RIDING my first winner under rules last month was an incredible experience; something that has been a long time in the making.

Although I am just 16, I have been riding out at Mrs Harrington’s since I was 12 and but for the coronavirus, I would have had my licence earlier.

However, when the opportunity finally presented itself, I was delighted to be able to take advantage and register my first career success.

My father worked for Homer Scott so I was always up at the yard when I was younger. Homer is a close family friend who lives less than a mile from us so I was lucky enough to get my start from him.

By the age of eight, I was going racing with Homer and travelling in the lorry whenever he brought horses to work on the Curragh. I rode out from the age of 10, at which point I also started to compete in pony racing. I stayed at that discipline until last year; registering 35 winners during that time.

Pony racing

Dad was brought me all over the country pony racing and gave me all the support I needed. Without him I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now. Homer Scott was also a big influence on my early development and he kindly arranged for me to go into Mrs Harrington’s when I was 12.

Initially it was somewhat of a culture shock, going from a small yard into one where the sheer scale of numbers, be they horses or staff, was alien to me. However, from day one, Mrs Harrington and her team couldn’t have made me feel more welcome, so I quickly settled in.

As I already had experience of riding out, I was allowed sit on the racehorses early on. I went into the yard at weekends, school holidays and probably the odd school day!

By 13, I was riding work alongside the stable jockeys; taking part in racecourse gallops and schooling races, as well as riding on the Curragh training grounds. I learned a lot in a short period of time, as Mrs Harrington gave me the opportunity to develop and grow as a rider.

Paddy Kennedy was always very good to me, as were Robbie Power and Shane Foley. Colm O’Donoghue was another who took me under his wing while he was in the yard.

I used to go racing with Tom Madden sometimes and thought I was great travelling with a jockey! Andrew Leigh rode out in Mrs Harrington’s when I started so was also an early influence.

I was treated like any of the other lads in the yard – put up on the best horses. I rode Alpha Centauri, Jezki in some work and Lucky Vega all last summer.

First ride

From the age of 12, I had been preparing for my first racecourse ride, something that finally came at Galway this summer.

The plan had always been to get my licence in March and go from there. However, with racing abandoned due to the coronavirus, it was July before the paperwork could be completed in full.

In the finish, it was something of a rush, with the licence coming through on the Friday, before I had my first public ride aboard Get Trumped on the Monday.

As we had nothing suitable for a National Hunt race at that time, I rode in an amateur race on the flat at Galway.

The experience didn’t prove to be as daunting as I had expected; I actually enjoyed it all and couldn’t wait to do it all again!

However, I had to wait until last month for my second taste of race-riding, something that in the event was worth the wait. I only found out the morning of declarations that I would be riding Ever Present at Punchestown.

Despite being sent off a 25/1 chance, he had always shown a bit at home but we expected him to benefit from the whole experience of his first racecourse appearance.

In the circumstances, he ran out a ready winner despite showing signs of greenness. While it was a bit of a surprise to ride my first winner, it was certainly a pleasant one. Only the two girls who travelled with the horses that afternoon, Lena and Esme, were at the races but my phone was soon hopping.

I was on the phone to Kate and Mrs Harrington soon after, while the texts and calls kept coming in from family, friends and all the lads in the yard.

I am still in school at the moment; having just started fifth year in Castledermot. Over the next few months, the intention is to pick up rides whenever possible, while also continuing my education.

I will be in Mrs Harrington’s every weekend and hopefully get to ride a few as well. The long-term plan is to become a full-time jockey, obviously depending on my weight.

If that stays within range then I’d love to turn professional one day but if not, then I will continue to ride as an amateur.

Like most other jockeys, aside from that, my ambition is to stay injury free, make as many contacts as possible and hopefully ride plenty winners in the coming years.

Michael McGuane was in conversation with John O’Riordan