How did you get into racehorse ownership?

In or around 1986. I got involved with Arran and Garreth Metcalfe (now breeders – where did I go wrong?). Our first horse was Gargamel, trained by Ruby Walsh senior, a gentleman, RIP. Aaron, Garreth and myself were first starting out in business. I will never forget Ruby’s advice – horse racing is your hobby, it is fun, make sure you all look after your own business. That advice is just as relevant today as it was back in 1986.

That year, Gargamel won a maiden hurdle in Wexford, trained by Ruby Walsh, ridden by Brendan Sheridan at odds of 8/1. I still remember that day well, our first winner.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Every day that I have a horse winning is always my best day at the races. I have had 33 winners, mostly at point-to-point meetings. Each winner is so special and so enjoyable.

It is even more special whenever my family are present although they make me very nervous.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The biggest drawback about being an owner is the dangers of a horse falling and a jockey being injured. Eddies Miracle unseated Barry O’Neill at Aintree in the Foxhunters recently. My concern was for Barry and Eddies Miracle. Thankfully everything turned out fine.

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

Northern Ireland is lucky to have two excellent race courses, Down Royal and Downpatrick. The facilities at Downpatrick have improved significantly but my loyalty is to Down Royal where I am on the management committee of Down Royal Corporation for over 20 years.

Down Royal’s facilities keep on improving year after year. We keep investing and improving to give the customer an exciting experience.

I have won three hunter chases at Downpatrick with No Escort, Not Before Eight and Clondaw Frisby.

I have won two hunter chases at Down Royal with Fair Island and Eddies Miracle. Both courses are different but overall I have found Down Royal very satisfying.

After my win recently with Eddies Miracle in the hunter chase, I, along with my friends, were welcomed wholeheartedly into the winners’ enclosure by Pamela Ballantine and entertained with champagne while we watched a reply of the race. It was good. Down Royal also forwarded to me a framed photograph of Eddie jumping the last fence.

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

Jump racing, and in particular point-to-pointing which is my passion, a parochial event attended by local people and families and at different venues. People are so friendly – I have made great friends over the years.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Reliability, honesty and consistency are the qualities I appreciate in a trainer. David Christie trains most of my runners and Gerry Cosgrave trains my syndicate horse, Clondaw Frisby. Both trainers are my trustworthy mentors.

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

Owners are the cornerstone of horseracing. They invest time and hard earned cash into the industry. Therefore they must be treated with absolute respect and almost given VIP treatment. On the days owners have a runner they should be given: family/syndicate free admission; use of owners’ car park; complimentary coffee/tea on arrival; complimentary drinks for all the family/syndicate on arrival; complimentary meals for the family/syndicate.

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

Owners do not want to be treated differently when losing. It is important not to get too upset and when this happens to me, I always ask myself will it matter next day, next week? If the answer is ‘no’ I just let go and sleep soundly that night.

What significance do your colours hold?

Northern Ireland people are sensitive about colours. My colours are predominantly orange with green epaulettes. For me orange is a strong energetic colour, bright, happy and uplifting. The green is refreshing and tranquil. But most of all they are easily recognisable throughout a race.

How did your syndicate get its name?

The name of the syndicate I am involved with is named by the self appointed team leader, not me (Carnglave Racing).

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

David Christie, my trainer, buys all the horses I have in training, usually horses with some form. He does his homework and research. He then recommends the purchase of the horse to me. However I do my own form and make my own decision.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Eddies Miracle, Clondaw Frisby, Vinnie Luck (all winners) and so far an unraced horse Visions Of Dylan, who will run in my colours.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Eddies Miracle will probably keep running in open races for the time being and maybe be aimed for Stratford. Next year we will try and win hunters chases and also maybe also run him at Cheltenham or Aintree. The others will probably keep running in point-to-point opens.

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

I am hoping to purchase a couple of three-year-old fillies and keep to the points.

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

I feel that the point-to-point open races, six and seven-year-old maidens and some of the mares’ races are just supporting acts to the four and five-year-old races. I am not jealous about the owners of four-year-old or five-year-old winners achieving big money at the sales but I feel more consideration should be given to the supporting races in the form of perhaps additional prize money and definitely family passes to gain free admission.

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

Have fun. There is a great social side to racing. It is a sport that carries on through your entire life. It doesn’t stop at 40. It is almost like an addiction in a good way. I get greater pleasure from a winner today than I did when I was much much younger.

If I could bottle the adventure, rush and excitement on getting a winner I would be a multi-millionaire. Money could not buy that feeling.

I have experienced that feeling 33 times. Did I achieve the status of a multi-millionaire? If you are interested in the answer, you have to phone a friend (Dr Mikey).

The downside to horse ownership is that it eats up plenty of hard earned money. Would I change it? – absolutely not! But that does not stop my wife from shopping too much!

Ray Nicholas was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton