How did you get into racehorse ownership?

My interest in horses goes back a long way to childhood. My brother Patrick and I kept ponies/ sport horses on the family farm. One of our neighbours was Connie Vaughan, one of the great point-to-point jockeys of all time – you often hear Ted Walsh mention him. He would be given horses to break around the Kanturk/Mallow vicinity and would frequently drive them through our farm. We would help him out and were happy to be part of the process.

I went off to medical school. During Christmas and Easter holidays I accompanied Connie to point-to-points all over Munster.

By observation I tried to learn what made a horse talented and some of that knowledge rubbed off I feel.

What was your best day at the races and why?

The buzz in Galway is special so having two winners there this year (Ballyegan Hero and Davids Charm) was very satisfactory.

We had a day in Killarney in 2013 when a horse of mine won the McSweeney Arms Hotel Handicap Hurdle – Another Rebel. Local friends were all there to celebrate.

Another day that stands out is Listowel in September 2010. Rebel Fitz, who I had purchased as a yearling in 2006, won a bumper for his owner, Brian Sweetman. When I sell a horse I’m always delighted when he does well for the next man.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Well most of us have other jobs to do. If you’re planning a day’s racing, especially if you want to bring the family, and then you find your horse is balloted out, lame or doesn’t make the cut in a handicap it’s very disappointing. The uncertainty in planning your day is a drawback.

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

Punchestown – I’ve always enjoyed it – the hospitality is special and Dick O’Sullivan, being a Tralee man, is a very good host!

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

I’ve never owned a flat horse, I always pursued the National Hunt.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Basically none of us plan to make a lot of money out of racing so to deal with a ‘nice’ person is important in what is essentially a hobby.

Honesty, integrity, competency – those are the qualities to look for in a trainer and John Joe Walsh ticks all the boxes. Sons Brendan and Martin, together with wife Celeste and stable jockey Ambrose McCurtin, add to the smooth running of the operation.

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

It strikes me, going racing, especially with an owner who has just acquired one horse, that their partner can often just be dragged along to the races and this person looks completely lost at the track. It wouldn’t take a lot for racing authorities to appoint a liason person to travel to race meetings to integrate these people and make appropriate introductions. (See A12)

What significance do your colours hold?

I chose the colours for their visibility to easily identify my horses.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

Basically I shortlist on pedigree – you can’t look at every foal in the catalogue. If I look at it and the animal is not correct I won’t buy. I want a good walker with a nice attitude and what you might describe as battling qualities. Horses like Davids Charm and Ballyegan Hero walk forward with purpose.

What horses do you currently have in training?

I have the two Galway winners and also some point horses who haven’t raced yet.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

The two Galway horses will not race within the next three weeks in any case. Davids Charm has gone up 32lbs since his previous win at Listowel in June. We will have to see if he is competitive off his new mark.

Ballyegan Hero now races off a handicap rating of 128. We will try to pick up another hurdle race with him before the end of the season. He will jump a fence before long. He’s from a chasing family.

Have you any horses to look forward to? (i.e. young/unbroken horses)

I have three two-year-olds, one is a half-sister to Bellshill, by Stowaway. Another, by Shirocco, is a half-brother to Clondaw Castle.

I also have a Shirocco two-year-old gelding out of a half-sister to Sky’s The Limit. Her first foal has already won a bumper.

I have three yearlings: a Yeats half-brother to Master Of The Hall and to the dam of the top young Gigginstown horse Samcro, a Leading Light half-brother to Time For Rupert, and a Samum (German sire by Monsun) half-brother to Alcala.

I have them at home near Tralee.

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

In the larger handicaps nobody should be allowed enter more than two horses. If a smaller owner wins €30,000 that will keep him/her going and they will continue to support the racing game. Owners running four/five runners in a big field of handicappers are at a huge advantage.

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

I’m thinking of a new owner who goes out to buy a store horse and it may not make it to the track or be competitive.

If an agent or trainer advises them well they can acquire a competitive handicapper cheaply and pick up some money in small grade races and enjoy reasonable level of winnings. The whole point is to get a competitive horse racing in your own colours and hopefully winning.

If they find the experience enjoyable they can move on from there.

Dr Tom O’Brien was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton