racing is a popular past time in women who coax and cajole Ireland with over 1.24m people going the horses towards the through the turnstiles each year. winning post. It also funds the Irish Jockeys • almost 70,000 overseas visitors Trust, a charity that helps each year attend at least one race current or former jockeys meeting during their trip to Ireland. that have fallen upon hard times through no fault of Statistics from the 2009 HRI Factbook and the Dukes Report their own.

RACING the IRISH way 19 Irish Stablestaff Association: the Irish thoroughbred The ISSA has played a massive breeding industry both role in improving the status, domestically and abroad. pay and working conditions It represents breeders on for stable staff in recent years. the boards of all the major It has also provided education industry bodies, while also opportunities for its offering a comprehensive members, while its annual educational and training awards night has increased the programme of skill profile of so many previously enhancement.

c unheralded workers. h a p Association of Irish t e Racecourse Owners: r Not to be confused with the AIRO, the AIR was established 3 to further the interests of racecourses in Ireland generally, and more specifically, to represent racecourse owners and executives, be that on an individual or collective basis.

Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association: The ITBA is a voluntary association that represents

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Darley Arabian

22 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 4

THOROUGHBRED ANCESTRY

The modern thoroughbred racehorse originated in Great Britain and Ireland from crosses between native Galloway-type ponies and hobby horses with imported horses from the East; i.e. Arabian, Turkish and Barbary stallions and mares.

RACING the IRISH way 23 he Arabian horses at the became a prolific sire of good was believed that he came from did not survive but whose time were selectively racehorses. Tunisia and that he was owned influence was represented in bred by the Bedouin by King Louis XV of France their daughters include the families for As is seen below in the before being purchased by an Curwen Bay Barb, Bethell’s T genealogical chart of 2008 Derby Englishman Edward Coke and Arabian and the Lister Turk. generations, with emphasis on speed and endurance, and were winner New Approach’s male brought to England in 1729. On a much more refined and pure line, it traces back to this great Coke’s death he bequeathed the In 2005 the renowned Irish “Asil” breed than any European stallion. (see page 24) horse to his friend Roger geneticist Professor Patrick horse. In particular three Wiliams before the Earl of Cunningham traced the genes stallions that were imported The was a ‘spoil’ acquired him and of almost all of today’s th c into England in the 17 and of war. He was taken from a stood him as a stallion. racehorses back to 28 “founder” h 18th centuries had a profound captured Turkish officer at the Descriptions and portraits of horses including mares. He a p effect on the population of Battle of Buda in Hungary by him refer to his exquisite quality also found that the most t e racing horses at the time and Captain Robert Byerley, serving and proportions, and his male influential in the r are frequently referred to as the under King William III of Orange. line survives today through his background of today’s racehorse “Founding Fathers” of the This was 1688 and the horse was grandson Matchem. population is Tregonwell’s 4 modern Thoroughbred population. deemed to be around eight years Natural Barb Mare, tracing They are the , old at the time. When Byerley While it is true that all of today’s back to the 1650s. She has Darley Arabian and Byerley Turk. was dispatched to Ireland his racehorses can be traced back in contributed 14% of the genes ‘war charger’ came with him and the sire line to one of these three passed down the female line. The Darley Arabian was born participated at the Battle of the stallions, it must be remembered circa 1700 and the story goes Boyne in 1690. The horse also that, as stallions, these horses However, the modern that he was bought from a took part in a race meeting at were only contributing 50% to thoroughbred population is no Bedouin Sheikh, Mirza II, in Down Royal that year, winning every thoroughbred they sired. different to most other breeds Syria by Thomas Darley, an the top prize of a Silver Bell. He The mares they crossed with including humans, where English merchant, for 300 gold later went to stud in England. also had many powerful stallion an inverted pyramid effect sovereigns. However, the story Incidentally, New Approach’s influences in their own genetic takes place in which a large goes that the Sheikh regretted dam-sire traces make-up and in this way many population base comes from the sale of his finest colt and directly back in his male line to other stallions contributed a quite narrow original gene reneged on the deal but the Byerley Turk. greatly to the thoroughbred pool with environmental factors Darley eventually took population. providing as much of the possession of the colt and he The Godolphin Arabian’s variation in the population as arrived in England in 1704 and antecedents are less clear but it Such stallions whose sire lines genetic make-up.

24 RACING the IRISH way the Stud Book or Darley Arabian Sadler’s Wells Thoroughbred Breeding Over the last 150 years the The modern equivalent of Registry in both Britain sire-line of the Darley Arabian, is Sadler’s Wells. and Ireland. It is also through his descendant , Born in 1981 and named responsible for the day himself one of the greatest after a famous dance theatre to day administration of racehorses to have ever lived, in London, this stallion is STUD BOOK racing itself in Britain. has become dominant and quite simply a legend. As a In 1793 the General Stud Book 80% of modern racehorses are racehorse he was trained by was published in England by A strange phenomenon is that descended from his sireline. the legendary Vincent O’Brien James Weatherby, the then the Thoroughbred, which was and he won the 1984 Irish 2000 secretary of the English Jockey essentially Anglo/Arab stock Birdcatcher Guineas and later in the season c Club. At the time racing and became vastly superior to The Irish-bred and raced horse, he also won the Irish Champion h a breeding records tended to other breeds that developed Birdcatcher was one of the Stakes at the now closed p t be haphazard and, in order to outside of those in the closed e r regulate it somewhat, Weatherby Stud Book. The separate “The remarkable breeding legacy of undertook to provide an account Arab breed that exists today Birdcatcher makes him one of the most of the pedigrees of racing is approximately one second influential sires in racing history.” 4 horses of the time. Though per furlong slower than a Dr Tony Sweeney, Irish Racing Historian updated many times since, this thoroughbred. That doesn’t tome traced the pedigrees of sound like a lot but even in a about 400 select mares and race of eight furlongs would most significant links Phoenix Park. In fact, that Irish stallions whose lineage could represent a mismatch that between Eclipse and 2000 Guineas success was voted be reliably known and this core could barely be evened up by modern racehorses. as the most memorable group formed the breed which a vast weight concession from Foaled in 1833, he later came to be known as the thoroughbred. Whether was an outstanding “.” From such it was environmental factors racehorse, who small beginnings the breed has some genetic compatibility or a only ever ran at the Curragh, found its way to almost every combination of both, something before becoming an influential part of the globe. clicked 300 years ago in the stallion. He lived until he was coming together of this most 27 when his owner William To this day the Weatherby refined Arabian blood with the Disney had him shot after his family, now a limited company, native horse stock that produced libido failed. He was the first still maintains the records of this superior horse. great Irish-based stallion. Sadler’s Wells

RACING the IRISH way 25 “Sadler’s Wells NEW APPROACH – an example of a horses ancestory has been one of In some respects the ancestry of thoroughbreds can be traced more accurately and more reliably than the best stallions that of people. Below is the sireline of the Irish-bred and trained New Approach, European Champion to have stood Two-Year-Old of 2007 and World Champion Three-Year-Old of 2008. anywhere on the planet.” New Approach 2005 Winner of eight races inc. English Derby, Irish , English Tony Morris, Racing Post Champion Stakes, National Stakes, , all Group 1 (bred in Ireland) 1998 Winner of six races inc. English and Irish Derby (bred in Ireland) Sadler’s Wells 1981 Winner of six races inc Irish 2000 Guineas, 1961 Winner of 14 races in USA inc. c Classic win by a colt or h gelding at the Curragh. 1954 Winner of 21 races in USA a p 1935 Winner of Italian Derby t 1920 Winner of 14 races in England including English Champion Stakes e Sadler’s Wells then began a r stallion career at Coolmore 1913 Winner of 16 races in England Stud in 1985 and from the 1902 Winner of 11 races in England including Champion Stakes 1895 Winner of nine races including time his first two-year-old 4 1889 Winner of English 2000 Guineas runners hit the racecourse 1877 Winner of English Derby in 1988 he has been a 1870 Winner of English Derby sensation. He was Champion 1849 Winner of English and 2000 Guineas sire in Britain and Ireland a 1842 Winner of English St Leger (bred in Ireland) record 14 times, firstly in 1990 Irish Birdcatcher 1833 Winner of five races in Ireland (bred in Ireland) and then from 1992-2004. Sir Hercules 1826 Winner of seven races, 3rd English St Leger (bred in Ireland) His sons Galileo and 1807 Winner of English Derby have now taken over his 1790 Winner of English Derby mantle as the dominant Pot-8-os 1773 Winner of 30 races in England stallions around today. Both Eclipse 1764 Winner of 18 races in England, unbeaten. winners of the Irish Derby, Marske 1750 Winner of two races they have each sired English Squirt 1732 Winner of several races, race record incomplete and Irish Derby winners Bartletts Childers 1716 Unraced and are the most influential Darley Arabian circa 1700 Unraced ‘Classic’ race stallions Incidentally, New Approach’s dam-sire, Ahonoora traces back to Herod who came from the Byerley Turk. in Europe.

26 RACING the IRISH way c h a p t e r

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New Approach

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28 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 5

THE THOROUGHBRED SOME interesting FACTS

It is estimated by geneticists that the percentage variation in horses’ racing performance that can be attributed to genetics is between 9% and 49%. The rest is down to environmental factors such as training, nutrition and, of course, luck.

RACING the IRISH way 29 Twins are rare in horses and though they can survive into adulthood they are usually too delicate to be good racehorses. Kayu, the dam of four-time Irish St Leger winner was a twin, though she never raced.

Newborn foals range in weight from 70 Pounds (31.8 KG) to

c 120 Pounds (54.5 KG) at birth. h Foals are suckled by their dam a p for usually the first six months t e of life before they are weaned r though this can be done earlier if necessary. With the right 5 nutrition young thoroughbreds grow quickly, attaining 90% of

Weaned foals

FOALS lasts a full 12 months The gestation period in horses depending on various factors is generally 11 months but can such as weather, environmental vary up or down and sometimes conditions and nutrition. Vinnie Roe

30 RACING the IRISH way their full adult height by the time In comparison to other animals they are two years old. of a similar size, racehorses have a far superior aerobic ADULTS capacity, have a remarkable A horse’s skeleton keeps growing oxygen carrying capacity, until it is five years old. However, high maximum haemoglobin they can still appear to be concentration and cardiac growing by putting on muscle output. mass after this time. They also have a very high

An adult horse has 36 teeth: muscle mass to body-weight c 12 Incisors or front teeth, 12 ratio, approx 55%. This is h a premolar and 12 molar teeth. much greater than other breeds p t Some horses (most male horses) of horses and partly explains e r also have canine teeth and why they are the fastest breed Man O War ‘Wolf’ teeth, which are small of horse. premolars. Horses need to their Champion in 1919/20, was total body mass. The average 5 have their molar teeth filed or A horse’s genetic set-up is reported to have had a stride weight of a racehorse’s ‘rasped’ to prevent uneven wear different from humans in that length of 28 feet: that’s an heart is 8.5 pounds and it which can cause discomfort in its body cells contain 32 pairs amazing 8.5 metres. continues growing until the their cheeks. of Chromosomes whereas a horse is four years old. human has 23 pairs. Every step that a 1000 pound It is possible to tell a horse’s age galloping racehorse takes puts , some of the great horses by looking at its teeth. An adult racehorse has 205 1800 lbs of pressure on each leg. in history have had their heart bones in its body. size measured after death and The bit is placed in the space The average stride length of The Heart Rate of a racehorse it was much larger than that. between the incisor and a racehorse at the gallop is ranges from approx 28-52 One of the greatest stallions in premolar teeth. 4.5 -7.2 Metres, (14.76 – 23.6 Beats Per Minute at rest up to history, Eclipse, reportedly had a Feet). However, some of the 210-250 Beats Per Minute at heart weighing 14 pounds. Fully mature racehorses great horses in history have maximal rate. weigh from approximately reportedly had much greater , The Champion 880 Pounds (400 KG) to 1430 stride lengths than that. The A horse’s heart weighs American horse of 1972-73 had Pounds (650KG). great US racehorse Man O War, approximately 1% of it’s a heart that was estimated to be

RACING the IRISH way 31 22 pounds weight on autopsy, an the lungs per minute ranges The other principal wind BIRTHDAY enormous size. from 80 litres at rest to 2500 related cause of poor All horses born in the northern litres when galloping at full performance in racehorses is hemisphere become one year Obviously, the bigger the heart, speed. Air moves through the the displacement of the soft old on New Year’s Day each the greater the amount of blood Upper Respiratory Tract (URT) palate while galloping. year no matter what date they that can be pumped around the by the creation of pressure A horse that does this even were born on. Therefore, it is body, the more oxygen that can gradients between the outside momentarily cuts off air supply an advantage especially for be provided to cells, the faster atmosphere and the inside to the windpipe and will flat horses that run as two and the horse can run. It’s not always of the airways. hinder its ability to sustain its three-year-olds to be born as as simple as that though. If it speed. Horses are sometimes early in the year as possible

c was, then racehorse owners Wind operation fitted with a tongue-tie in and therefore have a maturity h would scan the heart size of all This broad phrase can refer an effort to stabilise the age advantage over foals born a p their horses they would like to to a number of veterinary relationship between the in April or May. However, a t e buy and would only buy horses interventions used to aid a tongue and the roof of the good horse is still a good horse r with physically large hearts. horse that is not getting enough mouth to prevent displacement whenever it is born and foals ‘petrol to the engine’. of the soft palate. Again, born later in the year will, in 5 The notion of ‘heart’ in a surgical procedures to tighten the end, catch up on their more horse is about more than just Frequently, the cause of a the palate are used to help precocious counterparts physiology, it’s the toughness wind obstruction is the left remedy this. if they are of equal ability. and willingness to go through side of the horse’s larynx the pain barrier to win. That which suffers from weakness It is estimated by geneticists Hands capacity can’t be measured with (neuropathy or hemiplagia) that the percentage variation in Horses are measured in a medical instrument! and this causes a noise horses’ racing performance that ‘Hands.’ One hand is equal to (usually a whistling sound) to can be attributed to genetics is four inches or 10.16 cm. The A galloping racehorse weighing be made in the windpipe between 9% and 49%. The rest ‘hand’ increases in increments 500 kgs will pump the equivalent upon inspiration. is down to environmental factors of a quarter: i.e. 1, 2, 3. A horse of 10 times it’s total blood such as training, nutrition and, is measure from the ground to volume through its heart each A ‘Hobday’ operation removes of course, luck. the top of its withers. minute. This could be as much parts of the larynx that is The average racehorse as 250 litres of blood. obstructing the windpipe. The left-hand side of a horse is measures 63 inches, 15. 3 Strangely, the right side of called the ‘near’ side and the hands high or 1.62m approx. The volume of air that a horse the larynx is rarely affected right-hand side is called the This is the average height of a moves from the nostrils to by this condition. ‘off’ side. 13-year-old human.

