Category: RACING
-
The wheels of life keep turning but the shadow of sadness endures
There are certain things in life that, although predominantly something positive, can stir emotions which morph into into profound sadness. Like, come harvest time, there’s always a deep tinge of sadness that some of the fields where work went on when I was a kid but had no powered wheelchair are now polluted with housing…
-
Doing it in such a way that people cannot but notice
In honour of International Womens Day, we here and BTS head office look at some of those who have made sporting strides on the local, national and international stage… NINA CARBERRY (WALSH) MEP: The only possible place this celebratory journey could begin. Enshrined her name in Irish sporting history when becoming the first lady rider…
-
I’ve no hair to tear out so I may headbutt the wall
What is it with those in sports administration wanting less instead of more? Think about it – when the Premier League began, there were 42 league games a season. The original incarnation of the Heineken Cup was a much better competition in its embryonic stage than the current truncated, rushed rabble. More recently, the GAA’s…
-
Gourmet dish off the menu as Hourigan hangs up the binoculars
“And Doran’s Pride’s a faller, Danoli hits the front, Danoli strikes the first blow for Ireland”. Peter O’Sullevan’s commentary from the back of the last home in the 1995 Sun Alliance (now RSA) Novices Hurdle. The day Danoli became ‘The People’s Champion. Even in terms of sport, it was a different world. Tom Foley’s stable…
-
Michael O’Sullivan – A Tribute
The following is just an observation rather than a boast – when working around racing as close as is the case here, very quickly jockeys, trainers and owners names become instantly recognisable. And then, every so often, a new name will appear that will necessitate a bit of research. Now read on… The most recent…
-
The Late John Hales
Leading National Hunt racehorse owner John Hales has passed away. The deceased, who was 85, made his money through the Golden Bear Toys company he co-founded in 1979, which went on to produce products from major children’s shows such as Teletubbies, Basil Brush, Thomas the Tank Engine and In The Night Garden, owned some champions…
-
Do not discount the others
There’s something very fitting about what you will read hereafter appearing around the same time as the completion of the third round of soccer’s FA Cup. Therein have been some of the greatest upsets ever seen in any sport. Such as Northampton’s expulsion of Manchester United or Arsenal being ousted by Wrexham a decade and…
-
Slevin very much in the Green
In any walk of life, a conclusion of one sort generally leads to the beginning of another. Whether that be a footballer retiring a going into management, or a jockey retiring and taking out a training licence or a journalist moving on from actively writing and into an editing or sub-editing role. Mind you, in…
-
Some questions answered with more new ones created
Before we even reach the starting tape here, one can but doff your cap to Nicky Henderson and his team at Seven Barrows. What an amazing job they have done. Not only in coaxing, cajoling, maybe even codding, Constitution Hill back to full health. Not only that, but doing so in such a manner that…
-
Davy Russell Bereaved
Mr Jeremiah (Jerry) Russell, father of three time Irish National Hunt champion jockey, Davy, passed away over the weekend. He was 85. The deceased ran a farm and a garage business in his native Youghal, Co Cork and was an avid supporter of the pony racing, point-to-point and racing under rules scene. All the routes…