How did you get into racehorse ownership?

It all came about through a friend of a friend initially. A group of local lads bought a horse and were looking for a few more members to form a syndicate. I decided to get involved and it developed from there. That same horse eventually won a race for Philip Rothwell, with a very young 7lb claimer named Davy Condon in the saddle. That gives you an idea just how long ago it was!

What was your best day at the races and why?

Ros Brin winning at Leopardstown in January 2012 is a day I will never forget. We had had a decent bet on the mare when she won her previous start at Fairyhouse, so whatever she did on her next run was a bonus. The mare needed a real good cut in the ground and fortunately for us, it poured rain throughout the morning. She ended up winning easily by 14 lengths. It was one of the bigger meeting of the year at Leopardstown(now the Dublin Racing Festival), so to have a winner there was special. Ros Brin went on to be rated much higher over fences and only just failed to collect black type. After the race in Leopardstown, we went on to Clonmel for the coursing, so it ended up being an incredible weekend.

What is the biggest drawback about being an owner?

The biggest drawback is definitely when your horse isn't winning; whether out of form or injured. At this level of competition, you are always just trying to keep yourself in the game and that becomes increasingly difficult when the outgoings exceed the returns. While you don't get into ownership to become rich, the hope is always that your horse will pay its way, along with providing a few good days. There are certainly more lows than highs in owning a racehorse but when they do come along, there is nothing to beat the thrill of your horse winning a race.

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

I'd have to say Fairyhouse; they treated us very well when Ros Brin won. We really felt part of the game on that occasion; valued members of the racing community. Obviously, it was our big day but they couldn't have done any more for us. The small personal touches just went down very well. It doesn't take a lot to make people feel appreciated, yet you don't get that everywhere.

Flat or jumps, which do you prefer and why?

I used to be a die hard National Hunt man and never missed a Cheltenham festival but prefer the flat of late. I just think it's a better days racing, there are fewer injuries involved and it's easier to find opportunities for your horse. At the lower level, your horse will eventually find it's grade and once doing so, there seems to be more races for that type of animal on the flat.

What qualities do you look for in a trainer?

Less of the BS! I prefer a trainer to give it to me straight; if my horse is no good I'd rather be told as early as possible, rather than carrying on. I have been involved in the sport for over 25 years and can honestly say, there are few things more annoying than a trainer trying to make out that a horse is better than it is. It also helps if the trainer can tell you when your horse in going to win! It's hard enough for an owner to make it pay, so being able to have a bet with confidence helps. I have been involved with George Kingston since the days of Ros Brin and have always found him to be an honourable, decent man. He works hard, cares about his horses and tells it like it is. If George has a horse that is good enough to win races, he will win with it.

What significance do you colours hold?

I have been involved with the GAA all my life; firstly as a player and more recently as a coach. The red and white colours are two-fold, in that they represent both my local club, St Brides and the Wee County(Louth) itself.

When buying a horse what do you look for?

I tend to leave the buying to the trainer although it would have to be someone I trust and whose opinion I respect. George Kingston is a great horseman who probably doesn't get the recognition he deserves. He picked Hero Of The Hour out of a Dundalk Claimer and we bought him relatively cheaply for €8k. The horse was a well bred, unexposed individual who has proved to be an inspired purchase. However, all of the credit for that has to go directly to the trainer.

What's next on the agenda for your horse?

There is a race on Finals Day on 24th March. It's a 6f handicap in the (47-65) grade - exactly what our man wants. That's the plan at the minute, although it's five weeks away, so he could have a run beforehand. Hero Of The Hour has only had the four runs on the turf, so we might give him a spin or two early in the new season. If he takes to it, great but if not, we can give him a bit of May grass and prepare him for Dundalk next winter.

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

I had a horse with George(Kingston) that wasn't suitable for racing as he kept bursting blood vessels. George organised for him to be rehomed in Holland and retrained as a riding horse. The lady that took him kept in contact with us after, sending us photos and videos of the horse. It was nice to see his progress and to know that there is life outside racing.

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

Better prize money at the lower end of the scale. In my experience, it costs the same to keep a low grade horse in training, as it does a better one. Even if you are lucky enough to win one race a year, at the current levels, it isn't enough for an owner to break even. I think that more money should be filtered down to the bottom grade in order to help both owners and trainers. Most ordinary Irish trainers are competing at the lower end and increased prize money would help both themselves and their owners survive in the game.

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

Firstly, I'd say; do it. However, I would advise against jumping in head first and asking a trainer to buy you a horse. Talk to someone who has been involved in ownership already, be it an individual owner or as part of a syndicate. Ask them about their experiences; the do's and don'ts. Do your research before deciding on a trainer - there are plenty to choose from.