How did you get into racehorse ownership?

I was raised in the game. My father Stephen was a farmer who kept a few mares like a lot of people.

Our stud Arctic Tack Stud is in Co Wexford, is run by me and is primarily a National Hunt stud.

We stand Jet Away, who has got off to a great start at stud – winners by him include Brandy Love, Hollymount, Dreams Of Home, Supreme Jet, Cool Jet – and Ol’ Man River (by Montjeu) out of dual Guineas winner Finsceal Beo; he has three-year-olds in 2021.

What was your best day at the races and why?

It has to be when Barney Roy won the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2017 for Godolphin and Richard Hannon.

Peter Parkhill, Ken Bolger and I pinhooked him, buying him from the Irish National Stud and selling at the Doncaster yearling sale in 2015.

We were at Ascot and it was a huge thing for us. Pete and I are mainly National Hunt so it was most unusual to be associated with such a top-class flat success.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

Horses normally lose! It’s very difficult to get a horse to win whether you buy or breed them. Nobody really knows what makes them want to win and as for ensuring your horse stays sound enough to race – don’t talk to me about that!

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

I’m not into the corporate side of racing. When I go racing I want to see the races, that’s my mission.

So I can’t really make a judgement about different tracks’ owners’ facilities but it is very important to have the best facilities possible.

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

Jumps mainly. But I have been lucky on the flat. And there are opportunities to buy horses by good commercial sires at affordable prices.

Flat racing is relatively uncomplicated – they just have to run fast.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

A – that they can train! And B – that they are honest. From my own perspective most trainers in Ireland can do the job if the horse is good enough.

You are going racing with your trainer as an owner so he/she has to have the kind of personality that gets along with people.

You want a trainer who gets results, you can have a good time with and you can trust, and Noel Meade is all of that.

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

Plenty of owners enjoy the social side of racing. Owners are the lifeblood of racing and it is vitally important that they are looked after with respect.

At Limerick last week there was such an insulting comment made by the manager there when criticised about the low-grade facilities on offer for owners and staff. It has been widely reported that he said, “what more do they want?”

That’s not good enough. Owners and staff have every right to expect a high standard in the way they are treated.

How do you think the current crisis will impact on racing in general and on ownership in particular?

The vibe for ownership is quite good. In my opinion the calendar for owners is more open for the lesser type of horse – these type of horses now have more opportunities and they make up the majority of horses in training.

There is a reasonable balance of races available for the good horses and the lesser horses.

Between the challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, life has been very difficult for all involved in racing. Most people have found a way to work around the obstacles but we don’t want to continue as we have been over the last 18 months.

What can trainers or HRI do to encourage owners to keep horses in training at the moment?

Keep the racing calendar evenly spread to cater for the majority of ordinary horses. The good horses look after themselves. Ensure that the less good horses are better catered for.

I have legs in various horses with fellow owners and in my case I don’t need videos or WhatsApp messages about my horses’ progress. Noel Meade is doing his job and I trust him implicitly.

If I want to see the horses working or whatever, I can go to the yard anytime and am most welcome.

I am more than happy with the service I get.

What significance do your colours hold?

I inherited them from my father Stephen. I suppose you could say Noel Meade inherited me as well!

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

No particular trait. I look at horses day in and day out and I can’t say there is anything in particular that distinguishes one likely to be a winner when you go to buy. It comes down to what you can afford and cannot afford.

My partners are Peter Parkhill and Ken Bolger and when we look at various potential choices it always comes down to affordability.

What horses do you currently have in training?

We have Ben Siegel, a winner recently at Ballinrobe, and Lady Of Inishfree, sixth last weekend at Gowran. She ran well, we were pleased, though she was unlucky in running.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Ben Siegel is entered tomorrow in the Fr Breen Memorial Handicap over one mile, six and at Sligo during the week so we will see.

Have you any young horses to look forward to?

I have a few young ones who I don’t yet know if they are any good or not at home in Noel’s.

What do you do with your racehorses when their racing days are over?

We normally trade our horses – buy, race and sell.

In some instances they can have very limited racing ability and then you have to take responsibility for their future. One of ours, Porter Rockwell, was absolutely useless and retired to be a riding horse. Full credit to Pete Parkhill and Noel Meade for organising this.

Another was Justmemyselfandi, a two-time winner for Liz Doyle, who took responsibility for him after his racing career and he is now a riding horse.

We have to get the narrative across that not all retiring racehorses are suitable for rehoming because of temperament and/or injury. How they are dealt with is a matter of equal importance.

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

As I have said, the programme has improved considerably over the years for the lesser-grade horses which is encouraging for the majority of owners. Trainers can place horses in a race likely to suit each individual and which gives them a fighting chance.

Initiatives such as rated races for jumps, auction races on the flat and jumps, the Ballyhane Stakes bonus, the EBF schemes and Goffs Millions – these are all huge pluses in racing and should be supported.

And any more initiatives should be welcomed.

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

It’s a very complex game. If you are lucky enough to have a good horse, it will take you places.

There can be a lot of despair, but the good days are very good.

Eoin Banville was in conversation with Olivia Hamilton