How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I always had an interest in horses. My father brought me racing as a child and I used to ride out for Bill Durkan and Johnny Roe until the horses became too small for me! I love going racing now with my own two children Gareth and Ross.

What was your best day at the races and why?

We were brought up in Brighton Road, Foxrock and I used to climb the wall into the track to watch the horses jump the regulation brush fence five from home. My dad Ted was always involved in racing and was a good friend of Mick O’Toole and Dessie Hughes. Leopardstown Racecourse was central to our lives.

When my horse, Flawless Escape, won at Leopardstown at the Christmas meeting it was very special. All my family were there and my son Garreth led the winner in. It’s always been my dream to have a winner in Leopardstown and when I first started having horses in Ireland with Dessie Hughes, I told him it wasn’t Cheltenham I want but to win in Leopardstown. Maybe it was the fact I used to school horses around the track as well.

When I was waiting for Roger (Loughran) to come back in on Flawless Escape, the other jockeys, some of which my company sponsors, were giving me high fives. They knew what that win meant to me. Dreams do come true.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

We know the costs before taking up ownership so the worst aspect is injury to horses.

Bobby O’Ryan (bloodstock agent) told me that the worst thing about injured horses is to hang onto them as they very rarely come back. Draw a line and move on.

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

For obvious reasons Leopardstown; Pat Keogh and his team couldn’t have been nicer to me and my family after the Christmas win. Plenty of other tracks have shown great improvement with handling owners as well.

Something I believe in strongly is that current registered owners should be let into all tracks for free. It could help the industry when more people go racing and trainers get the chance to meet potential owners.Trainers are trying so hard to source owners it seems an attractive way to get both together.

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

Jumps has always been in my blood even though I did have a flat horse with Kevin Ryan in Britain.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

First and foremost, honesty. Dessie Hughes was pure class and a total gentleman.

I’ve had horses in training with Gordon Elliott for the last couple of years and all I can say is that he’s a gentleman to deal with – nothing’s an issue. This might sound funny but a pet thing I hate is people not returning your calls; I can’t say that about Gordon. He always returns calls and contacts me with any updates. If you go along to the yard, not only is Gordon accommodating but Simon, Davy and Busty are always there. It’s a very impressive set-up that runs like clockwork.

Peter Fahey is a trainer I use as well and I can assure people that he’s a very good trainer. I met Peter and Ber through Roger Loughran.

I believe in leaving the trainers to their own devices as I pay them for their opinions – sure what would an insurance broker know about training horses anyway!

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

Especially for flat meetings, let people in free on, for example, a Thursday evening at Leopardstown. Country tracks like Clonmel and Thurles have very good local support.

Free entry could mean more children and students attending, they might get hooked and that could lead to more people getting involved in racing.

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

People take disappointment in different ways. Maybe the last thing owners who have lost want is to have a cup of tea or a drink with the winners! But other people might enjoy joining in the celebrations.

What significance do your colors hold?

My wife Geraldine chose them and I’m not changing them! I know the two stars front and back are for our sons Gareth and Ross (they may be stars but they’re no saints!). Ger loves naming the horses and enjoys coming racing and she does understand what it means to me. I’ve been found out in a few white lies about the number of horses I’ve had over the years!

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I love the sales and always go – some people may call be a horseahollic. I love a good walk and a good trot but I’m an insurance broker and I need to take advice. Aidan `Mouse’ O’Ryan (great guy) and Roger (Loughran) would judge quite a few for me and there never afraid to tell me to stick to insurance after looking at a horse I recommended!

Both Gordon and Peter are always on standby at the sales and will have also taken trips down the country if someone tells me about a horse. I always do my homework before and the decision to buy as the final call is mine – unless the lads, Mouse in particular, push, but that’s his job as well.

What horses do you currently have in training?

I have two with Gordon Elliott: Dinons and Flawless Escape. Dinons didn’t run well at Fairyhouse in early December but there was an excuse. We think he’s a nice horse.

Flawless Escape has two entries for the Dublin Racing Festival weekend, including the Grade 1 novice hurdle on the Saturday. Gordon will decide.

Peter Fahey has a three-year-old called Coeur Sublime (Ber Fahey now knows his name finally) who hopefully will be out in April. Mouse bought him for us as a foal – he could be very nice. At the sales it’s hard to match the pockets of the big boys so I have to buy some out of the field or when they’re really young.

My younger horses are with Roger Loughran who does an excellent job pre-training and teaches them good habits. I met Roger through Dessie Hughes and he told me that you wouldn’t get a better horseman than Roger.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Hopefully Flawless Escape will get to run at Leopardstown on their big weekend. Dinons could be out in the next few weeks. Coeur Sublime is only getting going but keep an eye out come April/May.

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

I’m very happy with the current bunch of young ones; hopefully they’ll win races in time.

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

Put on races restricted to owners/trainers who have only had a certain number of wins or no wins in the last year or previous years. Despite the high levels of prize money in Ireland, nowadays you need to win two races at least to cover your annual costs. Putting on these types of races more often will keep more people in racing and gives them heart.

Regarding trainers, I think HRI and the Irishhorse Racing Regulatory Board need to protect them regarding disputes. They could set up an arbitration panel where disputes can be heard both by the trainers or owners without involving the legal people and incurring huge costs. I do know that trainers have been left with large outstanding bills and I do believe that they need help from the authorities in the industry.

Our business – O’Driscoll, O’Neil Insurance – sponsors jockeys, among them Sean Flanagan, Jack Kennedy, Nina Carberry, Roger Loughran, Johnny Burke and Mark Enright. They’re a great bunch of sportspeople and the only thing we want them to do is ride winners.

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

Be patient, have a thick neck and deep pockets. Get good people around you. You must trust the team and value their opinions and you can’t go too far wrong.

Tim O’Driscoll was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton