AS a jockey, my first and last winners were both at Dundalk. I later spent over 12 years working as a stall handler. I suppose it was a given that my final night in the job should also come at that track. Having bowed out of racing earlier this month, I am now very much looking forward to spending retirement with my family.

I got into racing through my brother Jimmy (Coogan), who served his apprenticeship with Clem Magnier. Daddy before us, was a jump jockey in England. He rode winners over jumps for Ryan Price in the ‘50s. Daddy only had one ride over fences in Ireland; he rode a horse called Carey’s Cottage for Tom Taaffe and he finished third in the Galway Plate. We grew up in the family pub, The Happy Brig, in Newcastle, Co Dublin.