HE has spent a lifetime in racing, but nothing dims his interest in or his love for the sport. This was quite evident on Monday night at Ballinrobe when Garry Fleming’s Molly Kaye won for the first time, and the 22nd time of asking.

Paddy Duffy’s son Shane trains the mare at Errill, Co Laois, and by coincidence the first pony Paddy himself was associated with when he went to work at Hubert Hartigan’s on the Curragh as a kid was called Molly.

That was in the 1950s, and it is hard to imagine he has been involved that long when you look at the sprightly 78-year-old.

Paddy wears his years well and still rides out for Shane – indeed he can take much of the credit for Molly Kaye’s good form as he rides her in all her crucial work.

After a spell with Hartigan, Paddy moved on to Jimmy Lenehan’s and Kevin Bell’s, before spending over two decades as assistant to Paddy Prendergast. With the turn of the century he moved to Michael Halford and was travelling head lad until his ‘retirement’.

However, the latter word is not in Paddy’s vocabulary and he now helps his son out, and Shane is grateful for his wisdom and advice.

“Everyone in racing knows dad,” Shane said this week. “He rides Molly Kaye out daily and in her fast work.”

A lifetime spent in racing is reaping benefits still and we send Paddy our best wishes.