Image © Healy Racing
It was a red-letter day for Co. Wexford rider Cormac Byrne as he rode his first point-to-point winner in the concluding race at Peppard's Castle.
Name: Cormac Byrne
Age: 19
From: Ballindaggin, County Wexford
How did you get involved with horses?
I’ve been involved with horses all my life. My mother has a riding school and my father is a farrier so it was probably the only path I was going!
When did you first get into racehorses?
Sean Doyle is literally two minutes over the road and when I was in second year in school at the age of 14, I started riding out in Sean’s at the weekends.
Where do you work full-time?
I am with Sean Doyle full-time. I wanted to take a year out after finishing secondary school before deciding on college and that, so I went to Sean’s to work for a year and I’m still there. This is my second season with Sean.
How did the ride on Mister Romantic come about?
Sean bought Mister Romantic as an older horse so he could give a couple of us young lads in the yard a chance to get going and get rides in point-to-points
Were you expecting Mister Romantic to run well?
I was hoping he would win, I rode him in Castletown-Geoghegan on the first weekend of the season and I thought that would leave him fairly spot-on. On form, he looked the best in the race.
Did you get some kick out of riding your first point-to-point winner?
It was class, a brilliant feeling to ride a winner. Peppard's Castle is one of the local tracks to us and it was great that all my family and friends were there on the day to watch. It was unbelievable, it couldn’t have worked out better.
Do you know what the plan is for Mister Romantic now?
He will go for a winner-of-one contest, not sure where yet, but that will be the plan. Hopefully I’ll get to keep the ride on him.
Was it always the plan to take out your license?
At the start I just took it out for some fun as I had been riding out for so long as it was something that I wanted to try. Then when I rode in my first race, it was something that I wanted to stay doing, I got the bug!
Who is your biggest influence in racing?
Sean would have to be my biggest influence, he’s showed me a lot over the years and its where I started and where I’ve learnt every thing I know.
Is there anyone you turn to for advice?
Jamie Scallan, who would be one of Sean’s main jockeys would be the one I would always turn to for advice. He’s great when we’re schooling and great for giving us tips after on how to improve.
Have you any interests or hobbies outside of racing?
I do a bit of show-jumping and eventing. Its all about horses in some shape or form for me.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
I’d just like to ride a few more winners and get my name out there and hopefully get some outside rides too.
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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.
