I HAVE spent the past 48 years working in racing; initially for trainer Peter McCreery and in more recent times, at Derrinstown Stud. In that period I have worked with hundreds of different people who have gone on to hold prominent roles within the industry.

Hailing from the village of Clane, it was always a strong possibility that I would have some involvement with horses. The McCreerys and Cashs were very successful families who made a name for themselves in the equine world. The former had their yard just a couple of hundred yards from my house and I used to see the horses ride out every morning.

I grew up with the Cashs and they were all jockeys at one stage or another. Indeed young Ned [Cash] went on to ride on the Irish show jumping team that competed for the Aga Khan Trophy at the RDS.

Charlie O’Neill was another well-known figure in a town where horses and racing held a high priority.

I always wanted to work in the industry so when I was old enough to do so, I left school and got a job in Peter McCreery’s stables.

Having started out as a stable hand, I did all the usual tasks around the yard, before eventually learning how to ride racehorses.

From there I moved on to riding work, a great experience in a stable which housed some of the leading National Hunt horses of the time.

I was asked to mind some of those owned by Mrs Harper, a prominent supporter of the yard. From there I got to travel with the horses when they went racing, a role that led to be becoming travelling head lad.

FANTASTIC SUCCESS

In the mid-1970s and early 80s we enjoyed some fantastic success with our runners. Castleruddery won the Kim Muir Chase at the 1975 Cheltenham Festival, ridden by Ted Walsh. We returned with horses over the next few years and each time made the placing.

Then, in 1978, Hilly Way won the Champion Chase, a feat he repeated a year later. As I travelled with the horse whenever he went racing, I rode work on him prior to those races, with leading jockey Tommy Carmody.

During the 1980s we had Daring Run, who was just beaten in a Champion Hurdle, before going on to win at Aintree. Those were wonderful years to be involved with the McCreery stable and I count myself very fortunate to have been around to enjoy them.

I left racing for a brief period in the early 1980s, having decided to work on oil rigs in the North Sea. I got to know Peter Duggan, a well respected oil man, who had horses with the McCreerys.

He had bought a few thoroughbreds to ride himself over the Aintree fences and we became friends. However, I soon discovered the oil business wasn’t for me, so returned to racing, this time at Airlie Stud.

I got a job through Keith Griffin, who managed the operation for Captain Rogers. After spending two years at the stud, I moved on to Derrinstown in 1984, just as the new farm was getting established.

WORKING MY WAY UP THE RANKS

Initially I went in as an assistant stud groom, working my way up the ranks to become head groom in 1997.

I have to say I settled into working at Derrinstown straight away and although it can be quite a hard job at times, it is very rewarding. Despite leaving a racing yard, I found a new niche in the stud industry and took to looking after mares and foals very quickly.

My employers are great people to work for; they take a big interest in their staff and really make us feel part of a wider family. I have been here over three decades now and feel it is the best career move I ever made.

We foal about a 100 mares each season, with many of the leading racemares in the world coming here. We have added to our stallion ranks this season, with two more joining our band.

It is an exciting time for the stud and one I am very much looking forward to. My job is to monitor the progress of the mares in the run up to foaling and look after both mare and foal in the weeks that follow.

The foals usually stay with us for 8-10 weeks before moving on to another part of the farm. I have a great staff under me and realise the importance of being able to rely on them every day.

Working with millions of euros worth of horse flesh is not a job to take lightly, being able to delegate is crucial. Over the years people have travelled from as far off as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in order to spend time working and learning here at Derrinstown.

Many have returned home and forged very successful careers within the industry after leaving us.

I am proud to have been able to play a small role in their education and contribute something to an industry that has been so good to me.

Mick Ryan was in conversation with John O’Riordan