32 RACING the IRISH way Example of a canter:

c h a p t e r Right Fore/Left Hind Leg together Suspension Left Fore/Right Hind Leg together

MOVEMENT TROT CANTER Example: 5 The four gaits of the horse are The trot is a 2-beat movement, The canter is a 3-beat Left Hind Leg. walk, trot, canter, gallop. Each each one involving both a movement with a period of Right Hind Leg/Left Fore Leg. one has a different rhythm called fore and hind leg diagonal to suspension after each Right Fore Leg. a beat, basically the sound made each other, then a period of full stride. Suspension. during one full stride. suspension when all four legs In speed it is the in-between are off the ground before the gait of the trot and gallop and GALLOP WALK opposite fore and hind leg make involves aspects of each of It is only since the development The walk is naturally the contact with the ground. The those stride patterns. It of photography that a horse’s slowest and involves a 4-beat horse literally ‘springs’ from one begins with a hind leg landing stride at the gallop has been fully movement. diagonal movement to the other. on the ground before the other understood. In 1878 Englishman hind leg and the diagonal front Edweard Muybridge photographed Example: Example: leg land in unison. The final a horse at a gallop using 12 Right Hind Leg Right Fore/Left Hind Leg together. movement involves the cameras placed along a 20 foot Right Fore Leg. Suspension opposite front leg landing strip and captured the sequence of Left Hind Leg. Left Fore/Right Hind Leg which provides propulsion into foot-falls for the first time. Left Fore Leg. together. the air. He actually did this to settle a

RACING the IRISH way 33 bet for American industrialist and horse Leland Example of a gallop The positions of the main organs of a horse Stanford. He believed that there sequence: Lungs Kidney Large was a point during a horse’s Left Hind Leg Intestines gallop when all four legs were Right hind Leg (Colon) off the ground. Others Left Fore Leg disagreed with this theory Right Fore leg (called ‘Unsupported Transit’) Suspension and it was impossible to tell with the naked eye. Lead/Leading Leg

c This refers to the front leg h So, Stanford hired renowned which is furthest forward during Oesophagus a p photographer Muybridge to a gallop or canter. A horse is t e set about proving that he was on its right lead when the right r Heart correct. And he was. Up until foreleg is the last one to leave Stomach Cecum this time, paintings depicting the ground before the period of 5 horses at the gallop had their suspension leading onto the Liver stride pattern completely next stride. And vice-versa for wrong, giving them a the left foreleg. gait which Muybridge proved was unnatural. SPEED The top speed of a racehorse at this speed. However, while know, we don’t often get those The gallop is the fastest of the is 47 miles per hour, making it running at just below top speed conditions in Ireland! horse’s gaits. It is a 4-beat the second fastest animal on of 44 miles per hour a racehorse movement that differs from the earth behind the cheetah and can sustain this level of speed Unlike in athletics, however, canter in speed and in that racehorses have a jockey on for an amazing one and a half there are no official world each leg moves individually their back! miles, and is capable of clocking record times in racing, because (producing the four beats), 2 Minutes 24 Seconds for this racecourses throughout the there is no diagonal hind-leg/ However, a racehorse cannot distance, approximately the world are different sizes and fore leg unison of movement. sustain this top speed for longer world record time. This is under shapes with different surfaces There is also a period of than a quarter mile, ideal fast ground conditions on a (which can be affected by suspension in the air at the 2 furlongs or 400 metres and dead level surface with 9 stone weather) and horses carry end of the full stride. they slow down dramatically (126 pounds) on its back. As we varying weights in races.

34 RACING the IRISH way Points of the horse Crest Withers Girth Back Flank Loins Point of Croup Point of Buttocks

Poll

Forelock Root of

Cheek

Nostrils c h a p Muzzle t e r

Chin Groove Throat

Jugular Groove 5

Breast

Point of Shoulder Sheath

Pectorial Muscle Belly Stifle

Quarters Elbow Chestnut Hock Forearm Tendon Knee

Cannon Bone Fetlock Joint Pastern Coronet Heel Hoof

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36 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 6

FOAL TO FINAL FURLONG: BREAKING, TRAINING AND SELLING

“As my father used to say, a foal is born at one-tenth of the adult body weight but a half of its height. So it’s tall and gangly. Nature has designed it that way, that the foaling process lasts no more than an hour and that the foal can gallop as quickly as its mother within an hour of being born. That was to protect it from predators.”

John Osborne

RACING the IRISH way 37 at the trainer’s yard. It is the they are brought out to a field for “Sea The Stars was a big heavy foal but he trainers, work riders and jockeys a half hour and led up and down. was beautifully put together. He was always that polish the diamonds to For the first week they are out on a very nice foal, he was trouble-free, never produce the finished product. their own, after which they are sick a day in his life, he was just a very easy horse in every way. He was always a very easy But if the preparation before the put together in clusters of four mover, a good walker, good temperament. He horse gets to him is of the right or five, ensuring that the groups just had this quality, a little arrogance: ‘I quality, the job of the trainer is are all the same age. am superior to every other horse’. He has it an awful lot easier. John Clarke’s successor as Chief in spades, the look of a king. Always had it.” Here are the steps a horse takes Executive of the Irish National John Clarke before becoming ready to be Stud is John Osborne, whose

c trained to race. father, Michael was Manager h there for 12 years. a p he former Chief Derby, , FLAT t e Executive of the Irish ). Her experience Weaning “As my father used to say, a r National Stud in Kildare, serves to emphasise that there Although the natural foaling foal is born at one-tenth of the TJohn Clarke, knows only is no such thing as a certainty time for horses is in the adult body weight but a half of 6 too well that Sea The Stars is in racing. summer, the convention that all its height. So it’s tall and gangly. a rarity. Yet he represents the thoroughbreds share birth dates Nature has designed it that way, dream of the breeding world. There is a long journey to travel of January 1, regardless of when that the foaling process lasts no from a foal being born to it they are born, has encouraged more than an hour and that the “You need luck as well as good reaching the racecourse, people to produce foals foal can gallop as quickly as its blood lines to produce a horse if it ever does. It early in a year (after mother within an hour of being like Secretariat. It’s a funny is all too easy an 11-month gestation born. That was to protect it from thing. For instance, Secretariat to forget the period) so that predators.” has a half-sister who looks like a time and they are not at potential winner. But he also has endeavour a competitive The next step is to wean them a half-sister who couldn’t outrun that has disadvantage. from the mares around August a fat man going downhill.” - been The day after or September. Any foals born in Helen Tweedy invested a foal is born May wouldn’t be weaned until into that – anywhere November. By this stage, the Helen Tweedy was the owner of horse between foals are around six months Secretariat, who won American before it February and old and have established a Triple Crown in 1973 (Kentucky arrives June usually - fair degree of independence,

38 RACING the IRISH way Throughout this time, the foals are wormed on a monthly basis, while a farrier comes in once a month to do their shoes.

Sales You have to decide what foals are going to what sales very early on. Foal sales take place in Goffs, Tattersalls and Doncaster in

November, and with closing date c for entries around April, the foals h a are just a few weeks old when the p t breaking away to play. By the call is made. e r time they are three weeks old they are already mimicking the “It’s difficult because they can dam by nibbling at solid food. change a lot” admits Andrew Yearling sales take place walkers, building up from five 6 They get supplementary feed Hughes, General Manager of between August and October at minutes a day to an hour, along the way to make sure they Thistle Farm, in the parish of the aforementioned venues, with getting them fitter and have a good solid diet before Danesfort outside Kilkenny. “We Deauville also a popular venue. developing their muscles. the milk, which is their primary just have to make the decision There is a level of investor who The next step is to start lunging source of nutrition, is taken about which sales they will go to will purchase at these sales, them around a ring which from them. depending on how forward they are break the yearlings and then continues that strengthening or not at that stage.” sell them as two-year-olds in process. Lunging is the first The weaning is done gradually, training at breeze-up sales, step to opening up the lines of with two mares being taken from a Around 20% of the foal crop is but the majority of buyers are communication with a horse. It group and continuing that until the generally offered at these sales, agents representing trainers is a critical method of education quietest mare is left with four or ensuring that there is an immediate or owners. as well as helping to build five foals and then suddenly they return from some of the investment. There is an intensive preparation up fitness and strength. It is are on their own. The mourning There is a band of investors called process, where the yearlings are also the first step in creating period is very short. By the next pin-hookers who buy foals with the trained to be presented. correct movement in a horse. day, neither mare nor foal will even distinct purpose of making a profit At first they are walked either Conformation will always play an know a separation took place. at the yearling sales. manually or on mechanical important part in how a

RACING the IRISH way 39 horse moves but proper training NATIONAL HUNT will teach it to carry a rider in a In Ireland, the first races controlled, safe manner. for national hunt horses are three-year-old hurdles around Breaking / Pre-Training September, but they tend to This process begins as soon as feature converts from the flat the sales are concluded, around scene more than the traditional the second week of October. All national hunt horses. going to plan, they will be riding before Christmas. “Traditional national hunt horses

c By now, many horses may have are slower to mature and you h grown accustomed to the tack need to give them that time a p from lunging. If not, the tack to grow as they have a bigger t e is introduced gradually, from frame”, says Osborne. “They are r the bit, to the reins, a girth, a brought along gradually, they’re roller, a leather girth, a saddle, not force-fed. They’re out at 6 and then the stirrups hanging grass really until they grow into loosely. Having someone sit up used to that we take them to everyone does it differently. themselves.” on them is something totally the lunge ring” reveals Hughes. We like to get them away to different altogether, as is “Then we drive them for four or the trainers early, by the Most national hunt horses are learning what the rider is trying five weeks up and down the road beginning of March, but others castrated as yearlings, and at to communicate. and then we get them on the could have them at home until the latest as two-year-olds. three-furlong sand gallop we April or May. If a trainer finds They would begin with a bit of Generally trainers go through have had custom-built here. the horse to be still a bit weak handling at two but the breaking this process themselves, but “We start with the trot and they’ll come back to us for a process might not begin until there are an increasing number then into a canter. month or so , where the they are three. of pre-training establishments, Then we teach them to canter process is continued.” while the likes of Thistle Farm, upsides other horses. Sales which runs its own runners, We don’t push them hard. It is time-consuming and Animals are sold as foals and also do it. It’s not about galloping, or arduous but the results can yearlings by speculators looking speed at that stage, it’s be very rewarding. Once the to make a quick profit the “We start by sitting on them about educating them and horse has moved to the trainers following year or two, but most in the box and when they get strengthening them up.“Again, though, it’s up to them. national hunt sales are for

40 RACING the IRISH way three and four-year-olds or store horses.

National hunt sales usually take place in February, August and November with the three and four-year-olds usually tagged as unbroken stock.

The success of some

French-bred national hunt c horses has put some pressure h a on Irish breeders to bring their p t animals along more quickly, as e r the French have theirs jumping by three. So it is clear that this is an ongoing process that will 6 continue to evolve, as breeders try to find that crucial edge.

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42 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 7 behind the scenes

Training racehorses involves so much more than horsemanship. It requires the exactness of a scientist, the patience of a portrait painter, the foresight of a clairvoyant and the diplomacy of a United Nations peace envoy. Most of all it requires instinct.

RACING the IRISH way 43 Vincent O’Brien, they look to raise changing things entirely. Nobody the bar. If you keep doing that, said it was easy. who knows where you’ll end up? Oxx and O’Brien probably trained STAGE 1 their horses differently. Most do. “The whole art in training There is a broad sketch of what horses is to keep them calm is required though to have a and confident in themselves. If horse fit for race day - a gradual they have ability to match, you’re progression that brings it to laughing.” – Curragh-based the track ready to do itself trainer, Caroline Hutchinson

c justice and hopefully fulfil h the dreams of all the Assuming that a horse has been a p connections. pre-trained well and arrives at t e What is outlined below a yard healthy and with plenty r Vincent and Charles O’Brien is based on best case of condition, work can began scenarios. Injury, immediately. Initially a trainer 7 illness, weather will run the rule over the horse, “If you went up to Heaven and you or a host of taking note of its strengths, brought Vincent down a star, he’d say, other factors weaknesses and general why didn’t you bring down two or three? can enter an conformation and progress He was always striving for more. That equation, accordingly. was one of the reasons why he was such a brilliant trainer.” “People forget how Phonsie O’Brien on his brother, Vincent difficult it is to win a Group 1 race,” says John Oxx. “Aidan here is no manual or prizes in the world – O’Brien wins so many, but for anyone to prescribed method to says that it’s difficult, win a Group 1 race in train horses. And when you’d better believe it. a year is a big thing. TJohn Oxx – a man who For many, winning any John Oxx You’re lucky if you has trained Sinndar, , sort of a race is the goal. win one.” and the But then like the greatest John Oxx Sea The Stars to the biggest trainer of them all,

