How did you get into racehorse

ownership?

I was born around horses on a farm, always horses. I come from a big family and you could say it’s a fault in your genes to have the horse bug! My family say I got 90% of the horse genes and they got 10%.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Icantsay won at Mallow (Cork Racecourse) in July 2016 and another memorable win was at Punchestown in May 2017. I took the whole lot there, all the family, and it was a big day there for us winning at the premier National Hunt track in the country.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The biggest drawback about being an owner is waiting to get a good horse. I’ve been 40 years waiting for a horse like Icantsay. I had my first horse at 20 and have had a nice few wins down the years. But it’s taken 40 years to get a horse of this calibre.

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

Tramore and Gowran Park and Tipperary have the personal touch and are always welcoming. Considering the Curragh is the top track, they should treat the customer much better. It’s a completely disproportionate standard between the quality of the track and the manner in which the owners and racegoers are treated. There’s plenty to work on.

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

Ah the jumps definitely. My brother-in-law, Jimmy Murphy, was an amateur jockey and I was going to the races with him since I was nine years old. I used to go in the CIE lorry, that’s how the horses were transported to the races in those days.

We went to Roscommon 45 years ago and collected three horses, two won and another was second. You can imagine what fun that was for a kid. Now probably you wouldn’t be allowed do such a thing.

You have to take young people to the races early so as they get a taste for what it’s all about and encourage them. I invited those young people you see in the Listowel picture on to the podium for the presentation and now they’ll never forget it. They are coming back to the races again.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

It’s got to be someone who talks their mind and isn’t a yes man. They have to have respect for the horses and their training and their owners.

John Ryan talks his mind and is black and white. As an owner you can go along to the yard at any time and watch the horses on the gallops. That’s a big part of being an owner. I can recognise how well my horse is working just passing me on the gallops; you feel really involved.

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

If you want to find out how to treat owners, well go along to Tramore or Gowran Park or Tipperary. They look after people travelling from all over the country and you are always given a voucher for a chicken curry or a hot pie. All you need is enough to fill the gap especially on a cold day.

What significance do your colours hold?

No significance, but Cathy likes purple and they are good strong colours.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I buy the foals and what I’m looking for is the build of John Ryan (he’s a big fella) the athleticism of Noel Meade and the temperament of Michael Hourigan – that’s the perfect mix! The three of them together. And I’ve got that at last.

Silver Birch (Grand National winner for Gordon Elliott) was a horse who passed through my hands as a yearling but I’m not selling this one (Icantsay).

I look out for a bold horse. I usually keep about six horses at once and sell them on; you can quickly end up with too many.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Dressednblack with Timothy Doyle and Icantsay with John Ryan.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Dressednblack will probably be out soon. I will hang on to her for breeding.Icantsay, hopefully, will be out tomorrow (Sunday) at Cork in a Grade 3 novice chase, going up in grade now.

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

I have some young ones, one by Mahler one by Ask and one by Tobugg. I will be selling on all of those. I am looking forward to my Flaming Glory filly coming on and I will probably race her.

What would help to make Irish racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

If my horse is a good second to a top horse owned by Gigginstown or another big owner, my ordinary horse automatically goes up 10lb and will never be placed again.

The handicapper should take more account of the calibre of each horse before allocating a new mark. Your horse will be allocated too much weight next time and these top horses from the big yards are about two stone better.

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

When you get that winner, enjoy it for three days! On the balance between defeat and success, defeat is much more likely.

Life is short so go for it, it’s so worth it when you win.

I get a lot of support from Cathy and you make a lot of great friends in the racing game.

I would also like to pay tribute to trainer Marie Harding who has handled some of my pointers and is going strong training.

Mick Walsh was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton