AUSTRALIA has proved a port in a storm for many Irish jockeys in recent years; offering a second chance at establishing a career with opportunities that may not have been available elsewhere. Having struggled to make a breakthrough during a brief spell riding in Britain, I have enjoyed considerable success since moving to the southern hemisphere in 2015.

Show jumping

Despite growing up in a pretty horsey family, I never had any real exposure to racehorses. My early childhood was consumed by show jumping and pony clubs, so it was not until my teens that I discovered thoroughbreds. There was a racing stable close to our house but I was never allowed go and work there.

I think back then by parents had other ideas but I always knew I would make a life with horses. I used to sneak up to the yard before school, just so I could hide in the hedgerows and watch the horses exercise.

After the trainer moved on, the owner still had a few thoroughbreds stabled there, so my parents relented and allowed me go in and out. I did a bit of pony racing as well, in preparation for what I hoped would lead to a career as a jockey.

In Transition Year, I spent a couple of weeks working for Ger Lyons – an incredible experience at the time. It was really eye-opening getting to see how a big yard operated and I thoroughly enjoyed my stay – so much so, that I went back the following year again.

After completing my Leaving Certificate, I decided to take a year out and go work for a yard in England. I just felt that opportunities for apprentices in Ireland were limited so I might have more chance in Britain where there is much more racing on a given day.

The owner of the stables I used to work in at home arranged for me to go over to David Mark Loughnane as an apprentice. However, to be honest the whole experience was lost on me and I came very close to giving it all up. I didn’t know how to be a jockey or what exactly was expected of me. In all, I had 10 rides in just over a year, before becoming disillusioned with racing.

Florida

I spent a few months riding track work in Florida and rediscovered my love for the sport. I realised that it can be very rewarding working with horses, so upon returning to Britain, I quit my job and moved home to Ireland.

My intention had been to move over to the US to give race-riding another go but in the meantime I went to work for Shane Donohoe in Cavan. He was very good to me, teaching me so much and really polishing me as a jockey. Shane is very friendly with leading Australian jockey Hugh Bowman and mentioned that if I wanted to he would put me in touch with Hugh and arrange a job over there.

Shane Donohoe

I only spent three months working for Shane Donohoe but he saved my career – he taught me more than anyone else ever had and gave me back my confidence. Hugh Bowman set me up with a job with Ciaron Maher, a leading trainer in Melbourne. However, under racing laws in Victoria, you can’t race-ride in the state unless you have a sponsor or are resident. So, I spent a year and a half with Ciaron Maher learning my trade and gaining further experience. He then suggested that maybe I should move to New South Wales as the rules up there allow you to race-ride even if not a resident.

Apprentice

In November 2016, I moved up to New South Wales where I signed on as an apprentice to the Kris Lees stable. It was March 2017, before I had my first ride on the track but since then my career as really taken off.

To date, I have had over 1,500 rides, riding 150 winners in that time. Since the Coronvirus outbreak, racing has been divided into different zones over here. I had initially been due to ride in the northern zone but my boss very kindly agreed to allow me switch to the metro zone.

I rode three winners in my first week and followed up with a treble one afternoon. I have been fortunate enough to ride some very nice horses for the bigger yards, including when placed third in a Group 3 last week. My career has really taken off since switching to the metro tracks so hopefully I can press on over the coming months.

In October, I will ride a horse named Man Of Peace in The Kosciuszko, a high-profile race over here. Members of the public can buy tickets to win a share in any horse in the race – they then get a percentage of the prize money on the day. Man Of Peace is one of the leading pre-race fancies so it is a very exciting time for all involved with the horses.

Roscommon track

I see myself finishing my race-riding career in Australia although I do have one big dream – to ride at my local track Roscommon. Hopefully I might get the opportunity sometime in the future, we will just have to wait and see.

With so many different grades of racing over there it allows for a more unbiased opinion of jockeys, so it matters little if you are male or female. I am not the only female jockey to have forged a good career in Australia so I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

My main message would be that racing is an industry that can take you all over the world and if you find it’s not working for you in one place that’s not to say it won’t somewhere else. I am forever telling people not to be afraid to make a change and always chase your dreams.

Louise Day was in conversation with John O’Riordan