How did you get into ownership?

My late father, Willie, always had greyhounds. I used to go to the Enniscorthy track a couple of times a week from an early age and that’s how I got the gambling bug.

In the early ‘80s Henry Cleary was training in Wexford, near Gorey and he had a winner with a pointer in Shillelagh, Gambler’s Wish, and he suggested I take a share along with Larry Doyle.

We went into Andy Redmond’s pub in Bunclody – he had the bookmakers beside the pub – to celebrate our first winner. Andy had sold the horse Bunclody Tiger who won the Galway Plate in 1974.

I ordered a bottle of champagne but Andy said ‘it’s far from champagne you were reared’ and put two small bottles of stout in front of me!

I’ve had many trainers over the years. One was Victor Bowens, who won a point in Dundalk.

In the early ‘80s I bought into Antarctic Bay who won the Sun Alliance at Cheltenham in 1985 under Frank Berry, trained by Pat Hughes.

Abbey Glen lost out in the Arkle in 1988 just beaten by Danish Flight.

Lady Daisy, trained by Tony Mullins, won multiple times in the ‘90s and we sent her over to a big hurdle in Keeneland in 1998, the Royal Chase for the Sport of Kings. Lord Vestey organised the trip. Princess Anne was there to present the trophies.

Sadly the ground went against Lady Daisy and she finished seventh. She won the Paddy Power Hurdle at Punchestown among many other races.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Well Princess Zoe winning the two big pots at Galway this year (the Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap and Galway Shopping Centre Handicap) and it was three in a row as she had won the Ladies Derby at the Curragh just before that.

She should have won at Navan before that as well but it got away, she was interfered with.

A lot of money was lost that day. I’m in racing as a gambler and I hate when things are out of my control. I’m a punter first and foremost.

I would have to say my best day in racing was when Grabel won the US$750,000 Duelling Grounds Hurdle, one of the richest jump races run in the 20th century, in 1990, in what is now Kentucky Downs. Paddy Mullins trained, Tony rode and they were all there, Mrs Mullins, Willie and a lot of friends came out from Wexford.

Richard Pitman wrote in his book that the greatest day he had in racing was when the Irish mare won in Kentucky. She was a terrific mare, won 17 races from 34 runs.

Any day you take money off bookmakers is a good day, whether it’s a point-to-point or Cheltenham.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

I hate it when the horses get injured. Party Playboy was going so well last year winning a novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last November off an excellent second in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket.

Tony discovered some tendon trouble when he was training for the next race. He’ll be back.

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

Jumps, but Princess Zoe has won on the flat of course. Grabel won four times on the flat and was going in the Queen Alexandra at Ascot in 1990 but Pat Eddery pulled her up.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

My trainers are usually friends, Jim Gorman, Tony, Willie and Paddy (Mullins), Pat Hughes and John McAuley.

Bernard Cullinan sources the horses in Germany and Andy Pierce trained for me. My sister Philomena Crampton takes a share in the horses and Liam Walsh and his wife Betty look after any injured horses and the pointers.

How do you think the current crisis will impact on racing in general and on ownership in particular?

We lost out in prize money for Princess’ two wins at Galway like everyone this year. And we couldn’t be there. My mother was in Galway watching on the tv, she couldn’t go.

They are doing the right thing for racing to be allowed to continue and we could watch the races in the pub which wasn’t so bad.

It’s hard to know if owner numbers will drop off. It wouldn’t be good if more big owners like O’Leary go out of the game.

What significance do your colours hold?

They are the old Wexford colours, purple and gold.

I have expectations of Wexford winning the All-Ireland this year. Having Davy (Fitzgerald) has made a big difference.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I’m not the one who chooses the horses, I could as easily be looking into an empty field! Bernard Cullinan chooses the horses for us and has had great success with German-breds. He looks for those that have run over one mile and two/three but need longer distances. Princess is a half-sister to a Group 2 winner in Germany.

Party Playboy needs four miles! I’d like to run him on the flat at Chester and maybe Ascot.

What horses do you currently have

in training?

Princess Zoe, Party Playboy, Scalino (fifth in a Tramore maiden hurdle on Thursday), Gerry Dawson has a share, and Doran The Legend, called after the great Wexford hurler, Tony.

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

The smaller trainers are all struggling – I don’t know how they keep going. Over the jumps, it’s Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins and de Bromhead who get all the bigger owners.

It’s difficult for syndicates. The point of going into syndicates with your friends is to have the craic but they can’t do that at the moment.

I work as a suspended ceilings contractor and money is sparse on the building sites.

And some of the syndicates were not run well and people got into trouble with money.

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

It’s an up and down game, you want to be able to afford it. Now I’m up again with two good horses flying.

We’re hoping Party Playboy is on the mend and back in training soon.

Princess Zoe is being aimed at the Prix du Cadran in Paris but I have her backed for the Mares’ Novice Hurdle in Cheltenham so providing she jumps a hurdle, that’s where we’re going.

Paddy Kehoe was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton