How did you get into ownership?

I’ve always been interested in horses. I was riding ponies since the age of five and was a member of the Pony Club. Even in those days racing was my number one interest.

I’m old enough to remember Arkle racing; you could say Arkle was my racing horse hero and Lester Piggott my sportsman hero like other people would have had George Best as their idol.

What was your best day at the races?

My best day was one where I didn’t actually go to the track. A mare I owned and had bred, Ta Blazes (by Mr Combustible), was running at Tramore (October 6th, 2011). I was already committed to playing golf that day in Donegal with a group of regular partners and I couldn’t let them down.

It was at Murvagh and when we got there it was too stormy to play so we went into a bar/restaurant in Donegal town and we got the barman to put the racing on and all eight of us had a few quid on. Well, she won in a close finish in the end and eight of us were yelling and jumping up and down! I’ll never forget the faces of the other customers who had just come in for a quiet drink and a bit of food when they saw us carrying on!

It was one of the highlights of my racing life – it means a bit more when you’ve bred the winning horse.

What is the biggest drawback about being a racehorse owner?

The obvious drawback is that owning racehorses is a big financial commitment. There are also the frustrations of being balloted out, and injuries and other setbacks like that have to be taken into account. You have to understand the fragility of racehorses – they are not machines.

In the National Hunt game with a three-year-old store it can be 18 months or so before you get them to the track, hopefully to run well. Winning is a bonus.

Which course treats owners the best?

I live close to Down Royal, one of the best galloping tracks in the country and facilities have much improved over the years. The new owners seem to be investing further in facilities and seeking out additional sponsorship.

I also love racing at Gowran Park and Killarney is a special place for racegoers. Downpatrick was one of the first tracks to give owners a bite to eat and tea/coffee, most courses make that effort now. If you’re driving for two to three hours that’s all very welcome. And it gives you a bit of a chance to socialise with other owners. The new facilities at Naas, Punchestown and the Curragh offer magnificent panoramic views for owners.

HRI are really putting in the effort to look after owners.

Flat or jumps which do you prefer?

Jumps is number one for me – it’s more affordable to be able to buy one. Steeplechasing there’s nothing like it!

Watching two-year-olds race on a fine summer’s day is a great sight, but National Hunt is my pleasure.

What do you look for in a trainer?

I’ve known Philip (Rothwell) for 20-odd years and he tells it like it is. He has total honesty and you know where you stand. He places them well, going to England, etc., if necessary. He drives the runners to the races and does a lot of the manual work. I suppose it helps to keep the training fees in order.

I am a close friend of his now and I would say all the owners with him are the same. The staff at the yard are a very professional and friendly bunch

What improvements would you likecourses in Ireland to do for owners?

I’m thinking of the horses and how vital it is to keep the tracks safe for racing. An awful lot of watering had to take place last year to keep the ground raceable which shows the authorities are keeping on top of that situation.

You hear a lot about the lack of attendances at ordinary meetings and at ‘industry days’ but racing has to evolve along with changes in people’s working lives and leisure activities.

All that can really be done is build up the festival meetings. The Dublin Racing Festival is an excellent example, as is the Punchestown Festival, all other festivals and specially marketed days.

Down Royal on December 26th was full of young people. Granted not all of them were following the racing but if only 5% get the racing bug, that is a result.

What significance do your colours hold?

Just chosen for visibility.

When buying a horse, what do you look for?

I mostly buy and leave it up to the trainer to choose. I really enjoy going along to the three-year-old store sales at Tattersalls and Goffs. What I’m looking for is a big, good looking horse, well-bred, with perfect confirmation and a lovely mover. But I couldn’t afford one of those.

I insist on a good mover and proper confirmation. Otherwise you’re likely to run into trouble with breakdowns, etc.

What horses do you have in training?

Fiveaftermidnight and Enduring Love both won in November which was encouraging. Fiveaftermidnight was second at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting and hopefully will progress. Enduring Love is in good form and we’re looking forward to the rest of the winter.

Ilsnepasserontpas needs to progress from her last run at Down Royal at Christmas but I think she will improve. Halycon Dreams ran a bit green at Cork at the beginning of January and could upgrade to being a decent filly.

I have a four-year-old homebred by Jet Away, very good looking who could possibly go the points route. I have a four-year-old Fame And Glory filly out of a Flemensfirth mare, and Hide Out is by Stowaway and hopefully is on the upgrade.

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

HRI is trying to improve the programme for horses who are not rated in the top grade and a lot has been done for the mares’ programme.

In autumn and winter maiden hurdles, if you have an average horse, they will have to run three or four times before they get a handicap mark and they can run up against horses trained by Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott who are going to end up rated 140-150. You are going to finish a distance behind them.

If your horse hasn’t won a bumper you get 8lb in hand in a maiden hurdle. I would suggest an additional allowance for these maiden hurdles. If a horse has run three or more times and not been placed, it should receive an additional allowance over and above 8lb. It would be encouraging for connections, they could get their handicap mark and the races would be more competitive.

Another suggested improvement is to extend the prize money further down the placings. If you enter a horse in a maiden hurdle, between entry fees, transport, the groom and jockey’s fees it can be about €500 to run. So if you have to have three or four runs to get a handicap mark that’s €2,000. If you extend the prize money down to seventh and eighth place for these maiden hurdles at least that would cover the entry costs and jockey. That would not drain the coffers of HRI and would make it more competitive for the smaller owner.

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

You only live once, you should go for it! You don’t have to be in single ownership, look at the HRI website for information on syndicates. Go into it with your eyes open and if you get a bit of a return it’s a bonus. Immerse yourself and enjoy it!