Category: RACING
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Contrite Elliott back in business
What is almost sixteen years ago now, Roger Loughran fell foul of racing’s Brains Trust by pulling up the Dessie Hughes trained Central House too early – mistaking the winning post – in a major race at Leopardstown. The Cortown man was subsequently banned for 14 days in the wake of the incident, but it…
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Another of the ‘Dreaper Lads’ heads for the gallops above
No matter what one’s interests are in life, if they become a big enough part of your life, it moves away from the realm of pass time to something more significant. Then, if you happen to be blessed like me, it can be how you earn your few bob as well. I wouldn’t call it…
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Offiah Touches Down To Give Ger Grand Total
The Tuesday after Easter, 2002. It was either late March or early April. Even allowing for that though, the weather had a particularly arctic air to it. In time I would become all too familiar with the reality that this was just Fairyhouse being itself, but this was a baptism of fire. Well, actually, to…
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Gordon and Gavin targeted in Panorama witch hunt
They say timing is everything. So it would be hard not to feel there was an ulterior motive at play with the timing of the broadcasting of the recent Panorama programme on BBC entitled Racing’s Dark Side. Coming as it did in the lead up to both Gordon Elliott’s return from suspension and the Galway…
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Time doesn’t stand still so the only option is to Move With It
The victory of Drumbear in the Downpatrick Bumper of March 21st hardly made any headlines. Even allowing for the continued ascent of the winning trainer John McConnell and rider Ben Harvey. But for another reason it was a seminal contest regarding the current state of Irish racing. Now read on… Finishing in sixth place that…
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BREAKING NEWS
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DriveThru Sports Show – Ep. 18
A wonderous week for Willie Mullins at the Punchestown Festival once again, but, at what cost to Racing in the bigger picture?
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Paths crossed in poignant healing
One of the greatest things garnered from 11 years on the Executive Committee of St Peter’s, Dunboyne were the friendships formed with people from nearly every club in the county. And plenty outside of Meath as well. Now read on… Yes, there are a few clubs in particular with which special affinity will forever be…
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Smashing the glass ceiling with the passing of the baton
The first jumps meeting of the season at Fairyhouse, usually in early October, is generally when the racing radar in this seat really becomes hyper sensitive. That isn’t to say one wouldn’t be attuned to goings on prior to that date. Just that the fixture in question is generally the cue for things to ratchet…
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McLoughlin Freewheels to local success
Before this corner was properly attuned to the goings on in racing, one of the first times I was at a racecourse was to see the Jim Dreaper-trained Carvills Hill run at Naas. Our main reason for being there was that my sister Anna was good friends with Pauline O’Connor. Now, Pauline’s late, great father…