A JOURNEY which initially began way back in 2016, will reach its final destination at Killarney on Tuesday. Just a few weeks after retiring from the civil service, I mentioned to my friend, Stephen Cunningham (Stevie) that when he retired, we should go to all 26 Irish racecourses. Stevie quickly suggested we start now and do a few each year.

Ronnie Connolly, a colleague of ours was also up for the journey along with his wife’s uncle, Joe Martin. The Punters On Tour were born! At the time, none of us could have known what lay ahead, with tragedy, health issues and the pandemic all playing a part.

The racing interest came from my father. From the time I could walk, I would have gone with him to the bookies every Saturday morning. In those days, there were no television screens with live pictures and prices, just a man with chalk and a board.

Like most people, the Grand National was my starting point for having a bet. In 1968, both my sister and I were allowed a shilling bet on the famous Aintree race. Having picked Red Alligator, my four-year-old sibling was rewarded with a new 10 bob note - I was hooked!

Following horses

Growing up near Downpatrick at that time, following the horses would have been the norm. Aside from going racing to the local meeting, I watched the ITV7 with my father on a Saturday, while RTÉ would have been on during the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

With both parents having jobs, we were fortunate enough to be able to afford a summer holiday every year. Given my father’s interest in racing, that usually meant a trip to either Galway or Killarney for the annual festival! Looking back now, I don’t really know how much of a holiday it was for my mother or sister.

In my early teens, I took a keen interest in greyhound racing as my father and uncle had gotten into that game. However, I continued to follow the horses and did my 10p Yankee every weekend. After school, I went on to study at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. I have to admit, I spent more time in the bookies than in college, which probably explains why it took me five years to do a three-year degree!

It was during those years that I really grew as a punter, learning all about jockeys, trainers and form. Throughout college and for a few years after, I was heavily involved with the greyhound training operation at home. Punting on the dogs was an integral part of that and taught me the benefits of having that “inside information”.

Trials and tribulations

Working with greyhounds full-time, I was aware of the disappointments and pitfalls involved. There are a lot of similarities between training horses and dogs, in that it is a day in day out vocation involving constant care.

As of yet, I have not become involved in racehorse ownership either in the form of a syndicate or sole ownership but I like to think that my experience with greyhounds would make me more understanding of the challenges facing a trainer. I realise that so much can go wrong with animals, so you have to go into it expecting nothing and that way, any success will be a bonus.

While we enjoyed some good success with the greyhounds, by my mid-20s I had become disillusioned with the business and realised I had to get a proper job. Although we continued to keep dogs right up until I was 32, I had to combine looking after them with a job in the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Meeting Stevie

I had met Stevie through work. As he shared a keen interest in racing and punting, we soon became close friends. We would have gone racing a few times a year, mainly Fairyhouse at Easter, the Drinmore meeting and Punchestown. On a couple of occasions, I ventured as far as Cheltenham but only ever on a day trip.

I married Irene in 1996 and went to the Galway Festival with her on a couple of occasions but racing trips generally had to be squeezed in around family life. However, the racing channels became available in conjunction with the internet so a big chunk of my leisure time was spent studying the form and watching racing.

I always enjoyed the betting aspect of it, even managing to stay in profit on occasions, although Tom Segal (Pricewise) must take credit for that. In 2016, I took early retirement from the civil service and later that year The Punters on Tour began their journey.

Ronnie suggested that our journey would make for a good book. Having run a ten-to-follow competition in work over the years, I always accompanied that with a weekly review and preview of the upcoming weekend’s racing. Ronnie felt that I was the man to document our travels and put it down on paper.

Where it began

We began our journey at Dundalk in November 2016. The first race was won by Pat Smullen; a poignant start given what was to come for the winning jockey and in my own life subsequently. Our next outing was closer to home for me, Downpatrick the following March. A week before we were due to go, Irene was diagnosed with bowel cancer. However, she insisted that I must go to Downpatrick.

Over the following year or so, there were more downs than ups but Irene was very much on board with me doing both the tour and book. We managed trips to Galway in July and Fairyhouse in December working around Irene’s chemo sessions. Sadly, on April 16th 2018, the day of my son Daniel’s 13th birthday, Irene died. I had no idea what to do after this.

The one thing I resolved to do was accept any offer of help that was made. So many people came into my life over the next few months; even if it was just for two or three hours to take me to lunch or for coffee. I found comfort and support from CHARIS, a wonderful local cancer charity. They provide support for people dealing with cancer, as well as those struggling with bereavement.

Helping hand

Stevie is a firm believer that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. With that in mind, soon after Irene died, he wrote to Willie Mullins, telling him about my story and my love of racing and asking if Willie could help to reignite this interest. Willie kindly invited us to come down for an evening meeting at Gowran Park then come to his yard the following morning.

He gave generously of his time and afforded us great hospitality and we got to meet Faugheen. During that visit we chatted to a young girl who was just starting out in her career as a jockey. Having made enquiries, we were told her name was Rachael Blackmore. She hasn’t done too badly since then! Stevie’s bold approach also secured us a visit to Martinstown in 2022 where I met my favourite horse, Istabraq.

Having got to the halfway point in our journey, we attended Cork in January 2020, before Covid set in and we had to wait two years before visiting Limerick in March 2022.

The Lord Bagenal

A big part of every trip to the races revolves around where we eat. In the book, I go into detail about the different restaurants and pubs we dine in. A particular favourite has always been the Lord Bagenal Inn. Whenever we race within a certain radius of that establishment, we will always try to stay there.

On one occasion, Shark Hanlon had invited us to visit his yard on our way to Clonmel. Although that meeting was abandoned, we still travelled as far as the Lord Bagenal, before taking Shark up on his kind offer the next morning. In the last month, we managed to finally attend a meeting at Clonmel, as well as ticking Tipperary off the list.

That just leaves us with the one racecourse left to visit. I always wanted to leave Killarney until last. Given the strong memories I have of the place when holidaying there as a child, I felt it would be fitting to end the journey in Kerry. So, all things being equal, this coming Tuesday will see us reach the finish line.

Unexpected events

I have really enjoyed writing the book. On every trip something unexpected seems to happen and we have so many laughs. Aside from the tragedy of Irene, Ronnie had prostate cancer from which he has recovered, while Joe has been dealing with heart problems and has spent much of the last year in and out of hospitals.

He is now 84 and I am sure nothing will stop him being in Killarney, a town where he loves to go dancing! Stevie is still a civil servant while I got married again in October 2021.

I now need to complete the book and follow a process that will hopefully lead to publication and a celebratory book launch. I have no experience whatsoever in that department but a good friend of over 30 years is a multi-award-winning novelist who will steer me towards the winning post.

Her name is Sheena Wilkinson and yes, she is now my second wife! I think there is a story there to be told and most importantly, Daniel will one day get to read the journey The Punters On Tour have undertaken.

Seamus Hynds was in conversation with John O’Riordan.