The Blueblood Racing Club was set up as a scoial outlet for members of An Garda Siochana in 2015. On Easter Sunday, the club’s flagship mare Ashroe Diamond was victorious in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle. This week, the club founder James Fenton chatted with Tom Gannon.

Tell us a little bit about the Blue Blood Racing Club and how it was formed.

The Blueblood Racing Club was formed in 2015 and we had our first runner in Sligo that August with Miss Me Now who duly won. Eight years on we have had 28 winners so it’s safe to say we have had a lot of luck and success. When the club formed, we were all members of An Garda Siochana with a keen interest in horses. We have since opened the club to friends and family of Garda members such was the interest and there is a waiting list currently to get in.

What was your best day at the races and why?

We have had many great days and it’s hard to pinpoint one. I suppose it would have to be Ashroe Diamond winning the Honeysuckle Grade 1. We were extremely disappointed when we had to pull out of Cheltenham. That was a tough one to take. We re-routed to Fairyhouse, the anticipation for a couple of weeks build-up was nerve-wracking with a defibrillator all but needed if Willie rang. Peter Roe, Fairyhouse manager was fantastic to us. We rented a double corporate box with food and Easter eggs for all the kids. Ashroe’s emphatic win was the icing on the cake on a fantastic day.

Ashroe Diamond looks to be a special mare and has been one of the more exciting novice hurdlers of this season. Can you tell us about her and the success she has brought for the club?

Ashroe is a special mare and has brought the club to a new level. Harry Murphy and his daughter Marie-Claire came to me when they retired their top mare Portryan Native from breeding as she had got too old and gave me the task of replacing her. Replacing a mare of her calibre was never going to be easy, given she is the dam of Morning Run and Morning Supreme. I tried to buy one or two but got outbid on them. I rang Jackie Mullins and enquired about a three-year-old filly on the page of Take Tea and enquired as to where she was. Before I knew it I was in Willie’s having a look at her. Willie pulled her out for me and she walked away from me once and back and I told him put her back in. I loved everything about her physically and she floated while walking. She was purchased with the deal of leasing her back to Bluebloodracing Incorporated. She has since won a Grade 2 bumper in Aintree, a Grade 3 hurdle, and now a Grade 1. She will be left off now for the rest of the season and will head back to Aiden Fitzgerald after a few months of grass. Aiden has pre-trained her for her last two seasons so we don’t try to fix something that’s not broken. When she goes back to Willie we will sit down and plot next season.

All of your horses are with the legendary Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins, what key qualities /factors do you think Willie possesses to make him so successful and hence very appealing to you as a racing club?

Honesty, fairness, and being approachable are key factors. Willie Mullins is all of that and more, he is always keen to listen to the views of his owners and will advise. Patrick is simply a gentleman and will always do anything that is required to make things more interesting for the club members. Over the years, members of the club have become great friends with the staff of Closutton from Ben the travelling head lad to the lads that clean out the barns. They are all hard workers and always good to everyone.

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

Racecourses have improved in the last few years, I’ve always thought that both Downpatrick and Fairyhouse are up there with the best. Members have always had a good experience there and are always treated very well throughout the day

What improvements/changes would you like to see made in for owners in Ireland?

There are lots of changes that can be made for owners. Without the paying owners, there would be no horses and it’s as simple as that. Racecourses need to understand that. Owners are not looking for the red-carpet treatment or anything like that but there should be a section allocated in all racecourses for owners, clubs, and syndicates that they can use as a meeting point at least

Do you think the current cost-of-living crisis will impact on racing in general and ownership in particular?

It’s all about disposable income at the end of the day. There is a massive surge in syndicates and clubs which make things more affordable but when the pressure comes on financially it will be always the horse or the share that gets the axe.

Flat or National Hunt, which do you prefer and why?

National Hunt for me personally. If I looked at a flat pedigree I might as well be looking into a field of thistles. We are looking at bringing a flat horse into the club and John Nee who is on the committee will be doing that job. John looks at the flat on a daily basis and has great knowledge of it.

What’s next on the agenda for your horses?

Ashroe Diamond is on a break from next week on now. Both Coole Cherry and Pollys Fortune are ready to go back in after a short break and we have a nice Shantou filly coming along that hasn’t been named yet and we are always keeping an eye out for others to suit.

Can you explain to us a little bit about the leasing system and how the club has used it?

All our mares are leased. The idea is to get them black-typed and make them more valuable for breeding for their owners. We deal with fantastic breeders all over the country who have been very good to us. When the horses come to us they are always in fabulous condition and they will be returned in the same condition regardless. The horse always comes first, we aren’t interested in running horses for a day out, and if we are in doubt about anything, they won’t run.

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

Advice in becoming a racehorse owner is very simple, patience is the key. Horseracing is 95% enjoyable disappointments if there is such a thing and 5% total enjoyment. It’s that 5% we all strive for and when you get there enjoy every second of it, as it’s fantastic.

Are you still accepting membership from members of An Garda Siochana and if so how do they go about joining?

Blueblood is currently full, however, it is open to friends and families of An Garda Siochana, drop us an email @bluebloodracing90@gmail.com as we have a reserve list system in place