VINCENT Caldwell, originally from Belfast and now living in the Isle of Man, has a long-standing love affair with racing. A former bookmaker, Vincent used to have pitches at Cheltenham and Epsom.

He comes from a family with over 40 years’ passion and heritage in the sport, involved through racehorse ownership, sponsorship and corporate hospitality at main racing events and investment in the digitalisation of racing.

He is chairman of Virtual Live Racing founded to develop computer generated virtual live horse and greyhound racing.

Vincent followed in his late father’s footsteps in racing and had success in the Ulster Grand National with Poormans Hill, who won seven times in the 2017/2018 season.

The gelding is trained by Gordon Elliott, runs in his father’s old racing colours – orange with grey sleeves and royal blue hat – and is co-owned by his 99-year-old mother, Mrs Kathleen Caldwell.

Kathleen Caldwell, (née Connolly) who lives in Belfast, and whose father was a first cousin of one of the leaders of the Easter Rising of 1916, James Connolly, is approaching her 100th birthday in December.

It is believed she is Ireland’s oldest racing owner although Vincent has just heard that there is a registered owner of 105.

We would be happy to feature this owner any time if so!

Milestone

To mark this milestone, Vincent and siblings Jennifer and John, have bought the six-year-old O’Connell Street, as their early birthday present to Kathleen.

“All my life I heard my Mum talking about James Connolly and the GPO and when we heard a horse called O’Connell Street, who used to be with Nicky Henderson, was for sale – I couldn’t believe it, it was meant to be!

“Gordon has sent me a video of him, he’s just arrived there. Ideally we all are hoping that O’Connell Street will be ready for the Charles Caldwell (Kathleen’s late husband and Vincent’s father) Memorial Hurdle at Downpatrick on August 31st.

“Having my mother as joint-owner of Poormans Hill brought some luck so here’s hoping it happens again.”