FOR any trainer, sending out that first winner is a momentous occasion. When that initial success also happens to come at your local track, it makes the whole experience even more satisfactory.

I was fortunate enough to find myself in that very position after Da Big Fella dead-heated at Killarney last week. With the winner also being home-bred and owned by my wife, I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Jaunting car

Although a Limerick man by birth, I spent much of my childhood with relations in Killarney. My uncle drove a jaunting car, so naturally kept horses for that purpose. As a child, I was always helping out during school holidays, feeding the horses and occasionally driving the tourists.

Back home in Limerick, I got involved in show jumping, something I kept up throughout my teens. After finishing school, I went on to college in Galway before embarking on a career in the hotel industry. Having spent time working in Limerick and Waterford, I returned to Killarney nearly 30 years ago. Initially I opened a guest house but later built what is now the Killarney Oaks Hotel.

Shortly after coming to Kerry, I built a couple of stables and began riding with the Kingdom Hunt. I remained involved for many years, serving as hunt chairman for some time. My wife, Valerie (Courtney) had always been interested in horseracing, so we got into ownership with Tralee-based trainer, Tom Cooper.

Won twice

Our very first purchase, Hayden’s First, won twice for us and was placed on multiple occasions. We later bred from her and one of her offspring, Made In Killarney, has been placed over hurdles. Shuil Dara, the dam of last week’s winner, also raced in our colours. River Liane was undoubtedly the best horse we ever owned - he won three times and was third in an Irish Champion Hurdle.

In 2008, we bought the site of our present stables but only developed it seven years ago. I started training a couple of point-to-point horses and sent out five winners. On the back of that, I decided to take out a restricted trainers’ licence four years ago.

We have 12 boxes for racehorses, a two-furlong circle, a four-furlong straight and two-furlong hill gallop. While most of the groundwork is done at home, I take the horses to Dromahane or the Curragh for their main pieces.

Work rider

Paudie O’Connor, from Ballybunion, is the main work rider and a huge part of our success. Marshall Watson, the Armagh-based trainer, has also been a great support in terms of advice and know how. All but one of the six I currently have in training are home-breds. It’s essentially a family-run business where we train the horses that aren’t sold at the sales. I like to keep at least one of every line if I can.

Last week was incredible, as not only was it our first winner but the whole family were present to enjoy it. Valerie was in attendance along with our son Patrick and daughter Shauna. I’d safely say I knew 90% of the people at the races so it was wonderful that everyone could share in a local success.

Dead-heat

Da Big Fella dead-heated with Christmas Jumper but at the time I honestly didn’t know if we had won or lost. Some people were telling me we held on, while others felt we were chinned on the line. When the result was eventually called, I was more than happy to share the spoils. Philip Enright, a Tralee man, gave our horse a great ride, hanging on to dead-heat with Rachael Blackmore.

Standing in that winner’s enclosure at the July festival meeting is something that will live long in my memory. It was actually the first time we had a winner at the track, even as owners.

While the hotel business remains our main priority, I am thrilled with how the training has progressed. We have gone from sending out point-to-point winners, to one on the track, all the while breeding from our own broodmares.

In all probability, the numbers will remain small, as I am content to just train for the family and further the breeding operation we have begun. It is very satisfying to see the offspring of our racemares go on to prove themselves on the track.

Hopefully in the coming years we can enjoy some more great days like the one with Da Big Fella.

Eamon Courtney was in conversation with John O’Riordan