GALWAY Races, since its inception, is in many ways like a soap opera as it has produced drama, tragedy, humour, beloved characters, a few villains, surprises, tears, romance, and a huge audience. From Captain Boycott in the 19th century to Dermot Weld, many notable characters have made a permanent imprint on the history of Galway.

One of those was Paddy Sleator, Grangecon, Co Wicklow, who had so much success on the course, and in racing in general, that he brought about changes in the rules of racing in both Ireland and Britain.

He is remembered in particular as one of the best trainers to bring off a gamble. As a jockey he was Irish amateur champion in 1934, 1937, and 1938. This led to some controversy as professional jockeys were losing rides to the top amateurs and when Sleator refused to turn professional he was confined to riding in races for amateurs; this ruling is still the basis of rules for amateur riders.

He started training in 1945 and he went on to train nine winners of the Galway Plate (a record only equalled by Harry Ussher): Silent Prayer 100/8 (1948), Amber Point (6/1 joint-favourite in 1954 and 2/1 favourite in 1956), Knight Errant 4/1 favourite (1957), Sparkling Flame 5/4 favourite (1960), Clipador 7/4 favourite (1961), Royal Day (1967 and 1969), and O’Leary 8/1 (1976).

In addition, he won two Galway Hurdles with Tymon Castle 20/1 (1957) and Knight Errant 5/2 favourite (1958). Four winners in a row were hot favourites so gambles were successful. In this era he planned gambles and succeeded in winning three Irish Cesarewitches in a row from 1957-1959 with Sword Flash, Havasnack, and Another Flash.

CHANGE IN RULES

Unfortunately, for him it brought further attention from the authorities and a change in the rules, which precluded bumper winners from running in flat handicaps. He was leading trainer in Ireland in terms of races won for seven years in a row from 1955 to 1961. In 1957 he had 74 winners and this was the highest number achieved by any trainer in Ireland or Britain. His ability to recognise the talent of young unbroken horses and race them on the flat, over hurdles and fences in selected races was remarkable.

For Galway, Paddy Sleator produced two high-class versatile full-brothers in the 1950s with Amber Point and Knight Errant, both bred by E. Cunningham, Dunboyne. Amber Point won the Galway Plate in 1954 and 1956 and was second in 1958 as well as third in the Galway Hurdle in 1957 to stable companion Tymon Castle. He also completed the double of the Plate and Hurdle in 1957. Knight Errant was the first horse since Blancona to win the Galway Plate before the Galway Hurdle, in 1957 and then the hurdle race in 1958, and was the favourite for both races.

Sleator completed another type of double again with Royal Day in 1967 (19/2) beating a previous dual winner in Ross Sea and again in 1969 (7/1) when he won the Centenary Plate. He was owned by Paddy Dunne Cullinane, amateur rider, Galway steward and former actor.

Knight Errant won nine racers and Amber Point won 14 races. Roderick More O’Ferral owned the two horses in 1956, but after a separation from Mrs Anne Biddle she owned Knight Errant when the horse did the double.

In 1966 when women were granted licences for the first time, Mrs Biddle became the first woman officially to train a winner when Flying Tiger won at Naas.

Sleator had 24 winners at Galway from 1948-76, but as outlined this included a total of 11 wins in the two main races, which were his real target. The best horse he trained was Another Flash, who went on to win the Champion Hurdle in 1960. Ridden by Bobby Beasley as 11/4 favourite, he cruised around behind the leaders and came right away from Albergo and Saffran Tartan to win by two lengths in a new record time.

Another Flash was out of the race in 1961 with an injury and in 1962 was 11/10 favourite but only finished third to Anzio, beaten by three and a half lengths. He was 6/1 favourite in 1964, in a field of 24 runners, and was only beaten by outsider Magic Court, who veered across the track but held the race with Another Flash four lengths behind.

ENGLISH RUNS

Paddy Sleator decided in the early 1960s to run his horses in Britain under the name of an English trainer, Arthur Thomas, Warwick, as restrictions limited the number of conditions races for some of his good horses. In reality the horses were trained by Sleator and his staff.

His first winner in Britain was Galway Plate winner Clipador in 1961. Between then and 1966 he produced a number of great horses like Scottish Memories (won 23 races), Black Ice, Harwell, Ballywilliam Boy, Albinella, Havago, Rupununi, Extra Stout etc. Objection from English trainers ultimately led to Thomas losing his licence and ended Sleator’s period in England. The rules were “changed” in Britain to ensure it wouldn’t happen again, and both better prize money and more conditions races in Ireland were a direct result of Sleator’s adventure.

His ability to see an opportunity was shown again in 1968 when he sent horses to Cagnes-Sur-Mer in France during the racing ban due to the Foot and Mouth outbreak. He won £12,000 in seven weeks. In his career he was associated with many great jockeys like Bobby Beasley, Bobby Coonan (who rode his last winner, O’Leary) and Francis Flood.

Sleator may not have had the same quality as Tom Dreaper, Vincent O’Brien, or Willie Mullins, but arguably no Irish trainer showed as much initiative in racing his horses in difficult times and probably no trainer has brought about as many rule changes.

He has set a number of varied records at the Galway Festival and it is unlikely that they will be broken in the near future.

He is a legend not to be forgotten.