Our series on racehorse owners continues with Frank Lynch

Frank Lynch is a well-known accountant and businessman based in Louth. He’s been involved in racehorse ownership for over 30 years and was part of the last Louth All Ireland winning side of 1957.

How did you get into racehorse ownership/How did you come to own your first horse?

I worked as a youngster on a farm and drove cart horses. I didn’t work so much when I was in secondary school because I was playing so much football but I’d go racing the odd time then too. I was on the 1957 Louth team that won the All Ireland and the next year we all went on a trip to New York.

I remember winning a few hundred dollars at Belmont Park over there. In 1984, my pal Liam Fagan asked me to buy a horse. We put it in training with Jimmy Feane and called it The Subway Kid, after my exploits of running on the tracks between two subway stations in New York. The following year we bought a few yearlings at Goffs and I developed stables and a house on eight acres I had purchased. Each one of those horses we bought won. Pricillian (trained by John Oxx) was our first in 1988. Mr Oxx said to me, after the horse won at Leopardstown under Cash Asmussen, that he had a buyer for the horse for £45,000. He told me that you have to be selling as well as buying in this game. We sold Priscillian to Britain and something happened to the horse soon afterwards and she had to be put down.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Fantastic Flyer, backed down to 6/4, won by half the track at the old Dundalk in 1989 in front of a big crowd. If I’d known a bit more about horses, I’d probably have kept him to go hurdling with, but I sold him.

But every race you win is an achievement. My wife always says the best horse I have ever owned is the present one: Cristy’s Call. He has won six times.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Very few racehorse owners make money. It takes as much to train a mediocre horse as a good horse. I feel the prize money is shocking in Ireland. After the 30% deductions are applied to prize money, the owner is not left with much.

In your experience, which racecourse treats owners the best and why?

At the Curragh on the opening day of the flat season, there was a big crowd who were frozen with the cold but there was hardly a place to go and sit down. There are people making big money out of the industry and they should be capable of re-investing in the sport. At most racecourses, you can’t even get a good meal. Dundalk is a good all-weather track, and hopefully we’ll end up with a good National Hunt establishment there too. At Dundalk on any night, you can get a nice meal – it’s a great facility. Leopardstown is quite good too but I find it difficult to get to. Other good tracks deserving mention are Gowran Park, Ballinrobe and Naas.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer and why?

Flat. Maybe it’s because it is what I was introduced to at the beginning. I like jumps too but weather-wise, the National Hunt months do nothing for me.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Gavin Cromwell is my trainer. He’s a very hard worker and is also a farrier. All his horses are kept very well, and well fed, and he’s a very amicable individual.

What improvements could be made to racing in Ireland?

There are situations where there are only three or four horses running in big listed or group races and there is very little interest from the general public in those races. In such races, the authorities should reduce the prize money and that money should be distributed to lower grade races. At Dundalk, there is tremendous competition in those kind of races.

But Dundalk needs a bigger promotional effort. Charging €15 entry to Dundalk is ridiculous. The introduction of loyalty cards should be considered.

Also, betting terms should be enhanced too to reflect modern times – each-way bets should be extended past the first three or four.

What improvements would you like to see racecourses in Ireland do for owners?

As long as there’s a comfortable place to sit and have tea for a chat, I’m happy. As I already mentioned, at the Curragh, there are very few places to sit and it’s very much open to the elements.

How do you feel owners are treated at the races when not having a winner?

There should be a little hospitality section where you can have a drink or tea with winners. The placed owners are the ones who are most disappointed, and to be able to exchange views with those people is very important. To me, horse racing is all about meeting people.

What significance do your colours hold?

Red and white for Louth – they’re distinctive colours and you always see them coming!

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

Good walker, good conformation and good pedigree. I don’t go for the expensive ones. The most I’ve spent was around €45,000. I always look for a bargain mainly because I can’t compete with the bigger purchasers.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Cristy’s Call and Political Policy (Michael Halford) at home. Between them, I’ve won seven races at Dundalk.

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. yearlings, 2yos, unnamed/unraced etc)

I have a four-year-old (by Bernstein out of a Sadler’s Wells mare) recently operated on for wind which I bought at the sales. He’s called Two And One and he’ll hopefully be racing in a bumper in a couple of months. I’ve also got a three-year-old by Bush Ranger – he’ll be in training in May or June.

What’s next on the agenda for Cristy’s Call?

When we get better ground, he’ll go hurdling. Of course, we’ll be back at Dundalk when there’s a race there to suit him.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of becoming a racehorse owner?

At the sales, get someone to give you little bit of advice. It’s very important the horse you buy is correct. Go for the smaller trainer who’s trying to get on the ladder and he’ll be cheaper for you than the bigger trainers.

AIRO secured free admission on over 90 racedays in 2015 for registered owners with a horse in training.

Naas Monday, April 27th

Down Royal Monday, May 4th

Ballinrobe Tuesday, May 5th

Wexford Saturday, May 9th

Naas Wednesday, May 13th

Frank Lynch was in conversation with Joe Finegan