My Story

I'm taking part in the 2023 Corinthian Challenge to fulfill an old goal..

My love for racing goes back to my childhood. I was privileged to have grown up near and spend summer holidays and weekends up at the now deceased but renowned music producer and racehorse trainer Denny Cordell Lavarack's home in Corrie house & racing yard in Co Carlow, as I was friends with his daughter Emerald, we would be tearing around the yard on our ponies thinking we were jockeys, driving the staff mad I'm sure!!  Through badgering the lads, I was 9 yrs old when I sat on my 1st racehorse and got run away with up the road but it didn't deter me.

My family is steeped in farming, rearing and breeding horses over the generations, so it's in the blood, I have a love of the outdoors and animals so It was an easy decision for me to go work in racing, being surrounded by successful trainers in the area.

I spent over 15 years employed in racing as a manager, work rider, stud and veterinary secretary, while also running a livery yard at the home farm, before eventually stepping away and retraining as Therapetic riding coach, personal trainer and yoga teacher.

I had flirted with the idea of taking out an apprentice flat Jockeys licence but an old rule of an age cut off at 25 Yrs old to be a claimer finished that idea, as I was just about to turn 25.

Also I intended to ride in the 2014 Punchestown charity race but got badly injured and that put an end to that also.

I am competitive by nature and always competed in sport, I have County & leinster football titles, numerous athletics medals and in more recent years I enjoy the odd  adventure race consisting of running cycling and kayaking . So I will definitely get a great kick out of this challenge.

So here I am finally riding in a race or three! and the added bonus for such a worthy cause. 

As part of my challange, I'm riding out in my old Bosses yard Shark Hanlons 3 mornings a week, he has kindly offered me a good horse for the races, I need to maintain my fitness to a decent race riding level throughout the series so I'm also engaging in coaching from Ex Jockey Paddy flood and  I'm training daily to keep fit. 

All money raised goes to supporting the incredible work of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund and your donation is greatly appreciated. 

Thank you. 

Eimear