How did you get into racehorse ownership?

My grandfather and my father always had an interest in horses. My father and I bought an in-foal mare from Liam Cashman over 25 years ago, Adare Annie. We then foaled her and raced her gelding – The Sutty Fox. He was placed but never won a race.

What was your best days at the races and why?

There’s been a few.

When Moscow Flyer won the Queen Mother Chase in 2005 and 2005. Then years later, Dunguib won the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in 2009. These were both very memorable days of racing.

The best memory I have would be winning a point-to-point in Punchestown with a horse called The Fox Inn in 1998 with Tony Martin riding. He bet a good field of young horses. Local trainer Martin Murray trained him.

Hopefully there’s a few more days out with Ballymadun.

What’s the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Injury for sure. Especially when you think you have a good horse, that will do well and an injury prevents him from running.

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

We had a runner in Perth about 10 years ago. They really looked after us.

But since then courses in Ireland have improved.

I must say Gowran Park really looked after us when we had a winner recently. They supplied us with passes, meal vouchers and a couple of drinks after Ballymadun won last week. My father, Jimmy, has been at all the runs of Ballymadun but missed this one.

Flat or jump racing, which do you prefer?

I love watching the Group 1 races but my preference would be jumping, especially the festival meetings after Christmas.

The Dublin Racing Festival next year should be a brilliant couple of days racing at the right time of year.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

It’s all about the results.

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

Owners have to be looked after and encouraged, because without them racing can’t happen.

Passes, racecards, meal vouchers should be a basic provision nowadays.

Leopardstown has done a fantastic job with their new owners’ facilities.

What significance do your colours hold?

My mother, Betty, chose them over 25 years ago, so they’re very sentimental colours.

When buying a horse what do you look for?

We usually buy foals and sell them on as three-year-olds. We consign them through Pa Doyle in Galbertstown Stud – he does a fantastic job.

We try to buy straight, correct and good looking foals with something in their pedigree to improve the page but they are hard to get.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Just Ballymadun at the minute. We have a few well related young horses for the sales most years.

What’s next on the agenda for your horse?

Ballymadun needs a bit of time off after each run. He also likes a bit of good ground so he will run until the winter ground comes. Then he gets a bit of time off. Hopefully he will be back for the spring festivals, fingers crossed

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

We sold a nice Jeremy three-year-old in August in Tattersalls to Timmy Hillman. They hope to get him point racing as a four-year-old. I would absolutely love to see him win one.

We have a nice yearling by Flemsinfirth. Her full-brother ran fourth first time out for Mouse Morris (Last Man Standing, owned by Sue Magnier.) He likes him a lot.

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

In France they have a great system where the breeder gets a slice of the winnings, whatever the value of the race.

For the last few years, the industry has been helping fillies. This can only be a good thing. For years it was very hard to sell them.

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

Have deep pockets and patience.

Raymond Sutton was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton.