PAUL Deegan is changing his Athy, Co Kildare, training yard into a facility for boarding and spelling horses.

He has trained over 150 winners during his career and this included winning two Irish Lincolns and many group and listed races.

“After 12 wonderful years training racehorses, we have decided that the time is right to move on. There are other things we would like to be doing now. The plan is to close one business and open another. Boley Stud will become a boarding and spelling farm. Kate and I both spent plenty of time gaining experience on stud farms before we focused on training racehorses. We have a beautiful farm, that is very well located, and some wonderful facilities to offer clients.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank the many loyal and supportive owners that I have enjoyed training for, my staff and my family, and rather fittingly my first and last winners were in my father’s colours!

“We very much look forward to welcoming new and old clients to Boley Stud in the near future and our new website will be launching soon with more details.”

Jockeys Chris Hayes and Declan McDonogh, both of whom rode many winners for the yard, wished Deegan well.

McDonogh said: “I’m sorry to hear Paul is leaving the training ranks but I am sure this new venture will suit him and Kate well. Their horses always looked superb and were very well conditioned.”

Hayes added: “I had a great association with Paul and wish him the very best. Paul has a great eye for detail. He picked up a lot of horses at the sales for small money and turned a profit.”