How did you get into racehorse ownership?

My wife Ita and I have been owners for a long, long time, well over 35 years. We have been farming here for generations.

What was your best day at the races and why?

We’ve had a good few good days. Barack was one of our better horses. We thought he was going to be the new Barack Obama.

He won at Sligo and the Curragh and a good few times at Leopardsown. Frank Ennis trained him and then when he retired Wille McCreery took over.

Antapoura was another winner for us, trained by Aidan O’Brien. She was second twice in the stayers’ hurdle at Newbury round about 1996/7.

It was early days in Aidan’s training career when he was still training National Hunt horses. We were great with Joe Crowley and then of course Annemarie, his daughter, married Aidan, who took over the training.

Prince Of Peace, trained by Mick Connolly, was another good one, by Busted out of Miel. He won at Naas second time out.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Having a bad horse.

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

Leopardstown and Cork are good. Most courses give you a cup of tea/soup and a sandwich, which is welcome. It’s only fair to treat owner and trainers well.

And the staff as well. Lads and lasses who work with horses have a hard old job. You would definitely be doing it for love not money.

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

We prefer the flat as we breed horses. We run the ones that we hope to keep to breed from in our own stud.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

One that tells you the truth, no ifs and buts. A good trainer tells you early on if you have a bad horse that is not worth persisting with.

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

Do the best they can for owners and everyone. Prize money could be better distributed with less money perhaps for the bigger races and funds spread around. Every level should be supported.

What significance do your colours hold?

They were lucky colours for Cecil Milham of Rathaskar Stud and we had a horse in partnership with him. We kept them afterwards and registered them for life.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

We buy the odd time but mostly breed. If I am buying one I look for a good pedigree and a good attitude. Horses are like people in that way. A foal or a yearling, the way they handle a sale when they are so young points to how they will be like later in their careers.

What horses do you currently have in training?

Only the one, Elm Grove with Willie McCreery. Glimpse Of Peace is now in foal to Epaulette. Her mother Magical Peace was a very good broodmare. We bred five or six blacktype winners out of her including a Group 3.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Willie is thinking of Listowel if the ground is soft. She needs it soft.

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

We have a lovely filly foal out of Magical Peace by Morpheus. We’re keeping her, she’s something to look forward to.

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

It’s very difficult to confine races – the big boys have to run their horses. Perhaps have races for owners who haven’t won something like €30-40,000 prize money in the last 12 months or some such scheme.

Another way would be maybe to limit entries to horses by lower-priced stallions.

A trainer sees six to seven entered even in an ordinary race and he thinks we have no chance here. Most of these are bred to beat our one with one leg tied up!

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

You want to have plenty of money, have a love for the game and take the rough with the smooth. There is going to be good and bad and it’s often predominately bad although my wife and I have been very lucky.

There are not as many young people in ownership as there should be. It’s understandable. Even with syndicates, if money is tight and is needed for the house or family, well of course horses are a luxury, you will never make money out of them.

It’s a fool’s game but it keeps you from talking about the neighbours!

John Malone was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton

The Association of Irish Racehorse Owners (AIRO) have secured agreement with the Association of Irish Racecourses for free admission to 107 race meetings in 2016 for owners who currently have a horse in training. Details of the meetings are posted on www.irishracehorseowners.com and will also be listed in the new AIRO magazine.which will be sent to all members

AIRO awards

IT’S that time of year again for the annual AIRO awards to be decided at the Killashe House Hotel Naas, on Saturday October 29th.

Any owner registered with the AIRO (Association of Irish Racehorse Owners) can nominate a person/persons in Irish racing, whether a track secretary, ground staff, yard staff, catering staff or other employee, for the Contribution to Irish Racing award. Email nominations to info@irishracehorseowners.com by September 19th.

Tickets are available from AIRO, telephone 045 878173.