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Post by Matt McNamara on Jun 6, 2009 18:30:33 GMT
Congratulations to local horse trainer Mr John Oxx and jockey Mick Kinane on Winning the Epsom Derby 2009. And let us not forget all the people in the background, stable lads and ladies and riders and all involved in the Oxx yard. The drink will be flowing in Kildare tonight Sea The Stars It is always good to see a horse that has trained on the Curragh win such a big horse racing event. Hopefully he will have such luck when he comes back to the Curragh and races in the Irish Derby Mr John Oxx
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Post by Matt McNamara on Jun 26, 2009 11:33:51 GMT
I see in todays Irish Times Online that Sea The Stars will run in the Irish Derby this Sunday.
Best of luck to all involved and hopefully the local Curragh Horse will win again.
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Post by Matt McNamara on Jun 27, 2009 11:45:12 GMT
Well it looks like he is not running after all. The rain has made the ground too soft for him.
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Post by mary carroll on Sept 7, 2009 0:43:27 GMT
Does anyone remember Liam Brennan, he use to have a stable yard in Brownstown, I worked there in 1979-82, it was 1 of the best jobs I had except for my present job. I loved working with horses even if they threw me off everyday, plus having the mick taken out of me being the only female in the yard, but it did toughen me up. It's a shame when we leave our jobs or move from home we seem to lose touch with everyone.
Mary
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Post by Matt McNamara on Oct 4, 2009 17:56:47 GMT
Sea The Stars writes himself into the racing record books with a stunning victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Sea The Stars wrote himself into the racing record books with a stunning victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. John Oxx's colt, under Mick Kinane, powered through from deep in the closing straight to win by two lengths. The three-year-old is the first horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Youmzain, ridden by Keiren Fallon, came in second, with Cavalryman, under Frankie Dettori, third. Sea The Stars has now won six Group One races in a row and, with this victory, establishes himself alongside the likes of Ribot, Sea Bird II and Mill Reef as one of the great Arc victors. For 50-year-old jockey Kinane, this is his third Arc triumph, following on from his victories on Carroll House 20 years ago and Montjeu 10 years later.
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Post by Brendan on Oct 4, 2009 20:58:14 GMT
Hi to All:
I'm sure the older fraternity will remember going to the Curragh Races decades ago. I can remember as far back as eight years old going to the Curragh Racecourse. My first visit was in April 1966. I could feel the strong easterly breeze tearing down from the Wicklow hills attacking the throngs of oblivious punters standing around the low level plain of the Racecourse. On the south side of the enclosure a bizarre custom was taking place; hordes of grown men clustered around the bookies, their arms outstretched, their voices raised to a crescendo of different pitches urging strangers to gamble against the odds. The chaotic din was music in the punters ears and horseflies flying around my head. Some turf accountants wore peak caps, the rest donned round hats with feathers. Most of them stood on wooden boxes looking like conductors in front of an orchestra, making various hand signals and singing out prices in rapid succession in an indecipherable tone - all alien to me.
‘Place yer bets! Four-ta-one-a-field.’ ‘Eight-to-eleven odds on.’ ‘Two-ta-one-a-place.’
At that time there was no admittance charge in front of the stand so the punters had more money to indulge their habit. The course surrounds was littered with food vendors selling fruit, chocolate, orange, lemonade and sweets, and my favourite, the fish and chip vans draw hungry punters in between races and after a feed of beer.
I roamed around the front and back of the grandstand; looking and listening to strange people with accents that I never heard before; gob-smacked at drunkards making imbeciles of themselves; feeling cold and hungry walking pass the fish and chip vans and getting depressed by the minute. I could smell and taste the salt and vinegar on the greasy potatoes, unfortunately my pockets were empty.
When the auld fella won, I knew my belly would be full. When he didn't win, I was happy to get home for some toasted batch loaf, butter and jam beside the fire looking at Robin Hood on the telly.
Good memories.
Brendan
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Post by afcmoore on Oct 5, 2009 22:17:18 GMT
Hi All. I would just like to say how good it was that Sea the Stars won the Arc at Longchamp piloted by the Great Irish jockey M.Kinane. I also enjoyed reading the above post written by Brendan and how well he described the memories of his day at the Curragh races as a young boy.
I can Remember backing a horse in mid 60s called Flying bolt the name always reminded me of the bolt action on the 303 .I was wondering if any of you can remember that horse and also salmon spray? Cheers Anthony.
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Post by joemcguire on Nov 27, 2009 14:18:10 GMT
hi afc,flyingbolt now your talking .won the irish national in 66 the same year he won the champion chase at cheltenham,and believe r not finished 3rd in the champion HURDLE the next day.there was probably only ever one chaser better than him [say no more]
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Post by mary carroll on Nov 30, 2009 6:47:25 GMT
Hi Joe, On the subject of horses when I worked at Brennans stables I worked with Paul, Ciaran, Blondie and Finbar Hughes all the boys from the family working together. Paul works for the National stud in Kildare now, I know Blondie is still at home but not sure where he's working.
Mary C
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Post by joemcguire on Nov 30, 2009 15:38:14 GMT
mary, i was home in 79 or 80 for a few weeks and used to go back to evening stables with ciaran sometimes,and i can remember a girl working there [must have been you ].can you remember tommy fahey having the accident on his motorbike by mcdonagh coming home from lumville house that same year,we all tossed coins to see who got a lift home [ciaran, sean dwyer, lar reilly,and tommy houlihan i think] anyway i won,was off work for 6 weeks,havent been on a motorbike since. all the best Joe
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Post by mary carroll on Nov 30, 2009 20:04:44 GMT
Hi Joe, Yes that was me, was the only girl there, I have to say never thought Ciaran liked me, he was always having a go maybe it was because I gave as good as I got noone likes a mouthy girl. The last time I saw Ciaran was on my dad's (R.I.P) 65th Birthday in the Rising Sun. That was around 16 years ago. Glad you recovered from your accident I remember hearing about that, although I was too young to lumville house but did manage to get in a few times. I remember hearing about the accident at that time.
Cheers Mary C
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Post by mary carroll on Nov 30, 2009 20:08:51 GMT
Hi Joe, Sorry repeated myself in that message, its either the lack of brain cells or the night shifts I'd like to think its the latter of the two.
Mary C
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Post by joemcguire on Nov 30, 2009 21:08:23 GMT
hi mary, I wouldnt worry about it.I meant Johnny Houlihan not Tommy [whoever he is] in my earlier post. Joe
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Post by afcmoore on Dec 1, 2009 0:01:08 GMT
Hi Joe. I will mention the Great Great Arkle 22 wins ridden by Pat Taffe and trained by Tom Dreaper. Arkle won 3 Cheltenham Gold Cups. The English didn't think he could beat Mill House but how wrong they were. I did a post on this subject before and i also have the record of the song Arkle which i purchased in a record shop in Shepherds Bush Market many years ago. I backed two Grand National winners one was ridden by the Father and the other by his Son and I'm sure you know the answer? Cheers Anthony.
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Post by joemcguire on Dec 1, 2009 11:50:26 GMT
hi afc, yeah the carberry boys are,and were pretty good jockeys. but tommy wouldnt be allowed to ride nowadays he would fail a breath test everytime . Joe (still it never stopped him being a top jockey 30 r 40 years ago ;D )
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