CONOR KEHOE always looked forward to the annual New Year’s Day trip to Fairyhouse racecourse with his wife Grace and their friends.
While he enjoyed the day out, Conor admits having very little experience of racing beyond it.
However, a conversation with one member of the group shortly after last Christmas was about to change all that.
“I got a call from Mark [Dillon] who wanted to know if we were interested in being part of a syndicate,” Conor explains.
Maybe it was the idea of some good days out after Covid, but when I asked my wife Grace what she thought, she was even more excited than I was!”
Fast forward eight months and they are currently the proud owners of their very own racehorse.
Pony Sopranos is a syndicate made up of five couples – Conor and Grace Kehoe, Mark and Fiona Dillon, Pat and Mikaela Dillon, Niall and Siobhan O’Regan, their son David O’Regan, and Joe and Eimear Burke.
Ahead of their first official meeting, each couple was asked to suggest a suitable syndicate name and they would vote for their favourite one.
“The night before the meeting, I was watching a repeat of Sopranos and thought of it,” Conor remembers. “That went down well, probably because it was a big show for our generation.”
Ireland is lucky to have some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys in the world. With the help of Horse Racing Ireland, potential owners can avail of an opportunity to take their interest to the next level.
Trainer Open Mornings, which are running this September, allow you to go behind the scenes at top yards in order to get a better understanding of what owning a racehorse involves.
Picking the right horse and trainer are key decisions in the process. After doing their research, Pony Sopranos chose Irish Blaze and Gordon Elliott.
“We were sent a couple of options and there was a video of Irish Blaze winning his point to point at Knockmullen House in November,” says Conor.
He looked very impressive at the finish, and the fact that his sire is Imperial Monarch didn’t hurt his chances in the selection process either.
“Gordon is an experienced and successful trainer with incredible facilities here in Meath. We have all been down to the yard and nothing is ever a problem if you want a tour or have any questions.
“It’s great to see the likes of Tiger Roll down there and for Irish Blaze to be in that company.”
In February, Irish Blaze had his first run under the new ownership at Navan. Ridden by Jack Kennedy, the six-year-old claimed a brilliant win at 9/1 on what was a special day for connections.
Kennedy was wearing silks designed by Niall and Siobhan’s son, David, which combined their county colours of Meath, Monaghan, Laois and Roscommon.
“He was actually the last one leaving Gordon’s yard that day to go to Navan because he was a late call on the reserve list,” Conor says. “None of us expected him to do so well. Hearing the few instructions Gordon had for Jack didn’t heighten any expectations either.
“We were still hoping he would place, which would’ve been a great result for his first race. We were all hugely excited beforehand and being in the parade ring was a new experience for me.
The screaming and shouting when he was battling with Hemlock over the last and the final 100 yards is something I’ll never forget. We were probably all in shock for a while after the race. Fair play to Jack, he ran a great race in tough conditions.
“As a group of friends, it is fantastic to have a shared interest and to experience that wonderful memory even though we’re not long in the game.”
For those considering a move into racehorse ownership – as a a sole owner, partnership, syndicate or club – Conor has some valuable advice.
“A syndicate is a great way for anyone new to horse racing,” he reveals. “It reduces the cost of getting involved and offers the same experience.
“I think the Trainer Open Mornings are a great opportunity for anyone thinking about getting involved in owning a horse. It’s a chance to get a feel for a place and to see if it’s something that might interest you.”
Trainer Open Mornings are taking place across the country all through September. These are free to attend and allow you to go behind the scenes of top yards to see what it takes to train a racehorse and learn more about racehorse ownership. For the full list of dates and to register to attend, click here.
