How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I grew up with horses and always wanted to have a racehorse. My daughter Ruth (Hayes) is a rider and dressage coach and there have always been horses about the place.

We are family friends with the Laverys – we are in Wicklow and they are in Meath.

I have been in a syndicate with my son-in-law Barry (Hayes), son Robert, Ciaran O’Brien, Johnny Davis and John and Sheila Lavery since 2016/17 – the Question Mark Syndicate.

Our first winner was with Burning Question at Galway in 2018, trained by Sheila (Lavery).

That filly got her name from the blaze on her forehead which looked just like a question mark.

The first horse to run in my name is Moracana and she is in training with Sheila.

What was your best day at the races and why?

Galway, July 31st, 2018 when we won with Burning Question – ah it was just a brilliant day. It’s an amazing feeling when you have a winner.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The expense – the hidden fees, things like raceday expenses and the extras. Sheila would be very efficient and exact at laying everything out so you know the full costs.

You should know what you are going into buying racehorses.

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

We had a great experience in Killarney. My husband Geoff likes the food in Naas, says it’s the best!

Leopardstown, where Moracana won, were very good and of course we were so buoyed up after the victory.

Navan is friendly and Cork the same with amazing views right over the course. It’s so important for owners to have a good view of their horses running.

Going around the tracks, everyone is happy to see people back and welcome them. You get to know the staff at the different venues and the friendly welcome they communicate brings the experience up to the next level.

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

Flat at the moment with my filly. I do follow both codes.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Honesty and someone who keeps you well informed. Sheila is very good at that. She tells you if your horse has picked up an injury and will describe how they have come out of a race – have they eaten up, etc. She like to give them three days off out in the field after a race so they learn to relax. She is a proper horsewoman who respects the horses.

Most people who have racehorses would have some knowledge of husbandry and appreciate proper care and training.

Trainers work so hard. Sheila is permanently on the road from Killarney to Dundalk. She often drives the lorry herself and can be home really late at night. She always waits some time to load a horse after a race to give them time.

Her staff have been with her a long time. Some of them live on site and come into the kitchen to have a cup of tea and make plans. It’s a good atmosphere there.

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

They are all different and have different attributes from Leopardstown to Ballinrobe.

It’s very important for tracks to plan well where the owners are to view racing. For the recent flat meeting at Punchestown we were served lunch in a room with a wonderful view of the track near the winning post. But normally that would be for corporate entertaining.

Owners are providing the horses for our great sport so they must have a clear view of their horses racing.

How do you think the current crisis will impact on racing in general and on ownership in particular?

I believe ownership will hold up although for various reasons some owners took their horses away from some other yards in lockdown.

Some big tracks might struggle to get crowds back.

What can trainers or HRI do to encourage owners to keep horses in training at the moment?

Develop more schemes like the IRE Incentive scheme and vouchers for buying at sales.

The Irish EBF auction series, the Red Mills series and the improved mares’ programmes all give encouragement to owners and trainers.

What significance do your colours hold?

My pink and baby blue colours were chosen by my three-year-old granddaughter Pippa.

The syndicate colours are blue and yellow and look like the EU colours but my son Robert says they also represent the Wicklow colours so it all ties in well.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

We go through Sheila for the syndicate horses – that’s how we acquired Burning Question, Brilliant Question and Morning Question. Sheila has an open day and prospective owners can go along to view.

With Moracana I saw her race at Navan at the end of August and really liked her. She had a willing attitude. I asked Sheila would she sell on to me and the deal was done.

Moracana just has that special look – she was alert and needed two handlers going around the ring.

I have been to a few sales and have bought at sales. I need someone beside me to stop me bidding!

What horses do you currently have in training?

I have Moracana and Morning Question in the syndicate. Burning Question was sold to Florida where she won some prize money and has been retired to breed.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Morning Question is in the Goffs Horses-in-Training Sale next Monday, November 1st.

Moracana will take a break at Sheila’s until next year. Plenty to look forward to after the winter.

Have you any young horses to look forward to?

There are a number of young dressage horses around the place to enjoy seeing how they come on.

What do you do with your racehorses when their racing days are over?

It’s something you have to take into consideration if you are going to be an owner. Not all racehorses are suitable for retraining as riding horses. The Irish Horse Welfare Trust farm is near us and you can see the condition of some of the horses they take in.

Burning Question ran in the US and has gone for breeding, Brilliant Question was sold on to continue in training in a Galway yard.

Hopefully Morning Question will go on to breeding after racing.

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

Sheila likes to compete no matter against who!

Keep up the good prize money levels to encourage people into the game.

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

Go for it as long as you have the money to fund ownership and won’t run into debt. It’s very enjoyable and so many courses are in lovely parts of the country.

You meet other owners and can have good fun with that.

A good day is when your horse runs well.

Sue Chadwick was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton