PERHAPS the next best thing to going racing is to visit The Horse & Jockey Inn, located in the heart of Tipperary near Cashel. Tipperary has produced many remarkable horses and jockeys over the generations, so it seems appropriate that the county’s leading hotel should commemorate both. Looking back we can remember such champions as Buck House, Istabraq, and on the flat, the countless champions produced by Ballydoyle. Likewise with jockeys, there were none better than Charlie Swan, Mouse Morris, or perhaps one of greatest flat jockeys ever, the peerless Michael Kinane - all products of the Premier County.

Well, all of the above are recalled in the foyer of ‘The Jockey’ as it is affectionally known. Any racing enthusiast worthy of the name could not but be enthralled by the racing memorabilia inside - ranging from racing colours of George Spencer, the father of champion jockey Jamie Spencer, to the old number boards recalling such greats as L. Piggott, Christy Kinane, TP Burns, P. Powell, TS Murphy and the amateurs Mr WA McLernon and Mr E O’Grady, the successful trainer in nearby Ballynonty.