44 RACING the IRISH way “The idea is to get it to the track behind the horse guiding it that, it’s just a good balanced the terrain (e.g. if roads need to sound, fit and with a potentially with long reins which are diet of straw and horse feed. be travelled to get to a gallop). lengthy career ahead of it, so attached to the bit, thereby “The ideal situation with a vet Most of the time horses wear any potential problems must familiarising the horse is to keep them away”, says steel shoes but, for racing, they be spotted early and taken into with being controlled and Hutchinson. That is nothing get aluminium plates put on a account when work begins”, manoeuvred by reins via personal against the medicos. day or two beforehand. Caroline Hutchinson explains. the bit. It’s just that if a yard doesn’t • exercise with a rider lying see a vet, it means the horses STAGE 2 The first 6-12 weeks are all on its back are sound and healthy. Horses With the horse now having about building a routine, usually • exercise with the rider in are generally blood-tested and built a good base of fitness by sending horses on a couple of the normal riding position. scoped before a run to ensure and strength and avoided any c steady canters a day. That would When the horse accepts the that they are ready to go. problems, work is stepped up. h a apply for both flat and national rider fully it is then said to By contrast, farriers are always This entails what is called p t hunt horses, with the jumpers be ‘broken and ridden away’. in the yard. A set of shoes should half-speed work, or a “swing”, e r covering more distance. last between a month and six which is quicker than a hack Many horses have been “I liked about five or six weeks to weeks but that will depend on canter but not a flat out gallop. broken by the time they come break my yearlings, and for quite 7 to a trainer but most aren’t. a while afterwards they were Traditionally, it takes five to six ridden along the roads around weeks to break a horse, to have the farm, walking and trotting. them accepting the rider at the They then began cantering in walk, trot and canter. The usual circles, right and left. They later routine is to gradually introduce started working over stretches the various elements of the of about two furlongs, distances process in stages. Much of the increasing as they progressed.” work takes place in a lunging – Vincent O’Brien ring, an enclosed circular arena with sand or woodchip surface. Dietary and other needs Like any athlete, a horse is given • exercise with a roller (girth), a general tonic or vitamins on a then exercise with a saddle daily basis. It is also important to • exercising by long reins, keep the electrolyte levels right, whereby the handler walks to keep them hydrated. After

RACING the IRISH way 45 by Tom Dreaper, the renowned that routine is changed too much trainer of chasers including and that is not conducive to a the incomparable Arkle, was to good performance on the track. jump drains. Some trainers work really hard on turning the horse out well, “It gets them concentrating” plaiting the mane and clipping Hutchinson reveals. “They have them with a variety of designs. to look, stretch, jump and gallop Most horses travel with boots from the back of them. If a horse and bandages to protect their is nervous you have to improvise feet and the tail is tied to stop

c because you can’t make a horse them rubbing it. h do anything. “It’s imperative a p that you have good staff when it t Aidan O’Brien stretching his e comes to schooling or stalling. horses leg after saddling before r at his Closutton gallops with They have to be confident to the race keep the situation calm. That 7 transmits itself to the horse.” During this time, if it hasn’t get and introducing something been done at pre-training, you new at that point could be very By the time you have a young might teach them to run upsides distressing for all concerned, not horse schooled or a flat horse horses. Future jumpers would be least the horse. stalled, three to six months will popped over a few polls and then have elapsed and having avoided schooled over hurdles or fences. Some people might be of the any setbacks, thoughts will start Flat horses are stalled – put notion that schooling horses is turning to finding them a race. through the starting stalls until just a case of aiming for a fence they are comfortable with the and watching them go. Not so. STAGE 3 – RACE DAY claustrophobic nature of being That will work for the natural Generally trainers will try to boxed in on all sides. but some need education. maintain the horse’s routine as much as possible. That It is vital that this is done early There are numerous methods might entail going for a walk in stage two before they get of teaching a horse that is just in the morning, or sending the too fit. The fitter the horses not getting the knack of jumping horse into the paddock for a roll. get, the more wound up they right. One trick used regularly Some horses will start to fret if

46 RACING the IRISH way Of course trainers have long term plans and, to win a Gold Cup or a Derby, you cannot have your horse tuned to the maximum early in the season, no more than potential All-Ireland winners will be at their best in April.

“Some people think c h that you can have a a horse ready for p t a race in a couple e of months. It took r Eamonn Coghlan eight months to prepare for the 7 world championships and he weighs about one sixth of a racehorse. The pre parade ring “If you go too fast too soon with a horse you will make its Arrival at the track is a minimum They each have a passport granted, it’s a case of keeping muscle sore and set of two hours before race time. recording their markings, details the horse relaxed, getting it it back a lot...... It The horse is walked and the and the regular vaccinations they to the parade ring and then takes six months of mouth sponged, while many have gotten throughout their life. handing it over to the jockey, work, from January trainers now put a muzzle on to The racecourse vet investigates with whatever riding instructions to June, to bring a stop it picking at the shavings the horse to ensure that the the trainer might have. horse to its peak to in its box. Every horse has a markings and microchip coincide Next time the trainer lays a hand win a Derby.” Kevin Prendergast microchip administered as a foal with what is on the passport. on its charge, it will hopefully be when they are first blood tested. Once the all clear has been in the winner’s enclosure.

RACING the IRISH way 47 c h a p t e r

8

48 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 8

RACECOURSES, RACING & RACEDAYS

“Racetrack! Well... what am I doin’ here?” - Groucho Marx Groucho’s famous line comes from the Marx brothers movie, A Day At The Races, a typical caper for the hapless trio. While their type of incident-packed day is unlikely to occur to your average racegoer, Ireland’s 26 tracks – more per head of population than any other in the world – will certainly prove a splendid source of entertainment. Two of the country’s foremost jockeys, David Casey and Declan McDonogh, help to give us some insight on these amphitheatres of racing.

RACING the IRISH way 49 Flat course “A relatively Flat track 1m6f which goes 1m4f slightly uphill on

1m1f the back straight. It tends National Hunt to favour HURDLE pace horses c although h 2m4f a 2m sometimes p CHASE t 2m6f they can go e r too quick.” Winning Post David Casey 2m National Hunt & Flat 2m1f Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence ballinrobe Facts about ballinrobe slightly elevated right-handed oval of approximately one mile and one furlong for Flat and National Hunt, with a run-in It is located 30 miles from Galway, placed in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Aof two and a half furlongs. There are four hurdles and six fences 140 from Dublin, 159 from Cork and won his first race at Ballinrobe in on the circuit. With a bend on both the five and six furlong courses, a € 186 from Belfast. 1993. He went on to accumulate 1m high draw is advantageous. Racing has been held on the current course in prize money. The then apprentice, Danny Mullins since 1921, although the area has been hosting races since 1773. had the best winning percentage of Traverse, the horse owned by racing any Flat jockey at the course in 2009, fanatic Hector Ó hEochagáin for the Contact Details Course Characteristics Location with a 24% strike rate that would TV series Only Fools Buy Horses, also , The course itself is a Situated 2 km have seen his followers earn €20 won its first race here. Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. slightly elevated from the town euro for every €1 invested. right-handed oval of about of Ballinrobe T: 094 954 1811 one mile and one furlong in Co. Mayo. Ballinrobe has an average attendance E: [email protected] which features competitive Dorans Pride, a former Cheltenham of 2,058 for its nine meetings. W: www.ballinroberacecourse.ie Flat and National Hunt Stayers’ Hurdle winner and twice (jump) racing.

50 RACING the IRISH way “Mainly a Flat course summer 1m6f & 5f track, it’s

very quick 1m4 1/2f 1m as usually the ground is good. When it’s softer, you National Hunt find that 3m the horses c 2m1f h that go a p wide 2m4f t e usually r do well.” Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Startpoint David Casey Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump BELLEWSTOWN Fence sharp, left-handed, dual purpose oval of one mile and one Facts about Bellewstown furlong, with a three furlong run-in and uphill climb to the Afinishing post. There are five hurdles on a circuit. In the 100% of its races were sponsored Bellewstown is remembered by many sprints, a low draw has the advantage. Racing was recorded here in 2009. for Barney Curley’s major betting coup as far back as 1726. with Yellow in 1975. Curley is Sponsorship has been pursued at reported to have made £300,000 from Bellewstown for more than 300 years. the coup, which translates to around In 1780, George Tandy, the mayor of €1.7m today. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location Drogheda and brother of Irish patriot Bellewstown Racecourse, The course is a one mile Situated just off the Napper Tandy, persuaded King George Proving no respecter of reputations, Bellewstown, Co. Meath. and one furlong, left main Dublin-Belfast III to sponsor a race to be known as Bellewstown greeted the 1868 Irish handed oval featuring Road (N1) His Majesty’s Plate, which was worth Derby winner, Madeira on consecutive Raceday No: 041 982 3614 Flat and hurdle racing. T: 041 984 2111 £100. The English monarchs days. He lost both times. E: [email protected] continued to sponsor a race here W: www:bellewstownraces.ie until 1980.

RACING the IRISH way 51 Flat course “The ground 2m1/2f 2m can get quite testing in 1m4f so that stiff, 1m2f uphill climb can National Hunt find 2m1/2f 2m 3m them out.” HURDLE c David Casey h 2m62m22m6fm6f a 3m p 22m2m12m1f1f t 2m42m2m4fm44f CHASE e 2m1f22m1m1f r 2m6f Winning Post Startpoint 2m4f National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence clonmel Facts about clonmel right-handed, one mile and two furlongs, undulating track for National Hunt and Flat racing. It has a two and a half furlong Boasts a record attendance which giving his supporters a 1050% return Arun-in with a stiff, uphill finish. There are six hurdles and seven stands at 5,900. for their investment. fences on the circuit while there is no draw advantage out of the stalls. Powerstown Park has hosted racing since the early 19th century. Between 2006 and the summer of An average of €265, 678.10 was 2010, Waterford trainer Pat Flynn has bet on course in 2009 at the venue’s sent out the most Flat winners at 12 meetings. Powerstown Park, with nine. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location , The course is Located 2 km Francis Ennis is also a man to watch. Davis Road, right-handed, undulating, from Clonmel town Based on the Curragh, Ennis has Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. with a stiff uphill finish centre on T: 052 61 72481 and is one mile and two the Waterford/Cork brought just four horses to Clonmel E: administration furlongs in length. to Limerick road. for Flat races in that five-year period @sportingpress.ie and three of them have prevailed, W: www.clonmelraces.ie

52 RACING the IRISH way Flat course “A very 6f 7f 6f level track, 1 1m 5f it tends 1m/2f 1m4f to suit 1m2f the speed horses, especially National Hunt when the 2m 2m ground is 2m2f 2m4f good, which HURDLE 3m3m c it is a lot 2m1f 2m hCHASE because it 2m4f 3m4f a p dries very 2m5f t e quickly.” r 3m David Casey Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump cork Fence right-handed Flat and level oval of between one mile and two Facts about cork furlongs (inner circuit) and one mile and four furlongs (outer circuit) Afor National Hunt and Flat racing situated in Mallow. It also has a six The historic race that led to the term return than his rival over furlong sprint track with no draw advantages. Racing has been held in the ‘steeplechasing’ being popularised jumps in Cork 31 wins from 118 region since 1777, while Mallow racecourse opened for business in 1924. took place just a few miles down the runners between 2006 and July 2010. road. In 1752, Edmund Blake and But Meade is the man for punters to It was redeveloped and renamed Cork, opening for business in 1997. Cornelius O’Callaghan organised a 4 follow, his 18 winners from 82 runners mile cross-country race from the in that period providing an eye-popping Contact Details Course Characteristics Location steeple of St John’s Church in return of €21.13. (Mallow) Ltd, The new improved Situated 1 mile to the steeple of St Mary’s in . Killarney Road, Mallow, course is a right- from Mallow Blake was the victor and claimed a cask The highest daily attendance at Co. Cork. handed, Flat, oval track town on the of wine as his winnings. More Cork in 2009 was 4,500 on April 12. of about one mile and Mallow-Killarney T: 022 50 207 four furlongs in length Road (N72). significantly, a new sport was born. That marked a 13.5% increase on E: [email protected] with a six furlong the highest daily attendance for W: www.corkracecourse.ie sprint track. Willie Mullins has a higher percentage the previous year.

RACING the IRISH way 53 Flat course “The best track in the country. 2m 1 1m6f 1m4f 1m2 /2f It’s very 1m2f 1m2f 1m1f fair and 1m(new) usually 1m1f the best

5f 6f63y horses will Position of 2m, 1m6f and 1m4f 1m starts dependent on which course is in win there. use: Derby (inner horseshoe) or Plate (outer) 6f 7f Ground c can vary h a from day p t to day.” e r Declan McDonogh Winning Post Startpoint Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence the curragh Facts about the curragh right-handed undulating horseshoe-shaped course over two miles, with an adjoining chute feeding into the home straight which stages races of The Home of the Classics had a total 2010), Murtagh has been the man to Aup to a mile. It has a three furlong run-in with an uphill finish.E xclusively attendance of 104,759 from 19 days of follow, being the top pilot in terms of for Flat racing. The five and six furlong sprints are straight with an advantage to racing in 2009. winners (82), percentage of winners those drawn low. On the round course, the advantage is for the high numbers. from rides (19%) and bang for the The record attendance is the 31,136 punter’s buck (€29.22 per €1). Racing was held for the first time at the venue in 1741. that roared on the John Oxx-trained and -ridden Alamshar The Curragh is the largest horse Contact Details Course Characteristics Location as he beat off the challenge of French training centre in Ireland, with extensive Curragh Racecourse, The Curragh is a right-handed, Situated on the raider and fellow Aga Khan-owned colt facilities on its grounds. The Curragh, undulating, horseshoe-shaped Curragh plains, all the way up the straight to Co. Kildare. course two miles (3200M) in 3 km from the town length with an adjoining chute of Newbridge in win the 2003 Irish Derby. It is the Home of the Classics: the T: 045 441 205/441 105 feeding into the home straight Co. Kildare and less Derby, , 2000 and 1000 Guineas, E: [email protected] which stages races of up to than an hour from For the last five years (2006 to July and St Leger. W: www.curragh.ie one mile. Dublin.

54 RACING the IRISH way Flat course “A good 7f

galloping 5f track that’s 1m21/2f nearly two miles in circumfer- 1m5f ence. It’s downhill for the final two National Hunt 2m6f HURDLE furlongs 2m4f 2m4f with a c Hurdle used depends h CHASE short run on which 2m4f start 2m a 2m7f -in so you 3m p 2m4f 2m4f t need to e r have a good Winning Post National Hunt & Flat position Startpoint 3m2f 2m Highest Point before Lowest Point turning in.” Open ditch 8 Water jump down royal David Casey Fence A right-handed, almost square, undulating course of one Facts about down royal mile and seven furlongs for National Hunt and Flat racing. AThere is a downhill run to the straight and a slight uphill In 1750, King George II donated £100 honour, with former Gold Cup winners finish to the post. There are 10 fences (two ditches) and eight to run a King’s Plate and to this day, and hurdles on the circuit. It has a chute for the five furlong start and a Royal Plate has been held at the featured in a list of victors that since course, with the prize money 1999 includes , Beef Or there is no draw advantage from the stalls. contributed to by the Privy Purse. Salmon and The Listener.

Contact Details Course Characteristics Location 2002 Melbourne Cup winner, Media The Down Royal Corporation of , Down Royal is a Down Royal is Puzzle, was sent to Down Royal by Horse Breeders started racing in Maze, Lisburn, right-handed, located 4 km Dermot Weld to win the Ulster 1685 although they didn’t move to the Co. Down BT27 5RW. undulating course of from the town Derby two years previously. present course until 1789. The features T: R.O.I: 048 926 21 256/ one mile and seven of Lisburn, N.I: 028 926 21 256 furlongs in length with Co. Down. include the three-day Ulster Derby E: [email protected] an uphill finish. The Jnwine.com Champion Chase festival in the summer and the Grade 1 W: www.downroyal.com has an even more illustrious roll of Champion Chase in November.

RACING the IRISH way 55 Flat course “A roller- coaster. 1 2m11/2f 1m4 /2f It’s a stiff, uphill finish. Horses can get caught National Hunt out if they go tooHU RDLE 2m11/2f 2m61/2f c quicklyCHAS E h 2m2f 2m6f a 2m21/2f down the p 2m51/2f t hill.” 3m4f 2m7f e David Casey r 2m21/2f Winning Post 1 Startpoint 2m5 /2f National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence downpatrick Facts about downpatrick right-handed, undulating oval of almost one mile and three furlongs with an uphill finish for both National Hunt and Michael Halford and Peter Casey are watched too, with 22% of his runners AFlat. The short run-in is just one furlong. There are five the trainers to follow on the Flat, with winning and giving his supporters a hurdles and seven fences, with no draw advantage on the Flat. € 29% and 27% strike rates between return of 18.88. Racing began here in 1685. 2006 and July 2010, yielding dividends of €16.63 and €20. The most famous horse to run at Downpatrick was Byerley Turk, one of Noel Meade is the best trainer to three stallions credited with starting Contact Details Course Characteristics Location follow over obstacles for the same the Thoroughbred breed. He ran here Downpatrick Racecourse, The course is right- Situated 2 km period with a profit of €21.69 per in 1690 en route to the Battle of Ballydugan Road, Downpatrick, handed, undulating from the centre runner and a 25% strike rate, the Boyne. Co. Down BT30 7SP. of one mile and two of Downpatrick furlongs in length in Co. Down. although Willie Mullins has the T: R.O.I: 028 44 612 054 with an uphill finish. higher percentage of winners at 27%. €596,800 in prize money was on offer E: [email protected] Local man, Brian Hamilton is to be over the track’s 10 meetings in 2009. W: www.downpatrickracecourse.co.uk

56 RACING the IRISH way “It can Flat course vary from day to day. Sometimes 5f it can ride 6f very quick 2m 7f 2m1f 1m and at 2m2f others it can ride dead. You 1m4f definitely 1m21/2f c want a h specialist a p horse for it, t e generally r one that Winning Post all weather track Startpoint needs quick Highest Point Lowest Point ground.” Open ditch 8 Declan McDonogh Water jump dundalk Fence left-handed, floodlit, 10 furlong oval with polytrack Facts about dundalk surface exclusively for Flat racing. It also has a five-furlong Achute. The country’s first and only all-weather course Dundalk’s convenient location – The total on-course betting at the opened in 2007. 40 minutes from Dublin Airport and an stadium’s 29 meetings in 2009 was hour from Belfast InterNational and €5,029,591, accumulated by an Belfast City Airports – has made aggregate attendance of 48,395. it a popular venue for hen and stag parties. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location , The race track is a Situated Noel Meade’s former high class Racecourse Road, left handed, floodlit, approximately hurdler, has used the venue Dundalk, Co. Louth 10 furlong polytrack 1km from as a warm-up for a tilt at the Champion with a 5 furlong chute. Dundalk town T: 042 9334438 centre on the Hurdle in Cheltenham, winning here in E: [email protected] north side. February 2008. Harchi also ran the last W: www.dundalkstadium.com of his 38 races at Dundalk.

RACING the IRISH way 57 Flat course “A good 1m1f 7f 1m2f 66ff track, it can sometimes 1m4fm4ff favour 1m5f the speed 1m61m6f6f horses as it dries National Hunt quickly 2m6f 2m4f HURDLE 33mm enough. The 2m22m2fm f 2m2f2m2f c 2m4f2m2m4f chase track h 2mm 1 CHASE a 2m7 /2f 2m61/2f is a little p 2m2m5m51//22f 2m2m t 33m1fm1f stiffer than e r 2m42m4ff the hurdle 2m5f22m2m5f Winning Post track 2m Startpoint National Hunt & Flat 33mm Highest Point though.” Lowest Point 2m22m2f2f David Casey 8 Open ditch 3m5f3m5m55f 22m2m12m1ff Water jump Fence Fairyhouse Facts about Fairyhouse right-handed, relatively Flat, round course of one mile and six furlongs for National Hunt and Flat. It has a run-in of almost three The record attendance at Fairyhouse Arkle, Splash, ), having won Afurlongs with a slight uphill finish. There are eight hurdles and is just in excess of 25,000. it three times before that. 11 fences on the circuit, with a high draw advantage for up to a mile on Tom’s son Jim has trained the winner the Flat. The first meeting was held here in 1848 and it hosts the Easter The winner of the 1929 Irish Grand four times, including a three-in-a-row National was Alike, who was owned from 1974-76 (Colebridge, followed by Festival, which features the . and ridden by 5’4” Frank Wise, who Brown Lad twice). Brown Lad came was missing three fingers and had a back to become the most successful Contact Details Course Characteristics Location wooden leg. Irish Grand National horse to win it a , The course itself Situated north-west third time in 1978. , is right-handed, of Dublin near the Tom Dreaper trained the winner of Ann Ferris remains the only woman Co. Meath. relatively Flat and is village of Ratoath in one mile and six Co. Meath. the Grand National a record seven to have ridden the winner of the T: 01 825 6167 furlongs in length. times in a row from 1960-66 Grand National, booting home E: [email protected] (Olympia, , Kerforo, Last Link, Bentom Boy in 1984. W: www.fairyhouseracecourse.ie

58 RACING the IRISH way Flat course “A very 1m6f tight circuit 2m with a stiff, 7f uphill finish. You 1m4f need luck 1m1/2f in running sometimes, especially National Hunt when there 2m 3m 2m6f HURDLE are plenty c h 2m4f of runners.” a CHASE 2m2f p David Casey t e r 2m1f Winning Post 2m6f National Hunt & Flat Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump Galway Fence right-handed course of one mile and two furlongs for Facts about Galway National Hunt and Flat racing. There is a sharp descent to the turn-in, with a steep, uphill finish of two furlongs. There The festival is estimated to be worth on-course betting in 2009, with A € € are six hurdles and seven fences, while low numbers have a slight in the region of 60 million to the a staggering 23,264,886 spent advantage in seven furlong races. Records of organised racing local economy. by punters between bookmakers and Tote. here go back to the mid-thirteenth century. As of July 2010, the Galway Races page on Facebook had 17,385 Dermot Weld is the man to follow at Contact Details Course Characteristics Location followers.169,812 people attended Galway, passing the 200-winner mark Galway Racecourse, Right handed course Situated about Galway’s 12 fixtures in 2009. 158, on the track in 2008 with Lady Alicia. Ballybrit, of one mile and two 6 km outside 341 of those showed up over the Ansar loved it around Ballybrit, Co. Galway. furlongs with a steep Galway city off the seven-day festival. winning there on seven occasions, incline into the dip. Galway-Tuam road. T: 091 753 870 including the Galway Hurdle in E: [email protected] Galway had the highest figure of all 2001 and the Galway Plate in 2004 W: www.galwayraces.com racecourses in Ireland for aggregate and 2005.

RACING the IRISH way 59 Flat course 7f “It’s looked 1m after very 1m11/2f well. Most 2m tracks with golf courses next to them are and I 1m4f don’t know if that’s a National Hunt coincidence.

2m2f It’s aHU gooRDLE d 2m4f 2m1f track c h 2m although the a 3m grouCHndASE can p 2m2f t 2m4f turn up very e 2m1f soft. It’s said r Winning Post 2m that it’s a Startpoint 3m good front- National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point runner’s 8 Open ditch track.” Water jump Fence Declan McDonogh gowran park Facts about Gowran Park right-handed, undulating, dual purpose oval of one mile and four furlongs (NH) and one mile three furlongs (Flat) with a run-in of Whinstone Boy’s success in the 2010 Many years later, Athree furlongs and an uphill finish. It has six hurdles and seven was an emotional won his first race at Gowran in 2002, fences, with no draw advantage from the stalls. It held its first meeting one for Aintree Grand National- before progressing to win four Group in 1914. The Thyestes Chase is a target for most trainers. winning trainer Jimmy Mangan as he 1 races including the Irish 2000 was realising a lifetime’s ambition of Guineas in 2003. emulating the achievement of his late father Paddy, who took the is another legendary Contact Details Course Characteristics Location prestigious prize in 1981 with horse associated with the course, Gowran Park, The course is a Situated just 1 km pint-sized mare, June’s Friend. prepping for his dual Champion Gowran, Co. Kilkenny. right-handed undulating outside the village won his first race on Hurdle heroics by finishing second in track of one mile and of Gowran on the T: 056 772 6225 four furlongs in length Dublin-Waterford this track before going on to win the the Red Mills Trial Hurdle in 2004 and E: [email protected] that stages Flat and road. Ascot Gold Cup and Prix de l’Arc winning the race in 2000. W: www.gowranpark.ie National Hunt racing. de Triomphe in 1969.

60 RACING the IRISH way “Usually National Hunt very fast, 2m6f it’s very HURDLE sharp 3m 2m4f and tends 2m 2m3f to have 2m1f 2m7f CHASE lots of 2m6f runners.” 3m1f David Casey 2m4f

c h a p t e r Winning Post National Hunt Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump kilbeggan Fence right-handed, round, undulating National Hunt course of Facts about kilbeggan one mile and one furlong, with a short uphill run-in of 300 Ayards to the winning post. There are five hurdles and six The track is in the midlands 13km In the trainers’ category, Noel Meade fences on the circuit. The first mention of racing in the area north of Tullamore, 21km south-east has a 27% success rate, just 1% was in 1840, while it has been taking place at the current venue of Mullingar, 92km west of Dublin and behind Willie Mullins; but like 125km north-east of Limerick. Geraghty, Meade gets some since 1901. big-priced winners, as evidenced by In the five-year period from 2006 the €42.77 dividend per euro. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location to July 2010, Ruby Walsh, , Kilbeggan is a Situated 1.5 km and Then one of the biggest patrons Loughnagore, Kilbeggan, right-handed, outside Kilbeggan all have a 28% strike rate here. of horse racing in the world, Co. Westmeath. undulating course of town in Geraghty is the man to follow though Prince Aly Khan rode Ynys to victory one mile and one Co. Westmeath. T: 057 933 2176 furlong with an uphill if you want to make money, giving his at this venue in 1953. E: [email protected] run to the winning post. backers a massive return of €42.92 W: www.kilbegganraces.com for that period.

RACING the IRISH way 61 Flat course “A good 1m6f fair summer track. It doesn’t 1m1/2f 1m4f 2m1f take rain 1m3f very well but is set in picturesque National Hunt surround- 2m6f ingHURs.”DLE

c 2m4f DavidCH CASaseyE h 2m6f 2m1f a p t e 2m1f r 2m41/2f Winning Post Startpoint National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence killarney Facts about killarney he National Hunt and Flat course is a left-handed, level oval of approximately one mile and two furlongs. All bends are cambered. Aidan O’Brien doesn’t send too Despite the increasingly difficult TIt has five hurdles and six fences, while a low draw is desired in many to Killarney but he has an economic conditions, Killarney distances up to a mile. Racing was first recorded in the region in 1822 and unprecedented 53% success rate. managed to secure sponsorship for the present track was opened in 1936, where it is home to three hugely Even more significant, and 98.6% of its races in 2009. surprising given that so many of the Remarkably, this represented popular festivals. trainer’s charges go off at a slight increase on the short odds, his backers have made previous year. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location €30.58 per euro bet from 2006 to , The course is a Located 1 km July 2010. Total on-course betting in the same Killarney, left-handed level, outside Killarney year was €4,502,975. Co. Kerry. oval of approx one mile town just off the and two furlongs. road to Kenmare in Kerry airport at Farranfore is just T: 064 31 125 the County of Kerry. 16km away, offering flights to Dublin E: [email protected] Within walking and the UK. W: www.goracingkillarney.com distance of the town.

62 RACING the IRISH way “It’s unique Flat course in itself. One meeting

a year, 6f 7f it’s pretty simple. There are 10 runners, no stalls and it’s straight c h up. It’s nice a p to ride t e once r a year.” Winning Post Flat Startpoint Declan McDonogh Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump laytown Fence he most unique track in Europe, Flat racing takes place Facts about laytown on a straight, almost level course on the beach. Races are Tconfined to six and seven furlong distances. Racing began Declan McDonogh is the increasing their attendance by 37% on in 1876 but has been running without interruption since 1901. undisputed master of Laytown. 2008 to 5,666. It takes place once a year in September. In the four-year period between 2006 and 2009, the jockey rode six winners out of 13 and provided backers with a very healthy profit Contact Details Course Characteristics Location of €28 per euro bet. Laytown Races, Racing takes place on Laytown is a Laytown, Co. Meath the Laytown small seaside The organisers managed to organise 9 Palace Street, stand on a straight resort in sponsorship for all their races in 2009. Drogheda, Co. Louth. near-level course over Co. Meath on T: 041 984 2111 six and seven furlong Ireland’s east E: [email protected] distances. coast. They were rewarded as Laytown W: www.goracing.ie reversed a National trend by

RACING the IRISH way 63 1m1f 1m2f Flat course 1m “It’s a Group 7f 6f 1 track with 1m4f very good ground. A lot 1m6f of trainers 2m use it for work because it’s always National Hunt 2m6f 3m (outside) in good HURDLE 2m4f condition. 3m (inside) CHASE c It’s a very h 2m2f a fair track p 3m t 2m (outside) that’s e 2m (inside) 2m5f r straight- Winning Post 2m3f forward to Startpoint 2m1f National Hunt & Flat Highest Point ride.” Lowest Point Declan McDonogh 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence leopardstown Facts about leopardstown left-handed, round, dual purpose track of one mile and six furlongs, with a run-in of almost three furlongs and an uphill finish. It has The Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial was has a clear liking for Aseven hurdles and 10 fences, while a high draw has the advantage in won by the subsequent Epsom Derby the Dublin venue. He is the top Flat sprints. Built in 1888, it was purchased by the Racing Board (now HRI) in winner in three consecutive years: in jockey here from 2006 to July 2010 1967 to secure its future in racing. Home to the Hennessy Gold Cup, 2000 by Sinndar, 2001 by Galileo and in terms of winners, percentage of 20002 by . strike rate and profit for the punter. Irish and .

The course record for attendance is A premier National Hunt track Contact Details Course Characteristics Location the 21,000 patrons who turned up also, Leopardstown has played , The course is a Leopardstown on August 28, 1990. host to some of the sport’s absolute , left-handed oval of is situated in The World Athletics Cross-Country legends such as Arkle, Istibraq, Dublin 18. one mile and six Foxrock, Dublin 18, furlongs with an uphill 6 km south of championships have been held Hardy Eustace, , T: 01 289 0500 finishing straight. Dublin city centre. at Leopardstown twice: in 1964 , Florida Pearl and E: [email protected] and 2002. . W: www.leopardstown.com

64 RACING the IRISH way “Seems Flat course 61/2f to favour 7f horses 1m with a bit of pace. You can 1m3f come from quite a bit

back when National Hunt 2m 3m HURDLE the ground 2m2f 2m6f CHASE 2m3f c is soft 2m 2m6f h though.” 2m5f a 2m3f 2m4f 2m1f p David Casey t 3m e r Winning Post 2m31/2f 2m6f National Hunt & Flat Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump limerick Fence right-handed, round, undulating track of one mile and Facts about limerick three furlongs, for National Hunt and Flat racing. It has a Awide, sweeping turn into the straight and a run-in of two Had 22,000 people in attendance The previous six were Bruff, and a half furlongs. There are eight fences and two ditches on the over the course of its four-day Rathkeale, Newcastle, Lemonfield, circuit, with a high draw the best in six furlong races. Built from Christmas festival, placing it in the Ballinacurra and Greenpark. top seven racing festivals in Ireland. , it opened for racing in 2001. The record attendance since Contact Details Course Characteristics Location the racecourse opened in 2001 , It is a right-handed oval Situated at is 18,000. Greenmount Park, track of about one mile Greenmount Park, Patrickswell, Co. Limerick and three furlongs. Patrickswell, 8 km The current location is the seventh south-west of T: 061 320 000 Limerick city on the different one for horse racing in E: [email protected] N20. Signposted Co Limerick since fixtures were W: www.limerickraces.ie along the N20. first recorded there in 1790.

RACING the IRISH way 65 Flat course 1m6f 2m “Very Flat, 7f 1m it tends 61/2f to favour 1m4f 1m1f speed horses, especially 1m2f when the ground National Hunt is quick and 2m (O) especially 3m (O) 2m (I) 3m (I) I - Uses inner back straight c O - Uses outer loop whenHURDLE they h a 2m4f (I) 2m4f (O) race on the p 2m (O) 2m (I) CHASE t 3m (I) old track.” 3m (O) e 2m1f (O) David Casey r 2m6f (I) Winning Post 2m4f (I) Startpoint 2m4f (O) National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch 2m6f (O) Water jump Fence listowel Facts about Listowel left-handed, rectangular, Flat track of approximately a mile for both National Hunt and Flat racing. It has five hurdles and six fences on Temporary bridges were erected over Alamshar, who won the 2003 Irish Aa circuit, with a low draw most advantageous up to seven furlongs. the river Feale from the first meeting Derby for the Aga Khan, John Oxx and Racing began here in 1858. The Kerry National is the centrepiece of its at Listowel in 1858 until work began Johnny Murtagh, lost his maiden tag seven-day festival. on a permanent structure in 1910. A in a two-year-old race at Listowel the second bridge was built in 1967. previous season.

The record attendance for the The track is located 25km from Contact Details Course Characteristics Location seven-day summer festival was Tralee, 110km from Cork and 80km The Racecourse, The course is a Flat, Situated just 93,000 in 2003. It got very close in from Limerick. Listowel, left-handed oval of outside the town 2009, when it was the only major Co Kerry just over one mile of Listowel in in length. Co. Kerry. festival to increase its attendance T: 068 21 144 from the previous year, increasing E: [email protected] by 2,334 to reach 90,253. W: www.listowelraces.ie

66 RACING the IRISH way Flat course “One of the 7f 1m few sprint

tracks left 6f in Ireland, 5f it’s tough to 1m2f ride. It’s quite undulating on the far 1m4f side with a 2m4f lot of humpsHURDLE National Hunt 2m3f and hollows. 2m It’s a stiffCH ASE c 2m4f 2m3f h finish and a usually the 2m p 3m t best horse e r wins.” Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Declan McDonogh Startpoint Highest Point 3m Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump naas Fence left-handed, dual purpose oval of one mile and four Facts about naas furlongs, with two chutes of two furlongs that join the Afour-furlong straight which has an uphill finish. There Cheltenham Trial Day in 2009 honours in the at are six hurdles and eight fences on the circuit, with a low draw produced three Grade 1 winners. Go Royal Ascot and the best in five and six furlong races. The first meeting took Native claimed the Supreme Novices’ at The Curragh. Hurdle at Cheltenham, three weeks place in 1924. after being victorious in Naas. Such is the competitiveness of Joncol subsequently won the the racing that no single jockey or Contact Details Course Characteristics Location Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown, trainer on the Flat is worth following , The course is left-handed, Located about while An Cathaoir More claimed the exclusively. However, Moyglare Stud Tipper Road, Naas, undulating and one mile 1km from Naas Arkle Chase at the same venue. Farm-owned horses have returned a Co. Kildare and four furlongs in length town centre in profit of €5 per euro for anyone who with a stiff uphill climb to the Thoroughbred T: 045 897 391 the winning post. Also a county’ of Kildare. 2004 Irish champion two-year-old, sticks with the famous black jacket, E: [email protected] chute for sprint races the David Wachman-trained , white sleeves, red cap and black star W: www.naasracecourse.com that joins the straight. won at Naas before taking the on Tipper Road.

RACING the IRISH way 67 Flat course “A really

1m good 1m2f galloping 6f track that’s 5f 2m very fair. You need a 1m5f horse that gets the National Hunt 2m4f trip well. HURDLE 2m5f 2m6f There’s very 2m 2m7f CHASE c rarely a h 2m4f a 2m6f2m6f hard luck p 2m1f2m1m1f story here.” t 2m 3m3m e David Casey r Winning Post Startpoint National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence Navan Facts about navan left-handed oval of one mile and four furlongs for National Hunt and Flat, it has a three and a half furlong run-in and an uphill The record attendance is 5,128 which 35 career wins at this track while Afinish. There are seven hurdles and eight fences on the circuit, was set in 2001. An aggregate of 37, his stablemate at James Bowe’s with a low draw best on the straight six furlong course. 636 from 17 fixtures paid in to see yard, Solerina had six of her 22 The first meeting was held here in 1920. racing here in 2009. successes. Both were accorded a special victory lap here to mark Champion Hurdlers Hardy Eustace their retirement. and , as well as Champion Contact Details Course Characteristics Location Chaser are amongst There is a full 18-hole, par 72 , The course is left-handed, Situated 3 km the classy performers who have championship golf course at the Proudstown, Navan, Co. Meath. one mile and two furlongs outside Navan relished this galloping track and venue as well as a 12-bay floodlit in length and undulating town on the T: 046 902 1350 with a stiff uphill climb to Kingscourt Road testing uphill finish. driving range. F: 046 902 7964 the winning post. (R162). E: [email protected] recorded eight of his W: www.navanracecourse.ie

68 RACING the IRISH way “A very good National Hunt track and particularly

a very good HURDLE 2m2f chase 2m4f 2m5f 2m track. It’s 2m4f 2m6f 2m4f 2m CHASE 2m6f 3m 2m5f not as stiff 2m4f 3m as people 2m6f 3m1f 2m think.” 2m2f David Casey 3m 3m4f 2m c h 3m6f a p t e r Winning Post National Hunt Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump punchestown Fence right-handed oval of two miles, with a specific one mile Facts about punchestown and six furlong hurdle track, it has a run-in of three and a Ahalf furlongs. It is renowned worldwide for its NH festival This was the site of the match distances up to seven furlongs. The at the end of April, which is second only to Cheltenham in terms between Gold Cup heroine Dawn Run first meeting recorded at Peerless of status and importance in Ireland and Great Britain. It has eight and Champion Chaser Buck House Punchestown was in 1824. over 2 miles on April 23, 1986. Huge hurdles and 11 fences, as well as a three mile course over banks. crowds turned up to see the mare The five-day festival attracted 94,896 prevail after a titanic struggle. people in 2009. Contact Details Course Characteristics Location , The present racecourse is Situated 5 km In 1868 it was reported that 150,000 Willie Mullins rules Punchestown. From Naas, Co. Kildare. right-handed and undulating from Naas on the swarmed Punchestown to greet the 2006 to July 2010 the Carlow maestro’s with Flat, hurdle, steeplechase Naas- Prince of Wales, who would later success rate of 22% far outstripped any T: 045 897 704 and bank courses. Hurdle Eustace road. E: [email protected] course is one mile-six Signposted become King Edward VII. of his rivals’. And that had the punters W: www.punchestown.com furlongs. The steeplechase from Naas. beaming as they made €39.91 for every course is two miles. A high draw has the advantage at euro bet in that time.

RACING the IRISH way 69 Flat course “A nice summer 1m4f track. It’s

7f pretty 1m2f level with a slightly uphill National Hunt finish for theHUR lastDLE 1 2m42m4 //22f furCHlonASE g.” 2m 2m42m4ff c 3m David Casey h a 2m5f2m52m5f p t 3m1//22f e 22mm r Winning Post Startpoint National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence roscommon Facts about Roscommon right-handed, dual purpose oval of one mile and two furlongs, with a marked incline on the run-in of three and a half furlongs The largest daily attendance at the winner of the Ascot Gold Cup since Ato the winning post. It has six hurdles and six fences, with track in 2009 was on July 8, when 1969, thanks to the urgings of no draw advantage. Racing began here in 1837. 4,080 people turned up. Johnny Murtagh.

Imperial Call ran his first An average of €421,488.42 per chase at Roscommon, finishing third. meeting was bet here in 2009. He went on to win the Gold Cup Contact Details Course Characteristics Location for Conor O’Dwyer and Fergie Roscommon has an average of 60 , The course is Situated about Sutherland in 1996. Bookmakers standing at each of their Lenabane, Racecourse Road, right-handed, of one 1km from meetings (7/8). Roscommon, Co. Roscommon. mile and two furlongs Roscommon town T: 09066 63 494 or 26 231 in length with a on the Two years later, the John Oxx-trained F: 09066 304 462 marked incline to the Dublin-Castlebar won at the track before going E: [email protected] winning post. Road (N60). on in 1999 to become the first Irish W: www.roscommonraces.ie

70 RACING the IRISH way “A tight Flat course 1m4f

circuit. The 1m2f ground can get quite 61/2f testing. You don’t need to be in any hurry when

the ground National Hunt 2m4f HURDLE is soft and 2m2f CHASE c can come 2m 3m 2m4f h with a a 2m2f p late run.” t 2m1f David Casey e 3m r Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump sligo Fence right-handed oval of one mile, with a two furlong run-in and a Facts about sligo steady incline from halfway to the finish line for NationalH unt Aand Flat racing. There are four hurdles and five fences on the The total attendance for Sligo’s seven sending out more winners than circuit, while a high draw has the advantage up to seven furlongs. fixtures in 2009 was 15,902. anyone, having a 24% success rate Racing has been taking place at this venue since 1955, although and giving his faithful supporters The Bookmakers and Tote received €22.55 profit for their euro. there is a tradition of racing in the area dating back to 1781. on-course betting of €2,297,041 that year. On the Flat, David Moran is the jockey Contact Details Course Characteristics Location in form here, with a 22% strike rate Sligo Racecourse Sligo is a right-handed Situated at Andrew McNamara is the jockey to be and a €21 profit. Cleveragh Road, course of 1 mile in Cleveragh 1km on the right side of here over sticks, Sligo. length with a steady from Sligo town with a 20% strike rate and a profit of Francis Ennis only sent nine horses incline from halfway to centre, just off € T/F: 071 916 2484/071 918 3342 the finish line. the Pearse Road. 12.50 on every euro. here between 2006 and July 2010 E: [email protected] but five of them won, at a profit W: www.countysligoraces.com Paul Gilligan is the trainer to watch, of €24.63.

RACING the IRISH way 71 National Hunt “Ireland’s all-weather racecourse 3m in all but 2m HURDLE name before 2m2f (Optional Hurdle) 2m6f DundalkCHASE 2m4f came along.

