How did you get into racehorse

ownership?

I started back in the 1990s in a syndicate which did not work out so I decided to go out on my own and buy horses.

What was your best day at the races and why?

On August 29th 2018 my horse Takeachancejimmy won at Navan. On August 29th 2019 Sweettowatch won at Bellewstown and on August 29th 2020 Takeachancejimmy won at Navan as again. What are the chances of that?!

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Covid-19 – I can’t understand why owners were not allowed attend race meetings for so long as there is so much open space at courses to socially distance.

I drove Takeachancejimmy to Navan last time and I was watching across from the carpark and if 500 people are allowed on a venue, spread over so many acres could owners not have been let in to watch their race and then leave when the race is over?

I’m sure now some are allowed owners will now be responsible enough to leave after their horse’s race.

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

Navan Racecourse as people there provide a lovely meal for owners while other tracks just give a bowl of soup.

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

I prefer jump racing because of the fences and the thrill that goes with them.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

An experienced trainer who will know the horse, the type of ground they will like and the distance they will stay.

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

Proper food for the owners, trainers and the staff that travel with the horses. The people that travel don’t get fed at most tracks.

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

The situation at the moment will not encourage ownership of horses because you cannot go and see horses running.

What significance do your colours hold?

I am a Liverpool fan and I picked my colours based on that. They have been very lucky for me.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

The horse’s pedigree and how the horse presents itself.

What horses do you currently have

in training?

Takeachancejimmy and Sweettowatch. There’s a story behind both names. The woman who I bought Takeachancejimmy from had a nickname for him – Jimmy.

My son Robert was with me at the time and while I was hesitating whether to buy he said, “take a chance”.

We had four choices for our horse’s name on registration and the other three were gone. So we went with the fourth choice, Takeachancejimmy.

Sweettowatch came about when I was watching football on the TV with my wife Therese. One of the players scored a goal and then took his shirt off running around celebrating. Therese said: “That’s sweet to watch”.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

I leave that to Nigel Slevin to decide.

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

I have a two-, three-, and four-year-old who are unnamed. They have not started in training yet.

What would help to make Irish

racing more competitive for the smaller owner/trainer?

Put on one race a month that only low-handicapped horses can enter.

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

Talk to an experienced trainer to help you pick a horse.

I would like to thank Jude Long, Nigel and Rory Slevin, Robert Connolly, and Klaudia Heinrychowska for all their hard work over the last few years.

Tom Connolly was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton