AROUND this time last year, I thought I was done with racing. Or more accurately, racing was done with me. I had ridden out my claim the previous season and found myself in that ‘no man’s land’ that every jockey fears. Any yards I rode for in the past wanted to use claimers and, for me, it was a case of there being no room at the inn. I was basically just going racing for the sake of it. I wasn’t enjoying it any more. I’d sometimes have no more than a handful of rides each week, usually on horses that had little chance of winning. I didn’t get off the mark until April.

I don’t come from a racing family. My grandparents had a few cows and that opened up a window to keep a pony. I did a bit of hunting and hunter trials at home around Dunshaughlin. Riding alongside the likes of Puppy Power and the Carberrys inspired me to want to become a jockey. By then I had discovered Channel 4 Racing. A.P. McCoy was my idol. School was an absolute no-no. I hated every minute of it.

I couldn’t wait to leave so that I could go to RACE.

I was part of the class of 2007/’08. Leigh Roche and Conor Hoban were there at the same time. I was sent out on placement to Frank Ennis. He was an exceptional master and really brought me forward as a rider.

Having signed on as an apprentice with Frank, I rode plenty of placed horses before getting my first winner on Salazaar at Roscommon in June 2009. I was with Frank for about two years. Unfortunately, I broke my wrist during that second season and got quite heavy while I was off injured. I didn’t renew the licence after that. I got complacent around the Curragh, just going through the motions. I stayed around longer than I should have.

In 2015, I went to Australia. While riding track work out there I found that I had got the zest back. It felt like it had when I was first starting out. A short three-month stint in the States made my mind up that I wanted to get my licence back. After coming home to Co Meath, I rode out for Eddie Lynam. It was a great place to work and I really enjoyed my time there.

However, I knew that if I was going to reignite my career as a jockey, it would have to be abroad. With nothing to lose, I phoned trainer John Jenkins and went over to him in 2016. I spent two years with John and, although I didn’t ride him any winners, I came away a better jockey. He taught me the difference between just sitting on a horse and riding one. Mad to ride horses that were capable of winning, I made the move to Gay Kelleway in Newmarket. She was a tough taskmaster and I lasted all of two months! I did manage to ride a winner during that time though.

I joined David Evans in 2018. I spent four years there and was sad to leave. I rode three winners for David in 2019, before suffering double-ankle breaks in a gallops fall. I landed on my feet, which resulted in both being badly smashed up and having to be reconstructed. At one point, surgeons were unsure if I would even keep both feet, let alone ride again.

I spent three months in a wheelchair and they were my worst days so far. I owe my career to the Injured Jockeys Fund, for getting me back in the saddle. It was seven months of intense rehab and very touch-and-go. They offered me a career-ending payout, to which I told them to never offer me again! David Evans kept faith in me throughout my recovery and I rode a winner for him at Kempton on my second ride back. I went on to ride another four winners that season (2020). The following year, I reached double figures for the very first time, with 13 winners.

Confidence

In 2022, I found a man named John O’Shea. It was while riding for John that race-riding really became clear to me. He gave me free rein to think for myself. While David Evans gave me all the chances and a first taste of success, my confidence really grew when I went to John. I picked up more rides and started to get more winners. I hit the 20-winner mark for the first time during that initial season with him.

A year later, I improved on that number by five. I still had my 5lb claim when I went to John O’Shea, but I lost that towards the end of 2024. That season also proved to be my best to date, with 36 winners. My agent, Russ James, works tirelessly and deserves so much credit. I tell him it isn’t an easy job selling me!

If anyone had told me in April last year that I’d end up riding 25 winners for the season, I’d have thought they were mad. My first full campaign without a claim hadn’t started promisingly, but I put my head down and worked hard. I always said that I’d never have another boss after John O’Shea. He was incredibly good to me and I have so much to thank him for.

Now freelance, I have stuck to my word and have no retained stable. I am somewhere different every morning and there are a lot of positives to it. I still ride out for John, but also go into the likes of Archie Watson, Steph Hollinshead and Fergal O’Brien. During the summer, I will call into different yards, depending on where the racing is that day or the following day. It’s exciting to ride out for different trainers, meet new people and get fresh perspectives.

Love and loss

Racing is a tight-knit community and it has been difficult losing some close colleagues over the past year. Bill Turner meant a lot to me as a trainer. I rode winners for him and he was always supportive. Stefano Cherchi’s death hit us all. We missed him when he went to ride in Australia, but now we miss him even more.

The loss of Tommy Jakes is still hard to comprehend. We woke up one morning to the news that he was gone. I am probably of an age where I can manage to get my head around these things, but Tommy’s close friends would be much younger. It’s important that our sport unites around them and the various bodies provide support.

My career as a jockey has been very much a stop-start one and I’m very proud that I’ve managed to make a career out of it. Even if I do have to remind myself every now and then. In stark contrast to 12 months ago, the new year got off to a great start when I rode a first-ever career treble at Southwell. I’ve never had three winners in a day before and, in all likelihood, I won’t ever have again.

If I could match or better my figure from last year I’d be delighted, with anything else being a bonus. I have a mad itch to ride over jumps at some stage. I’ve schooled horses at home, but so far, I haven’t ridden on the track. I’d like to tick that box before I eventually finish up race-riding.

Gina was in conversation with John O’Riordan