DRIMOLEAGUE publican Derry McCarthy has been involved in harness racing all his life.
In fact, Derry was a tough competitor in the ridden road races which used to take place in the winter in west Cork. Whether track, field or road, the 50-year-old certainly enjoyed his most successful season ever in 2024.
“We had some year. The highlight was Stateside Lockdown winning The Welsh Classic at Tregaron driven by Richard Haythornthwaite. Also, Teddy Camden winning the All-Ireland Pace, driven by Ciaran Morrison was another massive day. I won the heat at Lyre myself.”
Derry has trained many winners personally; therefore, it’s a healthy endorsement when he praises Sally Teebon of Derbyshire who trained Lockdown and Ciaran Morrison who is based at Annaghmore.
“Sally gets results. She doesn’t disclose much and likes to do things at her own pace. Ciaran is very thorough; he did a great job with Teddy and also Ayr Beach.
“I train three or four of these from stables at the back of the pub. I have a 600-yard track about a quarter of a mile away.”
Derry is married to Kathleen. Her daughter Chelsie is a big key part of the team at Oakwood Stud in Offaly.
Stateside Lockdown was some buy for McCarthy. He won the finals at Tregaron and Aberystwyth before Derry sold him to Derek Delaney, who buys for the massive Ron Burke Stable in the USA. “He has a win and a couple of places in America. Sue Young still has the dam.
“Mention my helpers Gavin and Anthony. They have high hopes for Livewire HA who is in the Morrison barn at Annaghmore.”
Buoyed by his success last year, Derry spoke about five runners for 2025. Both he and Ronan Norton had literally taken delivery of new French Trotters on Wednesday past.
TEDDY CAMDEN (GB)
10yo g Stonebridge Galaxy – So Hip It Hurts
I think he is better than ever. He looks super and the vets say he is over some internal issues he suffered. He is grubbing well. I’ll have him ready for the beach meeting which starts the Cork season.
OAKWOOD BOUJEE (Ire)
2yo f Sweet Lou - Snob
I reinvested some of the ‘Lockdown money’ in this filly. She was £15,000 at York sales and I left her with Sally (Teebon). It’s a bit soon to say, but Sally says she is heading the right direction.
CROSSHILL DIABLO (GB)
7yo g Hasty Hall – Vain In Spain
Another one I sent to Sally. I own him 50/50 with Gareth Wyn Thomas from Wales. Gareth had Mahogany Ciao last year, another super horse. He asked me to go in with him and I didn’t hesitate.
JALEXIA SCOTT (Fr)
6yo m Quirky Jet – Alexia Scott
She only came home tonight. She’s a nice long-bodied bay mare. I’d like to see her with a bit more condition. She has won a race in France. She ate up and drank okay on her first night in Ireland.
AYR BEACH (GB)
8yo g See and Ski – Ayr Wing
He won a race in Cork last year and then a race in the North for Ciaran Morrison. Ciaran reckoned if he’d had him for longer, he’d have gotten 1.59 out of him. He doesn’t need any fancy equipment.
RONAN and Rachel Norton from Killashee, Longford, are typical of a few younger couples who have broken into harness racing in recent years.
Their yard is not centred around gambling. The raison d’etre seems to be: keep decent horses, race frequently and aim for the biggest prizes.
Certainly, the wins by 2023 Trotter Of The Year Iron Paddy and the prolific Fairplay Briolais were testimony to couple’s ability to prepare a racehorse.
Ronan is a properly qualified farrier, who started out on the Curragh 25 years ago. He mentions the names Weld, Collins and Halford and we get a sense that he was like a sponge watching and learning.
“I believe when I started out the stable lads had more time to put manners into the young flat horses. As a blacksmith, we like it when a horse has been taught to stand tethered or even held by the groom.
Force speed
“On the harness side, I believe we have much to learn from the French horsemen. They train horses to stay. A horse has either got speed or he hasn’t, you can’t force speed into a horse.
“We used to train on Paul Flynn’s wood chip and fibre gallop. The horses loved it so much that I reckoned I would incorporate some wood chip when I put down my own track and I eventually laid out a three-furlong oval with some uphill parts.”
“We won 10 races last year. I suppose Fairplay Briolais winning the Free For All at The Red John Memorial was the highlight. My friend Sean McDermott took the horse down, as Katie our daughter was born that weekend. Ayr Harbour winning in Cork and then later for his new owners was very satisfying as Michael Healy bought him on my word.”
Ronan has sold Fair Play Briolais to Dan O’Mahony of Dunmanway. However, the Nortons still have a strong squad to pick from. Daughters Emma (10) and Alana (8) love being around the horses.
IRON PADDY (Ire)
7yo g Rachmaninov Seven – Vincennes De Gohel
Rachel will be back in the sulky in 2025 (Rachel missed 2024 as daughter Katie was born). He’s back in fast work. He is easy to do. He wears half round shoes in front and aluminiums behind. Rachel does everything with him.
KERION SCOTT (Fr)
5yo g Ugo de Nieul – Caline Scott
Three horses from the same breeder came in this week, hence the ‘Scott’ suffix. He arrived in the yard tonight. He’ll get five days in a pasture and then we’ll do some road testing, so to speak. I drove this horse and Derry’s mare on the buying panel in France and I liked them both.
MUP O’ THAT (Ire)
3yo m So Lovely Girl – Carla May
The name came from Co Clare, wouldn’t you know? She will be a commentator’s nightmare. She is a lovely filly 15hh and jet black.
She has been in since December, although I gave her two weeks off recently as she was getting a bit too forward. Willie McInerney broke her and she is a real pet.
JEWEL KEETON (Fr)
6yo g Quaker Jet – Querelle Chantante
He came in late last year and we gave him a run. It took a while for the horse to acclimatise. He is now working away and he is giving me a nice feel.
We didn’t contact the previous owners as I prefer to find my own way. You have to be calm around him as he can be a bit sharp. He goes in a ‘Happy Mouth’ snaffle and all is well.