How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I bought a horse in 1988 for a substantial amount in those days Doran’s Hill Lad for 25,000 punts trained by Brian Malone. The horse went subsequently to Tony Mullins who trained my first winner. He won his bumper with Mags Mullins riding.

What was your best day at the races and why?

My best day was Doran’s Pride winning the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1995, Shane Broderick riding and Michael Hourigan training. A wonderful day for all concerned.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

At the moment jumps racing in Ireland is very competitive. Racing is being confined to a few dominant owners with money to burn – Gigginstown, Ricci, Potts – who can snap up any promising horse for €250,000. Very few owners can compete with that sort of money.

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

When I come back to Ireland for racing, I have noticed that courses have upped the ante. There have been huge improvements over the years. In earlier days you wouldn’t even get a cup of tea free, you were a second class citizen.

Lately, Leopardstown, Punchestown, Fairyhouse, Navan send you a text when they see you have an entry and provide tickets. Ballinrobe, like all the western circuit tracks, look after owners very well as did Downpatrick.

I had a bad experience at Kilbeggan not so long. I forgot my owner’s pass. The man on the gate wouldn’t let me in free without it though I pointed out that T.J. Doran had two runners on the card and he could have use his initiative with regard to my admission. As it was, he was unnecessarily rude to me and my party. Course managers should be onto all aspects of looking after owners.

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

It’s mostly National Hunt racing for me, but I have some flat horses.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Communication. I’m living in the UK and I totally rely on proper information from my trainers. I have horses with Gordon Elliott, Stephen Mahon and flat horses with Tom Hogan.

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

Lots of improvements have taken place. You want to feel welcome and part of the show so anything that helps with that - refreshments, a decent meal, a video or something to mark your win if you have one.

What significance do your colours hold?

They are the Mayo colours – emerald green/red star. Of course I wanted to use my county colours.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I bought Carrig Cathal after he won a point. Gordon (Elliott) had offered me Sanibel Island before he ran in Down Royal (February), where he was second on his debut, and I bought him after the race, and then he won his bumper at Ballinrobe in May.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Ondamoura, and Dorans River with Tom Hogan. Dorans River I bred myself.

Blessed King, Sanibel Island, Woodford Island and Carrig Cathal are with Gordon Elliott, Ceide Fields is with Stephen Mahon.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

We are aiming for the Galway Festival with Carrig Cathal (won a maiden hurdle last time out at Ballinrobe), maybe a novice hurdle.

Listowel is the plan for Sanibel Island, Woodford Island will go chasing. Ceide Fields had a virus so I’m looking forward to his recovery.

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

My mare Inch Sunset (dam of Dorans River) has a Westerner filly turned three and a Yeats colt turned two – it’s lovely to have offspring of this mare. She has also produced a Dylan Thomas filly and a Fame And Glory filly.

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

We need some programme for the lower graded horses. In many NH races now we have five or six from the Mullins yard and Gigginstown will have four or five; you could have about 20 horses entered from two or three yards. This is no fun for the punters, racegoers or the smaller owner/trainer. Racing was always about communities coming together, especially in the smaller tracks. With odds so short, you can’t even have a decent bet now and the fun has gone out of it.

You used to have great craic at a country course with a local owner winning. Racing has always been such an important part of Irish country culture and if the people at grass roots level aren’t supported, it will die out.

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

If you have money to burn get involved, otherwise keep out of the game! It’s very expensive, but it’s like a drug. I got within a length and a half of winning a Gold Cup, so to win that – that’s something to aim for, isn’t it?

Tom Doran was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) have secured agreement with the Association of Irish Racecourses for free admission to 107 race meetings in 2016 for owners who currently have a horse in training. Details of the meetings are on www.irishracehorseowners.com