LAST week, Tattersalls Ireland announced that I was to take up the position as head of bloodstock with immediate effect. Having been with the company since 2006,

I am very much looking forward to the new role and the challenges it presents. With the industry slowly emerging from the dark days of Covid, it is an exciting time for us with the new sales season fast approaching.

Horses and ponies have been part of my life from as early as I can remember. My brother Mark (Dwyer), who is five years older than me, was heavily involved in pony racing and that, in turn, filtered down to us younger siblings. I started pony racing when I was 10; riding over 120 winners during the course of four seasons.

The undoubted highlight was winning the famed Dingle Derby aboard Tenderhooks for Tommy Carey in 1983. Charlie Swan, Norman Williamson and John Egan were all riding on the circuit at the same time. Aside from myself, Kathleen Murphy and Caroline and Olive Hutchinson were prominent female riders.

Bumpers

My brother Mark, who had joined Jimmy Fitzgerald from Liam Browne the previous year, would go on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Forgive ‘N Forget just two years later in 1985. I rode out for Michael Kauntze from the age of 12, before following in Mark’s footsteps by moving to the Curragh at the age of 15. As soon as I was old enough, I took out an amateur licence and rode in bumpers for my boss, Dessie Hughes. In all, I spent three years riding on the track, before leaving to take up a role with Peter Lautner in Germany.

Bakery

On my return to Ireland, I moved away from horses for a number of years. My mother ran a home bakery in Ashbourne, so my sister and I opened a second one in nearby Athboy. With my first son Ben born in 1999 and Oisin two years later, work and family life with my husband Donal took up most of my time at that point. By 2006, I was keen to get back into the racing industry so asked close friend George Mernagh to keep an eye out for me.

Bloodstock

Just a few weeks later, George rang me to say that Tattersalls Ireland had a vacancy for part-time staff in the run up to the busy sales period. The initial contract ran from June (2006) until the end of September but mine was renewed up until January. At that stage, I was then offered the opportunity to join the team as a full-time member of the bloodstock department.

For the next 14 years, I worked alongside Margaret O’Neill and in the first couple of years with Gladys Graham, until January 2021, when the former retired and I was promoted to bloodstock manager.

Enthusiastic

Just this week, I was appointed head of bloodstock at Tattersalls Ireland; something that I am very enthusiastic and excited about. I am proud to be associated with such a well-known, respected brand which is recognised all over the equine world. With our store sale season fast approaching, it is a particularly busy time for us with the breeze-up and yearling sales right on their heels. In my new role, I will continue to be involved with the production of the sales catalogues, while also taking on a more active role dealing with clients, vetting and sales day issues.

Corinthian Challenge

In 2018, I made a return to the saddle to compete in the Corinthian Challenge charity races. I had ridden out a bit for Pat Downey and did a bit of hunting on a friend’s horse but prior to the series, I hadn’t sat on a horse for almost three years.

The challenge, which was still in its infancy, had come to me attention the previous year and I was keen to give it a go. So, having emailed for details and been granted approval, I set about getting myself race-fit for the series.

I started riding out for Gavin Cromwell in February 2018, in preparation for the first race three months later. It definitely took a bit of getting used to but once I overcame the pain barrier, I was well on my way to returning to the track. Having finished third on Political Policy in the opening race at the Curragh, I was only sixth at Navan in the second leg. With Gavin (Cromwell) having no strong contender for the one-mile, two-furlong race at Leopardstown, he kindly allowed me search for another mount.

Thankfully, Ger Lyons, whom I knew from my sales work, came to my aid with Song Of Namibia. It was an incredible thrill to ride my first winner on the racecourse aboard that horse in the final leg of the Corinthian Challenge. It made the day extra special to have my family and friends in attendance as well. I will certainly never forget the whole occasion and am so grateful to Ger for making my dream come through.

I continue to ride out for Gavin each morning which is something I thoroughly enjoy and hope to continue.

I am very much looking forward to the year ahead and the challenges and enjoyment I know it will bring. I hope I can carry on the great work already done by Ken Fenton and the existing team at Tattersalls Ireland. It’s great to be back in the office again and it could not be more timely as we head into a busy sales season.

Orla McKenna was in conversation with John O’Riordan