2m 3m It’s got amazing 2m2f ground and

2m6f no matter c h 2m4f what the a p conditions, t racing e r goes ahead. Winning Post Startpoint We would National Hunt & Flat Highest Point be lost Lowest Point 8 Open ditch without it.” Water jump David Casey Fence thurles Facts about thurles n undulating, right-handed, dual purpose course of one mile and two furlongs, with a run-in of just over a furlong and an uphill One of the top two-mile chasers of the January 2006. It was ideal preparation Aclimb to the winning post. There are six hurdles and seven fences noughties, relished as John Murphy’s star went on to win with no draw advantage out of the stalls. The earliest recording of a Thurles. The two-time winner of the the Champion Chase in March. Four meeting here was in 1732. Most of its fixtures are on Thursdays. Grade 1 at Aintree took years later he returned at the age of 12 the honours in the Kinloch Brae Chase to win the Kinloch Brae Chase. in 2002, 2004 and 2004. also won his frst here Contact Details Course Characteristics Location won a novice hurdle here at 20/1. Dermot Weld’s champion The Racecourse, An undulating Situated 1.5 km in 1994 before going on to win the Arkle stayer won 15 more races, including Thurles, Co. Tipperary. right-handed oval west of Thurles at Cheltenham 14 months later and the two Irish St Legers and created history course of one mile town, 8 km west T: 0504 22 253 and two furlongs with of the main Champion Chase in 1996. when becoming the first horse form F: 0504 24 565 an uphill climb to the Cork-Dublin road. the northern hemisphere to win the E: [email protected] winning post. won his first race in Thurles in Melbourne Cup. W: www.thurlesraces.ie

72 RACING the IRISH way 1 “It’s one of Flat course 6f 7 /2f the fastest 1m1f five furlong

tracks 1m4f

in the 1m6f country, 5f along with Cork. It gets 2m very heavy National Hunt 3m HURDLE but I’ve CHASE 2m4f been lucky 2m1/2f c 2m7f 2m1f h there. a p It’s a good t e track.” 2m4f r Declan McDonogh Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Startpoint Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump tipperary Fence left-handed, dual-purpose oval of one mile and two furlongs, Facts about tipperary with a run-in of two and a half furlongs and a straight five furlong chute. The circuit has six hurdles and six fences. A The highest daily attendance of betting for its 12 fixtures in 2009 of low draw on the round track is best for Flat races. Racing was 2009 came on July 19, when 3,479 €237,397.55. A paid in. That represented a slight first held inT ipperary in 1848, while the current venue has been in use increase on the previous year’s Aidan O’Brien’s high class pair, High since 1916. Its name was changed from Limerick Junction in 1986. equivalent. Chaparral and both won their maidens in Tipperary, before Contact Details Course Characteristics Location The only racecourse in Ireland to filling the first two places in the , A Flat, left-handed Situated 3 km stage a graded Flat and National 2002 Epsom Derby. High Chaparral Limerick Junction, course of one mile and west of Hunt race on the same card. also won the Irish Derby, two Co. Tipperary. two furlongs in length Tipperary town This traditionally happens on Super Breeders’ Cups and the Irish with a chute for five on the Tipperary- T: 062 51 357 furlong races. Limerick road. Sunday in October each year. Champion Stakes while Hawk Wing E: [email protected] took the Eclipse Stakes and W: www.tipperaryraces.ie Generated average on-course .

RACING the IRISH way 73 Flat course “A tight 1m4f circuit that races 2m all year around. They can go 1m6f too quick sometimes National Hunt butHUR youDLE 2m4f need a 2m c horCHseASE with h 2m6f a a bit of p 2m4f pace.” t 2m e David Casey r Winning Post 2m6f 2m5f Startpoint National Hunt & Flat Highest Point Lowest Point 8 Open ditch Water jump Fence tramore Facts about tramore right-handed, turning, undulating one mile oval with a descent to the turn and a one furlong uphill climb to the Tramore recorded a 13% increase in ‘wrong way’ around Tramore Awinning post. There are four hurdles and five fences on the attendance in 2009 from 33,609 in in preparation for the race as circuit, with no draw advantage from the stalls. There has been 2008 to 38,030. It hosted 11 fixtures Liam Browne recognised that the racing in the area since 1785. both campaigns.The record gradient going left-handed was attendance of 11,000 turned up similar to Epsom’s. for what was Europe’s first meeting of the millennium on January 1, Fran Berry has a cracking strike rate Contact Details Course Characteristics Location 2000.Two years later, the track of 38% yielding a profit of €43.84 per Waterford and The course is a Situated 13 km was the first in Europe to use the euro between 2006 and July 2010. , right-handed, turning from Waterford euro as currency. John Oxx had 13 winners from just Tramore, Co. Waterford. undulating track of one city and 1 km mile in length with an outside the town 24 runs at Tramore in that time, T: 051 381 425 uphill climb to the of Tramore. The runner-up giving his backers a €14.07 profit E: [email protected] winning post. Carlingford Castle was schooled the per euro bet. W: www.tramore-racecourse.com

74 RACING the IRISH way Flat course “You need a 1m6f bit of pace 2m to hold 1m31/2f your position 1m1/2f here. When the ground is softer it is possible National Hunt 3m HURDLE to drop a 2m horse in c 2m4f CHhASE and take 2m2f 3m1f a p your time.” t David Casey 2m1f e 2m6f r Winning Post National Hunt & Flat Startpoint 2m3f Highest Point Lowest Point Open ditch 8 Water jump wexford Fence sharp, right-handed, gently undulating, rectangular track Facts about wexford for National Hunt and Flat racing. It is one mile and two furlongs long with a short run-in of just over a furlong. Sinntara, owned by the Aga Khan Ruby Walsh has the best strike rate There are five fences and four hurdles on the circuit with a and dam of the 2000 Irish Derby and for Jump Jockeys at Wexford with A Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner 32% for the period between 2006 high draw most advantageous in Flat racing. Racing was taking place Sinndar, won her maiden here and July 2010 but has in the region in the 1870s, with the current venue its host since 1951. in 1992 before going on to win the produced more profits for his backers. Irish . His 27% success rate comes with a Contact Details Course Characteristics Location dividend of €7.81 for every euro. It is a gently undulating The racecourse is Admission prices on the first day of Newtown Road, Wexford. right-handed course located just outside racing on October 15, 1951 were ten A total of €2,929,178 was bet on Non race day p: 053 9143853 of one mile and two Wexford town off shillings (63 cent) for gentlemen, course between bookmakers and Tote Raceday p: 053 9142307 furlongs which the Dublin-Rosslare F: 053 9143702 features Flat and bypass. five shillings for ladies (32 cent) and in 2009, from a 10 meetings. E: [email protected] National Hunt racing. half-a-crown (20 cent) for the outside W: www.wexfordraces.ie enclosure. Car parking was free.

RACING the IRISH way 75 c h a p t e r

9

Aerial view of the Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds

76 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 9

HOW A RACE DAY IS RUN

Ireland’s unpredictable climate tests the ability of the ground staff throughout the nation’s 26 tracks. In times of snow and frost, grass growth is the main concern. If it’s raining, flooding is a problem and in dry spells, watering might have to be considered.

RACING the IRISH way 77 corporate and entire pageantry elements that also require significant organisation. But for the purposes of this exercise, we’ll stick to the racing, with plenty of guidance from Richie.

GROUND “The racing surface is paramount” says Galway.

c “That is top of the list.” h a p Punchestown is fortunate in t e that it has a huge amount r of space and can change its track regularly. But the key the 9 requirement is the same as it required “All racecourses can only be as good as is anywhere – to provide fresh lush growth but as Galway their relationship with their clerk of ground as much as possible. indicates “at the end of the the course, the relevant bodies and in day nature will decide what particular, the jockeys and the trainers. Ireland’s unpredictable climate happens”. Your primary focus is to give a place every tests the ability of the ground chance to race but when it comes down staff throughout the nation’s Punchestown has a natural to it, it must always be about safety.” 26 tracks. In times of snow and ryegrass mix which is an old, Richie Galway, Racing Manager, Punchestown Racecourse frost, grass growth is the main strong, hard-wearing grass concern. If it’s raining, flooding that is ideal for sport in general is a problem and in dry spells, and racing in particular. Most ichie Galway is the other mouth-watering fixtures watering might have to be tracks would aspire to this Racing Manager during the year. considered. type of grass for racing and at Punchestown, there are ryegrass seeds and Rwhich hosts the Irish Of course when it comes to Grass growth fertilisers which can be used National Hunt Festival at the end large festivals of this nature, There is an ongoing programme in areas where the growth is of April, as well as a number of there are entertainment, of fertilising a track to achieve not natural.

78 RACING the IRISH way “Every track has its own humps and hollows, flooding “We have an umbilical 10-20 feet of a jump, and then be natural topography, its own tends to be localised in the dips. system that allows us to put moved to the other end on the natural soil base” says Galway. In such instances, water can be approximately 30,000 gallons next day to provide that amount “You have to use what God gives pumped away in time for racing of water on the track per hour” of fresh ground. you. It’s like a golf course. to commence. In Punchestown’s Galway reveals. “In the UK, they You can’t make a links course case, they have a number of water smaller volumes over a BUILDING FENCES inland. But you can fertilise, reservoirs into which the water longer period of time. We find In Punchestown they have 11 repair and maintain to get good can be pumped. that larger volumes in a shorter fences which are replaced every growth.” space of time are more suitable second year; half of them one Watering for our climate. You have to be year and the rest the next year.

Water pumps Those reservoirs become very careful of watering too far in They key ingredient is good c Flooding is inevitable in Ireland, useful if the track has dried up advance as we tend to have a quality birch according to Richie. h a even for tracks with the best too much and is on the firm more unstable climate.” p t drainage. It is rare that a water side of good, which is generally “Birch is the biggest and most e r pump can save the day, but on considered too quick for national It always comes back to important component. Fences undulating tracks with a lot of hunt racing. providing safe racing ground for can be anything from 40 to the horses and the jockeys. 60 feet wide. We have a wider 9 distance from the apron at the BUILDING A TRACK front to the landing side than they There are approximately 15 miles do at Cheltenham for example. of running rails at Punchestown. You have to take the opinions Not every track has that space. of the trainers and jockeys into Indeed, most don’t. But the account and they need to be principles are the same. During happy with your fences. the festival, the ground staff at Punchestown can move the rails “We don’t want to see horses seven or eight yards on a daily turned over or being penalised basis to get fresh ground. Other too heavily for a mistake and we tracks might be in a position to definitely don’t want to see any move rails by half that distance. horse injured. We want to see them being penalised by three The same applies with the or four lengths if they make a fences, where a wing can cut off mistake. No more.”

RACING the IRISH way 79 SOME OF THE KEY PERSONNEL Apart from the owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and horses, you won’t have a race day without:

Clerk of the is to make sure that the rules Course of racing are adhered to and The clerk has an input on they will hold an enquiry if they non-race days as well as suspect this not to have been race days. He will discuss the case.

c the layout of the track, h Fences require regular After that, you have a significant hurdles and fences with the A Judge a p maintenance after every race Garda presence to deal with racecourse manager, with Prior to the race, the judge will t e meeting, particularly when the traffic and around 50 car-parking safety his prime concern. be in the parade ring to become r novice chasers have ploughed stewards/attendants. On race day, he will walk the familiar with the Jockeys through some of the ditches. track and come up with a colours, along with any colour 9 That involves a combination On a normal industry day, ground description. changes and note any unique of repairing the birch, taking those figures are scaled He will to the identifiers on a horse which out anything that’s damaged, down quite a bit, with a core opinions of senior jockeys may assist in recognizing a repacking the fence and staff of 10 on the track and a and trainers when it comes horse in a close finish such as reshaping it. similar number in the office. to both the layout of the a noseband, blinkers, cheek There would be about a dozen track, and the ground pieces, breast girth, etc. The RACE DAY employed in security, with the description. judge would then take their On a festival day (in April) at same working in the car park position in the judge’s box which Punchestown, there will be in and approximately 30 working Stewards is located adjacent to the line the region of 100 security staff in the Tote. Catering staff would The arbiters of the rules of and notes the finishing order on site, along with 400 catering number around 30. racing. On any race day, there as the horses cross the line. staff and 600 Tote staff. On the is a stipendiary steward who is Before the finishing positions are track, the core staff will be Generally, there would be a full-time, paid steward. Then confirmed the HRI photo finish supplemented to number anything between 90 and 150 there is a panel of voluntary equipment will be used to verify. around 50, while there will be horses arriving on a racing day, stewards who are appointed The judge also decides the around 20 in the offices in the depending on ground, weather by the Turf Club. Their job winning distances, for example a build-up to the week. and the economic climate.

80 RACING the IRISH way short-head, head, neck, half length, length, 2 lengths, a distance (more than 25 lengths), Afterwards, he confirms the finishing positions of c the horses and makes the h a decisions in that regard if p t there are photo finishes. e r A Starter The starter starts the race. 9 In flat racing that is fairly easy due to the stalls. In national hunt racing, it is a little trickier keeping up to 20 hyped up thoroughbreds and jockeys calm the aim is that they trot up to the tapes and have some forward motion at the same time so that the race can get under way. When the white flag is raised, they are said to be under starter’s orders. No horse can be withdrawn after this stage.

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GOING DESCRIPTION

If you’re looking at a horse early in its career, a high-knee action would indicate a liking for soft ground, while a daisy-clipper - a horse that seems to almost float along the turf - would generally prefer it good or better.

RACING the IRISH way 83 have improved their drainage but although the increasing number “I just use my instincts from walking the this remains a common going of flat-bred horses appearing in track. Once you have the experience built description in Ireland because the jumping game means there up of going from track to track you get of the climate. The sight of are plenty now who would like it

a feel for it.” mud-covered jockeys and horses good or better. Joe Collins, Turf Club Clerk of the Course returning to the parade ring is a fair indicator that the going HOW IS THE GOING uckily, the Turf Club’s Firm means that there is is heavy. CLASSIFICATION clerk of the course has absolutely no ‘give’ in the DETERMINED? very sound instincts ground and is obviously more The other descriptions are It might surprise people in this

c because an accurate prevalent in the summer grades of hard or soft ground era of IT and technological h L during drier spells. In such classification of the ground on a sliding scale from firm, advancement that the only a p condition is important for a instances, it is often described as right down to heavy. In the ideal tool used by the Turf Club’s t e number of reasons. But being ‘like a road’. You can world, flat racing would take clerk of the course, Joe Collins, r before we get to that, a short tell such ground by the place on good or good to firm is a wooden stick. That and tutorial. thunderous sound of hooves ground. For national hunt, good his years of experience 10 and rising dust. or good to yielding is preferable, which have helped enabled WHAT IS THE GOING? him to develop a sixth sense The going refers to whether Heavy ground is almost when it comes to classifying the ground is hard or soft, and bog-like, the result ground conditions. there are numerous variations of persistent rain. around those classifications. Many racecourses Collins walks a track 48 hours In Ireland they are as follows: before every meeting and does so again on the day of a Firm meeting. He pushes his stick Good to Firm into the ground and judging Good from the give, if any, and Good to Yielding how the sod feels as he walks, Yielding makes his call. Yielding to Soft In the UK, a Going Stick is used. Soft A device designed to take the Soft to Heavy Heavy subjective element away from determining going conditions by

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RACING the IRISH way 85 providing a numerical reading. It was tested in Ireland with WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? unsatisfactory results. Importance to Horses: “All I use is a normal stick” says Different horses react on Collins. “We have tried the Going different ground, so having Stick. It’s reasonably accurate an accurate description when the ground is good or is important. Renowned better but when it’s heavy it mudlarks such as Jim could give you anything. We Dreaper’s Notre Pere are

c didn’t find it accurate. never seen at their best if h they cannot get their toe deep a p into the ground, while the t “You’re looking at the turf and e likes of Robbie Hennessy’s r seeing that it has good root structure in the ground. That craves good ground, produces a cushion for the horses. where his high cruising speed is most effective. 10 Joe Collins If you’re looking at a horse “You’re looking at the turf and early in its career, a high-knee seeing that it has good root action would indicate a liking structure in the ground. That for soft ground, while a produces a cushion for the daisy-clipper - a horse that horses. It’s not just the soft seems to almost float along grass you need, although the the turf - would generally grounds staff work very hard prefer it good or better. on that too.” Importance to Trainers: “After the first race I will consult The Turf Club keeps trainers with the jockeys and get their informed about the going opinions. If I have it as soft and in the lead up to meetings, the jockeys say it’s heavy, I will because if a horse doesn’t change that.”

86 RACING the IRISH way WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

act on the ground, his opportunities of winning are greatly reduced. Also, not running on its preferred ground can distress a horse, leading to injury, something the

trainers and owners are c obviously keen to avoid. h a p t Importance to Punters: e r Given how different horses react in different conditions, it is important that someone 10 wishing to have a bet has an accurate description of the going. It is just one of a number of factors to take into a count when considering a bet but it is one of the most crucial.

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88 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 11

Jockeys - How to Ride a Race

“You can visualise what you think will happen in a race over and over beforehand and have your tactics worked out, but when those stalls open you have to be prepared for anything to happen and adapt to the situation.”

Johnny Murtagh

RACING the IRISH way 89 Even just an ordinary winner “The winning isn’t all that matters to every jockey. important, it’s the wanting to win that matters. The competition.” However, it is of course a . 11-times job. But they do it Champion Jockey in England. because they it. That’s why they go through so much and “Being a jockey is the only job put their bodies through so I know that you retire from and much in the quest for winners. then have to start work.” Many jockeys have a constant Former top Irish jockey and now

c battle with their weight, having top trainer . h to survive on half the food that a p a normal human being eats WEIGHTS t e every day, spending hours in r Flat Weights the sauna or bath, spend hours In Ireland the maximum running, to stay at the weight weight typically carried by 11 “The wind of heaven is that which blows required to ride. But when they a horse in Flat racing is 10 between a horse’s ears.” pass that winning post all that is stone. The minimum weight on forgotten. It is the same feeling the flat is 8 stone 4 pounds. as footballers scoring a goal, his ancient proverb goes job in racing, they are the ones indescribable to those who NH Weights some way to explaining who transform potential to haven’t done it competitively. The maximum weight carried by the exhilarating thrill a reality on the racecourse. a horse over jumps is typically jockey feels when They are the poster boys and THE THRILL 12 stone. The minimum weight T is 9 stone 10 pounds. riding a racehorse at speeds girls of the sport. “Sex is an anti-climax after that!” of up to 46 miles per hour: For Irish Jockey Mick Fitzgerald between the horse’s ears is Think of the times when you describing the feeling of winning Many jockeys have to shed where the jockey’s line of vision have backed a winner and what the 1996 Aintree Grand National. weight frequently because is in a race, like the sights on a it felt like, the excitement of that they’re naturally heavier than the rifle, that is their focus and from feeling. Then multiply that by “When I’m on a horse the world weight they are supposed to be where they see the winning line. ten times and that is the level looks a wonderful place.” and sometimes quite a of exultation that the jockey 13-time UK NH Champion bit heavier than that. Jockeys have the glamorous who rode the winner feels. Jockey Tony McCoy. The sacrifices they

90 RACING the IRISH way have to make and the discipline Once or twice, when it’s really under which they have to bad, I’ve put my head in my hands maintain their bodies is intense and wept, because I don’t want but for most the rewards to do it.” Tony McCoy during his outweigh the sacrifice of not early days of doing light weights eating. Through the Turf Club medical team there are health THE DANGER experts and dieticians available For jump races it is calculated to those who need advice on that on average a jockey will the matter. Ireland is get a fall once in every eight recognised as a world leader rides over hurdles or fences c on the matter of jockeys’ and most if not all jump jockeys just turning up and riding each h a health and safety. have suffered broken bones. Flat day. The mental preparation for p t jockeys are not insulated from a race, especially a big race, is e r “I run every day. I lose three or the danger of a fall either, even exacting on a jockey. four pounds every day. It’s just in flat races horses can stumble It is not for part of the regime.... I’m lucky and clip the heels of another “I find that there is much more 11 to be doing a job I like - if I don’t horse and it can be even more nothing that two mental than physical effort ambulances attend want to go wasting that’s my dangerous because it happens involved in raceriding. The every racemeeting. decision. I want to be a jockey so at greater speed and is so physical part is easy because you that comes with it. I have to be unexpected. That is the nature of the sport are already fit.” able to look after the weight” of racing, the inherent danger Mick Kinane Top Flat Jockey, Johnny Murtagh “If you ride a horse for the first of it and part of what makes it time you have to get on with it. so compelling to watch. “The thought of that steaming Of course some horses can be hot bath every morning that I a bit difficult but you have to get “I’ve got the best job in the ride hangs over me like a black on with them so there is give world and the easiest lifestyle cloud. I look in the mirror and I and take in the relationship. You - because it’s the one I choose.” know that four pounds has got can’t engage in a tug of war with 13 time UK NH Champion to be shifted from somewhere them, they weigh about 500 kgs Jockey Tony McCoy. yet no matter how hard I pinch so there is only going to be one myself I can’t find a fold of flesh winner in a test of strength.” PREPARATION Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy to see where it will come from..... Johnny Murtagh There is a lot more to riding than

RACING the IRISH way 91 On the run-up to a race a jockey will examine the possible scenarios that could be played out and will have a plan A B C more in mind for what transpires during the race. A jockey must be a sponge and soak up as much information as possible about the horse. Its pedigree, previous performances, style

c of running, going preferences. h A jockey must also find out as a p much as possible about the t e opposition. The people closest r to the horse obviously know them best too and what 11 the trainer and groom say is vital.

“Even what happens in the All this helps to inform a parade ring can be important jockey. Knowledge is power in and I always make a point of these circumstances. talking to the lad or girl who is However, things can change leading me round. The trainer quickly during a race: THE METHOD task demands formidable skills will know how the horse should “A jockey must have the strength and the race rider is a formidable be ridden and normally he/she “You can visualise what you think and guile to control an animal ten little man.” Pete Axthelm from will tell you 95% of what you will happen in a race over and times his weight and the courage The Kid, the book written about need to know. But that other 5% over beforehand and have your to face possible bone-crushing legendary US jockey can be vital. The person who tactics worked out, but when catastrophe every time he breaks . looks after the horse knows him those stalls open you have to be from the starting gate. He needs (Note:- Since that time many best and what he or she has to prepared for anything to happen a keen sense of timing, split successful female jockeys have say can often prove invaluable.” and adapt to the situation.” second reflexes and the ability to emerged in racing so it is not just Mick Kinane Johnny Murtagh communicate with his mount. The formidable little men any more!)

92 RACING the IRISH way FEEL constantly trying to learn and horse along early to hold its “The ‘feel’ that a horse gives you form a mental impression of the position or make up ground, is an impossible thing to explain. horse. Then when you get the then immediately you are on It’s a sense of energy, power leg up the first thing you do is the back foot. In jump racing it when you get on it, about the make yourself comfortable by is important to get a good jump way a horse moves, how it adjusting your saddle. Usually at the first hurdle/fence. How carries itself. you have to adjust the stirrup you jump the first often sets It is an experience thing too. length on each horse. A wide the tone for the race. Get a bad The more good horses you have horse will stretch your legs and jump and you are niggling at the ridden the more you will know a make them feel short so you will horse. The early stages of a race

good one when you get on. But lengthen the stirrups, a narrow are about finding your horse’s c then you don’t know whether it is horse the opposite and you comfort zone, maximising its h a a great horse until push comes will shorten the stirrups. Once attributes. A horse that stays p t to shove in a race, when it gets in the saddle you immediately well but doesn’t quicken will e r really tough then the great ones start to communicate with the need to be near the pace, give you a bit extra to win the horse and get a sense of how the stretching the others out, while race. What makes them great is horse is feeling and what kind of a horse with finishing speed will 11 that they can go to the limit of character it has. need to be reserved and settled. their ability over and over again.” It is important to get the horse to Johnny Murtagh Going To The Start ‘drop the bit’, basically to relax Going to the start is an important and get into a nice rhythm no “Raceriding is as time to learn about a horse. matter where it is positioned. If much about not A RACE THROUGH A What vibes is it giving you? Does they don’t do that they usually getting in the JOCKEYS it feel strong and well in itself? Is can’t win. It is all about getting horse’s way as The first thing you do after it lazy or is it getting a bit fizzed your horse in the comfort zone, anything, not to weighing-out is to go out to the up? Does it feel comfortable on about economy of effort. If they interfere parade ring and talk to the ground? You are learning are out of their comfort zone too much, let the horse get into a the owners and trainer. While about the horse all the time. it makes things that bit more rhythm that suits in the parade ring you look difficult. An important part of and give it every at the horse you are going to The Race this is having the horse on the chance to win.” ride, see how it behaves and Even in a long distance race right leading leg. If the course is Johnny Murtagh assess it physically. All horses a good start is half the battle. left-handed you want it to lead are different and you are If you are having to push a with its left leg; i.e. it is the last

RACING the IRISH way 93 leg to leave the ground, pushing the horse into its state The horse’s centre of gravity between strides. is just behind its shoulders. This doesn’t change but a During the race you are aware jockey’s does and with every of other horses and what their stride it changes in relation to jockeys are doing. You know the the horse’s so keeping a horse horses that you have to beat and balanced means keeping your look out for them. own balance, being as still as possible while pushing and

c Close to the finish when the encouraging the horse. If the h race really begins, and you a horse is not balanced it loses p want the horse to go faster, you speed and direction and starts to t e change your hands, i.e. basically drift or hang across the course, r take a tighter grip on the reins. this can cost you the race. This This lifts the bit in the horse’s is where a jockey’s strength and 11 mouth, communicating to the fitness come into the equation. horse that you want it to go a bit The more control you have of faster and it feels that sense of your body the fewer movements urgency from you, it stretches you have to make but the more out under you and hopefully that muscular effort is needed to extra speed is there when you keep still. At the same time for it. If it is, you gradually you are squeezing as hard as keep increasing the speed as possible from your knees to your much as necessary to get into heels, trying to encourage the the position you want to be in. horse as much as possible. It Some horses take more work may seem as if the jockey is not than others to do that and doing much but that’s because when you are close to the you need to keep still. If you are finish you really start riding being thrown about in the saddle you are actually hindering the hard but all the time keeping horse, causing it to lose balance. in rhythm with the horse, pushing it to stride.

94 RACING the IRISH way The Whip “The whip is an essential part of racing equipment and there is no way that you could ride safely without it. This is a dangerous sport. If you had a horse hanging into another horse someone could be inches away from a serious accident and you need to be able to give that

horse a few cracks to get it to c straighten up again.” h a Johnny Murtagh p t e r “At the end of the day it is only winners that count. It is all that people remember....But I 11 can tell you that I have ridden much better races to finish second, but you get no credit.” Ruby Walsh, 8 time Irish NH Champion Jockey

The whip is needed to encourage in a straight line. If the ground Finally, if you win the race the horse. When you use it, the is soft, the whip is very the feeling passing the line is horse realises that maximum important to keep the horse amazing, indescribable. effort is now necessary and going forwards especially when hopefully it will stretch its it gets tired. It’s about However, some of the best rides head out in front of you and maintaining momentum. are those when the jockey does really try hard. The whip is You are also encouraging everything right but still gets also helpful to keep the horse the horse verbally; shouting, beaten. Sometimes the horse is balanced and going whistling, clicking your tongue. just not good enough.

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HOW TO READ FORM

A ’s dream would be for every horse to pass the line in a dead heat, because his job is to give the horse with the best form the top weight and rate everything else in comparison to that to give them an equal chance.

