Carndonagh
Sunday
THE curtain came down on the 2026 Irish Horse and Pony Racing season in Carndonagh, Co Donegal on Sunday last.
This picturesque track just outside Letterkenny had previously played host to the first two meetings on the North West circuit this year. Full marks to the North West Racing Board for all their fundraising draws over the last 12 months which have now filtered down to superb prize money at all fixtures.
It was a day to savour for Co Meath jockey Camillus Byrne who ended his pony racing career with a sparkling treble. Camillus will have fond memories of the high-class Hasta La Vista who put up a top-drawer performance in the 15hh race over 12 furlongs. The multiple Dingle winner who has traded blows with Little Heart throughout her career dominated this contest and made every inch of the running.
Firedrops and Dream Dancer have both enjoyed rewarding seasons but hard as they tried here, they could never really land a blow as Hasta La Vista ran out a six-length winner.
Camillus was quickly back in the winner’s enclosure half an hour later when Stepaside bounced back to his very best to win in style. Owned by the Orr Syndicate, Stepaside had looked top drawer early in the season and certainly reinforced that observation on this occasion when running out a 15-length victor over Little Heart. The winning syndicate will be eagerly looking forward to the 2027 season and some renewed clashes with A Better Plan.
Final ride
Camillus completed his treble when partnering Green Whistle for the locally based Holian Syndicate to win the mile and three-furlong contest. Not only was this his final ride on the pony racing circuit but it was also his 50th career success. Green Whistle travelled ominously well from the drop of the flag and cruised to the front with over half a mile left to travel. It was plain sailing down the straight much to the delight of the winning owners who are now rebuilding a strong team for next season.
Camron Cromwell has made a big name for himself in the pony division this season and he was on the mark when Lesson Learned ran out a convincing winner in the 14.2hh race over 12 furlongs. The Dingle hero Lesson Learned has been hugely impressive on several occasions this term and he powered clear up the straight to beat Wee Bucks and Justasec.
Not to be outdone, Camron’s brother Jake got his visit to the winner’s enclosure when Second Violin relished the softer ground to beat Our Bridget in the mile and six-furlong race.
This imposing grey horse has been really consistent all year and took full advantage of the big weight concession from the runner-up to run out a decisive winner. It has been an incredible year for Our Bridget and trainer Daithi Gormley and they will surely be back with all guns blazing in 2027.
Scottish success seals Champion season for Finnegan
CONGRATULATIONS to Meath jockey Paddy Finnegan who ends the Irish season as the National Champion Jockey with 35 winners.
Team Finnegan have certainly put in the hours travelling to all regions and all corners of the country with a lorry of horses and ponies. This makes the success of both Paddy and his brother Thady all the sweeter. Indeed, Team Finnegan celebrated in the best possible fashion with a treble in the Scottish Borders at Hawick on Saturday afternoon.
The undoubted highlight for the champion elect was the brilliant victory of Little Heart in the prestigious Peter Pan Handicap. Paddy bounced out in front here and had many of his pursuers in trouble well before the straight.
This multiple Dingle winner kept up the gallop from here to run out a handsome winner. Ollie Finnegan’s star had also scored on the beach over the previous two weekends in Geesala and Louisburgh. Shane Crabbe provided Paddy with his other two victories when Watch Out incredibly won both the first and last races on the card.
In the latter contest, Kian McNally looked all over a winner on Ian Worrell’s Luke Kelly before Watch Out came with a withering run down the outside to land the spoils in the shadows of the post.
Best wishes to all the jockeys who have now ended their pony racing careers and who will head to the race track in the weeks ahead.
Carndonagh results
14.2HH (12F): 1, K. Cromwell’s LESSON LEARNED (Camron Cromwell); 2, Holian Syndicate’s WEE BUCKS (Thady Finnegan); 3, O. Finnegan’s JUSTASEC (Paddy Finnegan).
15HH (12F): 1, F. Byrne’s HASTA LA VISTA (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Bergin’s FIREDROPS (Jake Cromwell); 3, McGinley Racing’s DREAM DANCER (Camron Cromwell).
Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Orr Syndicate’s STEPASIDE (Camillus Byrne); 2, O. Finnegan’s LITTLE HEART (Paddy Finnegan); 3, S. Crabbe’s HE’S GOT HERE (Kian McNally).
Open Horse Race (11F): 1, Holian Syndicate’s GREEN WHISTLE (Camillus Byrne); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Paddy Finnegan); 3, O. Finnegan’s RONNIE DREW (Kyle Cassidy).
Open Horse Race (14F): 1, McGinley Racing’s SECOND VIOLIN (Jake Cromwell); 2, S & R Syndicate’s OUR BRIDGET (Nina Doherty); 3, Holian Syndicate’s DARE TO DREAM (Camillus Byrne).