WE were sorry to hear that Willie Kelly is leaving his racing career after 41 years in the betting ring. The Newry man has worked for the O’Hare family since 1980 but, still only 57 years of age, he has decided to take a career change.

“I suppose you could say I just fell out of love with the game,” he told us this week. “We had so much time off during Covid that, like a lot of people, I had time to think about the miles I had been doing every week. I enjoyed spending more time with my family and I’d like to do something where you had evenings and weekends off.”

Willie started his bookmaking career with Jack O’Hare in Newry before joining Pat’s son Robert at his SP office in Dundalk. He began working on-course with Pat O’Hare over 20 years ago and has been a fixture of the betting ring here and at Cheltenham for many years.

Great friends

“I made some great friends and have lovely memories over the years,” he said. “I will continue to go racing socially. I’m not on social media but I understand my colleague Colin Duffy tweeted my news and a lot of people replied to wish me well. I had no idea I was so popular. I’d like to thank those people and also Mr Pat O’Hare, for giving me so many opportunities. When Pat stood down, his son Damian took over and it has been a privilege to work with both of them. Pat is 91 and is still as sharp as ever. He was one of the best in the business.”