RACING the IRISH way 97 on the premises at the business end of races. 4, 3, 2 and the coveted 1 are what you want to see. The numbers start from first runs to last, moving from left to right. Recent finishes are usually more relevant than something that happened three rying to solve the puzzle years ago. that is a horse race is a In terms of national hunt,

c difficult task, even for the steer clear of anything with h experts. Central to the too many Fs or Us – Fell and a p T task is an ability to read the form. Unseated Rider. That suggests t e a problem with the obstacles. r The form for horse racing is a A horse can have all the ability little more intricate than that of in the world but if it doesn’t 12 a human sportsperson. True, jump well, it will lose more there are the results to take into SILKS OWNERS/RIDER TRAINER than it wins. account but horses have jockeys Finsceal Beo 9-0 (126) 3 2004 ch f by Mr Greeley (USA) - Musical Treat on their backs, they have different Bred by Rathbarry Stud M.A. Ryan J.S. Bolger Abbreviations used here weights to carry and they run a 121 DARK BLUE & EMERALD GREEN HOOPS, quartered cap can include: K.J. Manning Drawn 1 variety of distances in a variety of Almost completed famous 1,000 Guineas treble and sure to take all the beating here. Finsceal Beo 5 flat wins �758,792.90 - C D - Handicap Rating 119 U = Unseated Rider ground conditions. So you look 9/10 fav K.J. Manning 9.0 won nk 2L from Dimenticata 9.0 and (USA) 9.0 CUR 27 MAY 07 11rn Group 1 1m Gd/Frm 1min 39.3sec P = Pulled Up beyond the finishing position. K.J. Manning 9.0 hd 2nd to Darjina (FR) 9.0 LONGCHAMP 13 MAY 07 13rn Group 1 1m Gd K.J. Manning 9.0 won 2½L 1¼L from Arch Swing (USA) 9.0 and (GB) 9.0 NEWMARKET 06 MAY 07 B = Brought Down 21rn Group 1 1m Gd/Frm 1min 34.9sec F = Fell and R = Refusal What you do when studying the form is consider a series of factors based on previous runs. But there is more to this form That doesn’t mean you’ll pick than meets the eye. Apart from the winner every time – this is THE FORM BOOK look at is where the horses have the finishing positions, cards horse racing after all – but it Nowadays, all race cards finished. The numbers to the left provide in-depth information on will get you there or thereabouts carry information on a horse’s of their names indicate that. a horse’s last three runs. a lot of the time. previous races. The first thing to A lot of 0s indicate a failure to be A variety of websites will go

98 RACING the IRISH way further back. This gives you an Then you have the Classic increased insight which distances; the mile for the is imperative when making Guineas, 12 furlongs (mile and a your choice. half) for the Derby. After that, there are the stayers Other factors apart from the such as the legendary Yeats, who finishing positions to consider relish distances of anything from include: a mile and six furlongs to two and a half miles. DISTANCE In national hunt, the speedsters

Just you’ve landed are two-milers. The stayers start c on Earth from Mars. You’re at at three miles onwards. Many h a the Olympics and Usain Bolt is horses stay three miles but can’t p t running in the marathon. You take the extra two furlongs of the e r look at his form (1, 1, 1, 1, 1 ad Cheltenham Gold Cup. infinitum) and you think he’s a There are plenty of races for dead cert. He never loses! He those stuck in between; who 12 would this time though because might not have the pace to lie up he’s a sprinting specialist. with the two-milers but would It is the same with horses. It run out of petrol before the last might be down to build, and in a three-mile chase. pedigree certainly has a lot to The Grand National remains the do with it, but horses have a ultimate test of endurance and premium distance. Some, like bravery. That is over four and a the wondrous Sea The Stars, half miles. could win over a range of In essence, wouldn’t distances. It is rare however. win over two miles and , In flat racing, you have sprinters for all his class, wouldn’t have too and even in that sphere, won a Stayers’ Hurdle over three. there is a significant difference So form over the distance is between five and six furlongs, as imperative. there is between 100m and 200m On the flip side, if a horse is (Bolt apart). brought down in distance, look

RACING the IRISH way 99 When trying to compare form found on a host of websites between horses, how much including www.goracing.ie weight one gave or received last time and does so on this TRACK occasion is crucial. Has the horse a preference for A couple of pounds each galloping courses or a tighter way could be the difference track? A long-striding horse in turning around a two will prefer the former; the length deficit. speedster will relish the latter. Is it a flat track or one with lots

c TRAINER AND JOCKEY of undulations that make it h There is a reason Willie Mullins difficult to settle into a rhythm? a p is a punter’s favourite. He sends Does the horse have a distinctly t e out a lot of winners. The same better record going left-handed r applies to the supreme pilot, than right-handed? It might Ruby Walsh. So who the jockey sound strange but some horses 12 and trainer are has to be taken are a stone worse travelling one into account. way or the other. Stables, just like strikers in Now you know where the term for any comments in the form A handicapper’s dream would soccer, can hit a rich vein of ‘horses for courses’ came from. description of him having run be for every horse to pass the form at a particular time in any out of steam at the end of his line in a dead heat, because given season. That’s a good time GOING previous races. Maybe the his job is to give the horse with to be on their side. They can Chapter 10 goes into this in reduction in trip will suit. the best form the top weight also have fallow periods, in more detail, but what the Likewise, if a trainer has gone and rate everything else in which case their runners are ground conditions are like on for an increase in distance, comparison to that to give to be avoided. the course are critical. Some anything indicating that he them an equal chance. You also have trainers and horses can go on any surface, was doing his best work at the Good form leads to an increase jockeys who are specialists but all have a preference and finish of his past runs would be in weight, so just because a at certain courses. Dermot most are vastly inferior on encouraging. horse won last time out doesn’t Weld’s record in Galway is the heavy if they prefer good mean it will do so again. In fact it most obvious example of that ground and vice versa. WEIGHT often means it won’t because it in Ireland. A quick perusal of the form Many races are handicaps. is in receipt of a penalty. Statistics of this nature can be should reveal a trend.

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102 RACING the IRISH way RACING the IRISH way chapter 13

betting

For some backing horses is more than a pastime and such famous Irish gamblers as J.P. McManus, Barney Curley and Noel Furlong have made it their profession, just as bookmakers have made taking bets their profession. But these men are few and far between and for most people it is a fun activity that can sometimes be financially rewarding.

RACING the IRISH way 103 put up by the owner for a match reached the highest echelons “Do what I do. Carry a small grey American race, the equivalent of millions of society. In the early 16th automatic and make sure that it is always in today’s terms. This, along with century the nobleman, Gerald stuffed with bullets. Then when some the bragging rights to say that Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, bleating fish-gilled bags opens up and your horse is superior, was the took horses to England to race says- ‘Of course backing horses is a mug’s raison d’etre of racing. It was against those of King Henry game.’- just empty the gun into his low-grade only later that the general VIII though the results of such jungle forehead and explain what you have public were let in on the fun matches are unknown. The done to the police. The whole thing will be by being allowed to bet on pastime of betting on horses hushed up and you will never hear another the results of such races with has continued to this day and word about it. To try you for murder after bookmakers and, in Ireland diversified into the industry c such provocation would be to make lobster h especially, they took to it with that it is now. However, the a salad out of the courts of justice.” p gusto, finding it an escape from principle is still the same: t Myles Na gCopaleen e the daily grind. To predict which horse will r finish in front of the others over irmly tongue-in-cheek bookmakers have made taking These match races between a certain distance of ground. 13 from the famed mid-20th bets their profession. But these one aristocrat and another Simple! Century Irish Times men are few and far between, columnist and writer and for most people it is a fun F activity that can sometimes be Myles Na gCopaleen (aka Brian O’Nolan) but the financially rewarding. inherent message is clear. Backing horses is part of the MATCH BETS Irish psyche and woe betide That is how it all started really, anyone who questions the horse owners willing to ‘back’ validity of the pastime. their horse against somebody else’s horse in ‘match’ races - For some backing horses is i.e. one horse matched against more than a pastime and such the other with an equal amount famous Irish gamblers as of stake money being put up by J.P. McManus, Barney Curley each owner in a winner takes and Noel Furlong have made all scenario. In both Ireland and it their profession, just as Britain large fortunes were often

104 RACING the IRISH way BETTING OPTIONS Reverse exacta. Select 2 horses There are two betting to finish 1st and 2nd in any order. options at the racecourse. Tote & Bookmakers. Trifecta. Pick 3 horses to finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the correct order. TOTE N. B. Must be 8 runners or This involves betting into a more in race. pool system in which the money put in is divided by the Jackpot. A very popular bet numbers of winning tickets to for more dedicated players. rd th get a dividend. There are Pick the winners of the 3 , 4 , c screens located at the Tote 5th and 6th races. You can pick h a windows to give a guide as to more than 1 horse in each race. p t what the dividend will be on a Mark your selections on the e r specific bet, but this may special Jackpot playslip and change right up to the point or 3rd. In races with 16 or more you will receive a ticket with all hand it to the operator before when the race starts. runners you also get money for the details on it. Make sure they the 3rd race. 13 4th but in races with 7 or less are correct. When your horse How to bet on the Tote runners you must be 1st or 2nd. wins present the ticket to collect Placepot. Only available at You can go to a manned Tote your winnings. racemeetings with 7 or more counter each time or purchase Each way. This popular bet gives races. Have to pick a horse to be a cash voucher from a Tote you both a win and place bet on At some racecourses there placed in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th Service Outlet and use the a horse. are also unmanned Touch Tote and 6th races. You can pick more Touch-Tote machines. E.g. €2 each way on a horse machines plus, for the decision than 1 horse in each race. Mark There are leaflets available totals €4. If the horse wins you shy, Quickpick machines which your selections on the Placepot at the counters which describe collect win and place dividends. will pick a bet for you. For more playslip and hand it to the the many types of Tote bets information about the Tote log operator before the 1st race. but the best ones to start off When you go to the Tote counter onto www.thetote.com €2 is the minimum stake on with are:- have the following information Win and Place bets. ready for the operator:- Other bets that you can do on the €1 is the minimum stake on Win. Pick a horse to finish st1 . The race number, amount of Tote are:- the Exacta. money, type of bet, number of Exacta. Pick 2 horses to finish st1 50 cent is the minimum stake on Place. Pick a horse to be 1st, 2nd the horse. After placing the bet and 2nd in specific order. the Trifecta, Jackpot and Placepot.

RACING the IRISH way 105 OFF-COURSE BETTING SHOPS As well as betting on the racecourse there are other ways and means of betting on horseracing. There are hundreds of off-course betting offices located in almost every city and town c in the country. h a p Ante-Post t e As well as betting on races on a r given day customers can bet ante-post on races. This means backing a horse 13 in advance of a race: days, weeks or even months beforehand. In particular the ante-post markets for races like the Grand National and the Classic races are very popular. The advantage of this is that one can often get a bigger price than on the day itself but, racing BOOKMAKERS odds, declare your stake, Each way. Win and Place bet. being racing, the horse might not Having decided which horse the horse’s name and the The place price is 1/4 or 1/5 of even run because of unfavourable you fancy go into the betting price on the board. You will the win price. conditions or change of plans. ring and scrutinise the various then be issued with a ticket bookmakers’ boards. which you must present to Without the favourite. With this Exotics There will be slight differences collect the winnings. bet you get reduced odds but As well as placing the usual in their prices so look for the Your stake is also returned two chances to win. win and place bets, the bettor one who’s giving the best with your winnings. Some 1. If your horse wins the race. can pick out ‘exotic’ bets price on your horse. bookmakers also offer the 2. If your horse finishes nd2 involving a number of horses in When you find one giving good following bets. to the favourite. different permutations.

106 RACING the IRISH way c h a p t e r

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RACING the IRISH way 107 The accumulated odds are bet is gone but you will still get Yankee Lucky 63 high in these bets because a the money from the place bet. The 11 bets on four horses: i.e. six 63 bets on six horses: i.e. six number of horses have to all place aspect is a sort of insurance. doubles, four trebles and one singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, win but when they come off the four-fold accumulator. 15 four-folds, six five-folds payouts can be huge. For the (Win) Treble and one six-fold accumulator. inexperienced bettor these exotic One bet on three horses which Lucky 15 bets can take a bit of figuring must all win. The same as a As the name suggests,15 bets Super-Heinz out but it can often be worth the double above but three horses on four different horses: i.e. A mammoth 120 bets on seven effort when you hit a big payoff! must win for it to come off. four single bets, six doubles, horses: i.e. 21 doubles, 35 More fun than doing the lottery! four trebles and one four-fold trebles, 35 four-folds, 21

c (Each-Way) Treble accumulator. five-folds, 7 six-folds and one h Combination Forecast The same as above except with seven-fold accumulator. a p Selecting three or more three horses. Super-Yankee (sometimes t e horses in any one race, two of called a Canadian) Goliath r which must finish st1 or 2nd in (Win) (Each-Way) Four-Fold, 26 bets on five horses: i.e. A whopping 247 bets on any order. Five-Fold etc 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five eight horses; i.e. 28 doubles, 13 These bets are generally referred four-folds and one five-fold 56 trebles, 70 four-folds, (Win) Double to as ‘Accumulators’ and the accumulator. 56 five-folds, 28 six-folds, One bet on two horses which same principle as Doubles and 8 seven-folds and 1 eight-fold must both win. Trebles applies. Lucky 31 accumulator. All the winnings plus As the name suggests 31 the original stake from Trixie bets on five different horses: : the first horse are Four bets on three horses: i.e. i.e. five singles, 10 doubles, Horse Racing Ireland re-invested on the Three doubles and one treble. 10 trebles, five four-fold promotes controlled betting, second horse. At least two of the horses must and one five-fold accumulator. never bet more than you can win to get a return. afford to lose, if you have a (Each-Way) Double Heinz betting problem, go to The same as above except Patent 57 bets (Heinz 57!) on six horses: www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk. you get the place money as well Seven bets on three horses i.e. 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 HRI takes no responsibly as the win money if both win. consisting of three single bets, four-folds, six five-folds and one for any information used However, if one or both horses are three doubles and one treble. six-fold accumulator. irresponsibly. only placed the ‘win’ part of the

108 RACING the IRISH way 26 IRISH RACECOURSE Locations by region

CORK Cork 53 MEATH Bellewstown 51 Fairyhouse 58 Navan 68 Laytown 63

GALWAY Galway 59 NORTH Down Royal 55 Downpatrick 56

KERRY Killarney 62 NORTH Ballinrobe 50 Listowel 66 WEST Roscommon 70 Sligo 71 Kilbeggan KILBEGGAN Kilbeggan 61 NORTH Dundalk 57 Kilbeggan EAST

- National Hunt & Flat KILDARE The Curragh 54 SOUTH Gowran Park 60 - Flat Naas 67 EAST Tramore 74 Punchestown 69 Wexford 75 - National Hunt

DUBLIN Leopardstown 64 TIPPERARY Clonmel 52 Thurles 72 Tipperary 73

LIMERICK Limerick 65 - National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt

- National Hunt & Flat - Flat - National Hunt

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 12 -- Office/InfoEntrance Point 6 - Tote 5 - Food 10 - Pavillon Stand 9 - Weigh Room 23 -- GrandOffice/Info Stand Point7 - Race Cards6 - Tote 11 - To ilets 10 - Pavillon- National Stand Hunt & Flat 34 -- BarGrand Stand 8 - Parade7 Ring - Race Cards12 - Saddling Stalls 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling- Flat Stalls - National Hunt

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls

1 - Entrance 5 - Food 9 - Weigh Room 2 - Office/Info Point 6 - Tote 10 - Pavillon Stand 3 - Grand Stand 7 - Race Cards 11 - Toilets 4 - Bar 8 - Parade Ring 12 - Saddling Stalls “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good Racing the irish way A GUIDE TO in ireland racing for the inside of a man” Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)

racing the irish way

A GUIDE TO racing in ireland

Published by: Phone: +353 (0)45 455 455 Horse Racing Ireland, Fax: +353 (0)45 455 456 Ballymany, The Curragh, Email: [email protected] Web: www.goracing.ie