Dear Santa,

I’m a stubborn person, I’ll admit. I find it difficult to change my ways; I’m sure your spies have mentioned it once or twice.

It’s half the reason I’ve yet to abandon a paper sales catalogue in favour of an iPad, despite all the possible benefits - a bit like reading a physical book rather than a Kindle. I like writing my notes and referring to old catalogues, plus I worry about dropping/damaging an iPad, running out of battery…

But after I lost one of this year’s yearling sale catalogues, complete with all my notes, I now think I might have to change my old-fashioned habits and join the dark side of technology. If an iPad is too much to ask for, is there some miniature tracking device I can use on future catalogues?

Yours faithfully,

Amy Lynam

Dear Santa,

This year I am asking for a miracle I am not sure if even you will be able to pull off…

Could you bring some stability to the Irish sport horse sector, all the way from the North Pole? I know you have a digital subscription to The Irish Field, so you will be aware that Horse Sport Ireland is in examinership and the industry is in no man’s land. The Department seem like they want to wash their hands of the whole industry, even though it is worth over €1 billion to the Irish economy and employs 47,000 directly and indirectly. Two and a half years out from an Olympic Games, our national federation is at a crossroads and nobody knows what way it is going, thanks to non-disclosure agreements left, right and centre.

If you could sort the thing out, that would be much appreciated by the many, many breeders, competitors, hobby riders and industry stakeholders around the country.

Yours in anticipation,

Judith Faherty

Dear Santa,

I consider myself a woman of simple taste, so I won’t be asking for anything too crazy this Christmas.

First on my list is a return to race-riding. Nothing wild, just one winning ride in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Once I’ve collected my trophy, I’ll retire again, undefeated in my comeback with a 100% strike rate at the Cheltenham Festival.

Next, I’d like a time machine, purely for historical research, of course. However, if I happened to find myself at the 2021 Grand National with a few hundred quid and the knowledge that Minella Times was about to win at 11/1, I’m sure nobody would begrudge me a small wager.

I appreciate this is a fairly modest list, Santa, so I trust you’ll have no trouble in accommodating it.

Yours hopefully,

Amy Corrado

Dear Santa,

I realise a tractor-mounted aerator is an awkward shape to wrap, but I thought I’d ask before you panic-buy me another scarf.

My fields are managed for nature, I encourage wildflowers, nurture dung beetles and give the land plenty of rest. My horses contribute by gathering at precisely the same spots and compressing it into something suitable for a motorway.

I’ve tried explaining soil structure to them, but they feel this falls outside their responsibilities. Apparently, eating the biodiversity is enough work for them. So, while others dream of a white Christmas, I’m hoping for improved drainage and a crumbly soil profile. You’re welcome to land in the field, but please spread the reindeer out. I’ve enough trouble with my lot.

Yours in anticipation of a meaningful attachment,

Helen Sharp xx

Dear Santa,

Okay, it’s been a decent year for Irish racing but – oh my God – the sport is really

struggling across the water.

The UK politicians are taxing the bookies and so the bookies have cut back on their race sponsorship. Fred Done is done, so by any chance could you sponsor the British classics next year?

The Santa Claus Derby has a ring to it and, to be fair, you got a lot of free publicity when Christmas Day won it this year.

Starting with jockeys, let’s get something for Ryan Moore. He picked the wrong one in at least three classics earlier in the year but he got it very right in the Breeders’ Cup – give him a judge’s wig.

We have two ‘King Billys’ this year, one is old enough to be the other fella’s father but never mind that. Billy ‘The Kid’ Loughnane needs a holiday after his record-breaking year. He’s so busy he’s in danger of burnout so give him the gift of chilling out. You’ll find him at Wolverhampton on December 26th.

Billy ‘The GOAT’ Lee is so chilled he doesn’t need a holiday. He has a new baby on the way so give him a t-shirt that says ‘I rode 100 winners this year’.

There’s a jump jockey in England, Tom Bellamy, who needs a girlfriend please. His mammy said so at Cheltenham – it was mortifying for the poor lad.

Speaking of Cheltenham, there were still too many false starts at the Festival. Could you install a set of traffic lights on the track please?

Nicky Henderson had three Cheltenham winners but of course he didn’t bring Constitution Hill to the party. Despite what the form book and our eyes keep telling us, this horse is apparently a superstar, so could you arrange for him to have his own racing newspaper and website filled with stories all about him? Oh wait…

Derek O’Connor retired from race-riding last weekend. He’s still working as hard as ever but maybe send him a pipe and pair of slippers as a bit of a joke.

And for Aidan O’Brien? A new trophy cabinet won’t fit down the chimney. How about some cue cards with the names of all the people he wants to thank written out on them? He could hold them up during post-race interviews – it would save a lot of time.

Actually, I don’t think Aidan needs anything this year. He already had Christmas Day in June. Sorry, I made that joke earlier. Maybe give Aidan a rear view mirror, so he can see Joseph trying to overtake him.

Get Gavin Cromwell a Christmas jumper that says ‘Czech Mate’. Gavin will surely try and win the Velka Pardubicka for a third time in 2027. Maybe he should ask J.P. McManus if he can send over one of his horses? You know the way I’m thinking.

J.P. is getting the Ryder Cup next year, so he’s sorted. He should arrange one of those Calling the Cup dinners in the Adare Manor the night before, where golfers can punt millions on the pairings and individual match-ups. The European team should all wear green and gold sweaters, with distinguishing caps.

You’ll have heard Emmet Mullins bought Jim Bolger’s place? Emmet needs owners with deep pockets so if you could lift the phone book from Willie’s office and drop it into Glebe House, Coolcullen, he’d be flying.

I always leave out a drink for you, Santy, but not anymore. A couple of our jockeys failed the breathalyser at Galway and I’m told the testers knew there had been a jockeys’ party the night before. I reckon you’re next on their list.

Watch out.

Mark Costello

Dear Santa,

Keep that red flag flying this year! You did a decent job for the Wee County in 2026. Like Oliver Twist, we want some more! Everyone wants more – is there a racing benefactor up there in the Pole that could inject some dough into prize money? It’s great fun, you know.

Can you send Majborough a How to Jump Fences manual so I can avail of that 20/1 for the Champion Chase?

A few nice racing trips abroad would be good too! And keep our horses safe, we are nothing without them.

Kindest,

Anne Marie Duff