This week’s ITBA 30 under 30 next generation features Timmy Love. The former jockey has turned his hand to buying and selling horses and in recent times has sold the likes of Ballybawn Belter and Shecouldbeanything.

Can you give us some background on how you got involved in racing and how you got to where you are today in terms of bloodstock and buying and selling quality racehorses?

My whole family is into horses and racing. Dot Love, my grandmother, used to be a trainer. From when I was about 12, I used to spend summers with her and Ciaran Murphy in her yard just outside Mullingar. At the time, we were breaking all the Gigginstown store horses coming from the sales. I used to love getting into the lorry and heading off to Goffs or Tatts to collect these gorgeous, big horses, the cream of the Irish store crop. I was spoiled with the quality of horse I was getting to deal with every day. I suppose that’s when I first really took an interest in the bloodstock side of things. I then started bid spotting in Goffs when I was 16. I really enjoyed that and that was when I wanted to start buying and selling myself and bought my first foal in December of that year. He was a long way below the level of the Gigginstown horses I was used to but it was a start!

What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to get involved in racing and selling professionally?

Getting out to the sales and going around with an agent is very beneficial, it’s a great way to learn. I went around a few sales with Gerry Hogan and learned a lot, he was very good to me, teaching me different things, asking what I thought, and I was well entertained too!

What challenges /problems have you faced in your career?

Getting started. I suppose the biggest problem with pinhooking the National Hunt ones is how long the process is. It’s a long time from when you buy a foal to when you sell it as a 3 year old. In order to get set up with horses to sell every year, you have to purchase for 3 years before you get to sell the first ones. I have that stage out of the way now and hopefully can up the quality of horses we are selling each year.

Who has helped you along the way or gave you advice?

Loads of people. I find in our industry, particularly in the National Hunt game, that so many of the older, established people are more than willing to help young lads starting off. Nick Nugent has always been a huge help to me, as well as people such as Ken Parkhill and the Bleahens who have also been very good for advice. My family are also a huge help. We have the horses at home and my parents and siblings have shares in some of the horses and would help with a lot of the work with them so I would be lost without them.

What are your hopes for the next 12 months?

I have a few stores to sell over the summer so hopefully they will sell well. For the minute I’d just like to keep selling horses that perform on the track. I sold Ballybawn Belter and Shecouldbeanything in the last couple of years and they have done well for connections. It is all about reputation in this business and if I could make a bit of a name for myself for selling racehorses at this early stage that would be great. Of course, It would be great if they could turn a bit of profit so that I can reinvest in a few nicer foals this year.