Image © Healy Racing
Name: Abbie Twomey
Age: 20
From: Midleton, County Cork
How did you get involved with horses?
My family wouldn’t be involved in horses at all. I started out riding lesson ponies as a kid and then one of my ponies had a bit of pace, so I got into the pony racing scene locally. Kelvin Hitchmough and Dara Mellerick were brilliant to me and helped me a lot at the beginning.
I started riding at Kelvin’s riding school when I was about five, and once I got into the pony racing side of things, I completely fell in love with racing.
How did you end up working for Terence O’Brien?
Kelvin knew Terence and suggested I might try to get some experience in a racing yard. Terence was hiring at the time, so I rang him myself and went in the following day.
I started there when I was 16 and I’ve been there ever since. I took transition year off school and worked there full-time, and then after my Leaving Cert I decided to take another year out to concentrate on racing.
What was the first racehorse you ever sat on?
A horse called Mango Tango. He was one of the older quiet horses in the yard, and I was stuck with him for a while! There was another one called Emancipator too. They were great horses to learn on.
Was it always the plan to take out your licence?
It was always something I dreamed about, but I never really thought I’d be able to do it. Even watching races growing up, I’d think I’d love to do that, but I wouldn’t be brave enough.
My dad and uncle were always encouraging me to give it a go and once I started working in the yard and schooling horses, I started to think maybe I could do it.
Your first ride didn’t exactly go to plan?
No, I got a very bad fall on my first ride at Knockmullen House when I was 17 and I lost a huge amount of confidence afterwards. I had nerve damage to my vertebrae and thigh and I was out for a few months.
I didn’t stop riding out at home, but I didn’t ride in races again for over two years. It was hard mentally more than anything.
How did Diamond Duke come into your life?
Diamond Duke was already in the yard and was actually for sale. Michael Brown, who is assistant trainer to Terence, suggested I should buy him because he wasn’t making much money at all.
At the start I only really bought him to help get my confidence back. I hadn’t schooled in two years and hadn’t ridden in a race in two years either, so the thought of coming back was daunting.
A lot of people thought if he could even finish a race again it would be a miracle, but he turned out to be the perfect novice rider’s horse. He’d jump anything and he gave me so much confidence.
Did you expect him to run well at Ballindenisk?
I thought he’d run very well and hopefully finish in the first three. He’s a big horse who likes doing things in his own space and Ballindenisk is a tougher track than I realised until I actually rode there.
I stayed wide on the better ground and just let him do his own thing. Once I jumped the last in front, I honestly couldn’t feel my body anymore.
.gif)
Can you describe what it felt like to ride your first winner?
Riding your first winner is unbelievable anyway, but to do it on your own horse that you’ve worked on yourself made it extra special.
I crossed the line and just started bawling crying. I couldn’t stop. I was shaking afterwards and nearly too weak to trot back in.
Ballindenisk is about 20 minutes from home and there were so many people there cheering me on and all the jockeys came up to congratulate me afterwards. It’s something I’ll never forget.
Were your family there on the day?
Yeah, my mam Catherine, my dad Gary and my younger sister were there, along with loads from the yard and plenty of friends.
When I came back into the parade ring afterwards there were probably 20 or 30 people there cheering. It meant so much.
You mentioned some of the riders around the yard were very supportive?
They’ve been unbelievable to me. Darragh Allen, James Coffey and Donal McCauley helped me massively this season.
James Coffey even came racing one day at Killeagh when he had no ride just to walk the track with me and give me advice. Little things like that mean an awful lot when you’re still learning.
Everyone in Terence’s yard genuinely wants to see you do well.
Did you spend any time elsewhere gaining experience?
I did a bit with Johnny Murtagh and Noel Meade during summers when at school and I also spent plenty of time with jockey coach Warren O’Connor on the simulator. and I did a few schooling courses with Derek O’Connor at RACE too. I got very homesick on the Curragh so came back home.
You realise very quickly how different Flat and jump riding are. I learned a huge amount from both sides.
What are your interests outside racing?
I’m mad into the gym and weightlifting. I started doing it for racing at first but now I genuinely love it. The lads call me the gym rat!
I’d do plenty of running and cycling too and I think all of it helps massively with riding strength and fitness.
What’s next for Diamond Duke?
He’s actually up for sale now, unfortunately. I’d love to keep him but I’m going to college in September and I’ve already put college off for two years.
He owes me absolutely nothing though and I’ll be very sad to see him go.
What are you studying?
I’m going to MTU in Cork to study Pharmaceutical Chemistry. It’s a four-year honours degree and hopefully I’ll do a Masters afterwards as well.
Terence has been brilliant about it all and always encouraged me to put education first.
Do you plan to continue race-riding?
Definitely. I’d love to keep going with point-to-points and hopefully get rides in ladies bumpers too.
Terence has said he’ll help me out where he can and hopefully a few owners might give me opportunities as well.
Who was your biggest influence growing up?
Rachael Blackmore was definitely the one I looked up to most growing up. I remember going racing with my dad and uncle and getting pictures and autographs with the likes of Paul Townend, Jack Kennedy and Rachael. She was definitely my idol.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
I owe a huge amount to everyone in Terence O’Brien’s yard, especially Terence himself, Michael Brown, Darragh Allen, James Coffey, Mikey Kenneally and Donal McCauley.
They all helped me massively after my fall and gave me confidence again when I probably doubted myself. And of course my parents too. They supported and helped me the whole way through.
As a bonus for talented new point-to-point riders who feature in p2p.ie series of NextGen articles, Dungar Quality Oats will sponsor a special draw where one of the riders will win a cash prize of €500. All NextGen featured jockeys who have ridden their first point-to-point winner will be automatically entered into this draw. The draw will be conducted and prize winner announced at the end of the point-to-point season.
