AS ever Healy Racing comes up trumps and it was a lovely touch to give a print of Pat Smullen to all the flat jockeys riding at Listowel on Monday.
Thinking about Pat and his fierce drive to fundraise for Cancer Trials, a wonderful day to recall is when the hugely successful legends race was staged at Bellharbour point-to-point on February 2nd this year – seems like a lifetime ago!
Paul Carberry, Adrian Maguire, Jason Titley, Willie Twiston-Davies, Mick Winters, Trevor Horgan, and Tom Keating were just some of those who took part in a ‘bumper’ won by Tom Costello. Pat was there to present the prizes on a day which raised €23,000 for Cancer Trials Ireland.
Frankie Ward, entries secretary and a point-to-point legend herself, reminded us this week of what a special day it was. “Pat drove there himself and when he arrived into the tent he gave me a big hug and said, ‘what do you want me to do?’
“He put on a Plusvital jacket and cap and thanked everyone he could find – from the girl giving out the number cloths to the man on the gate. He was thanking them for helping Cancer Trials, not for himself. That is my greatest memory of what was an amazing day.”
There is still a pair of signed Frankie Dettori boots which were not auctioned on the day and they will be put on the market someday soon, with the proceeds going to Cancer Trials Ireland.