50 years have lapsed since John Joe Walsh of Kilbyrne House Stables took out his horse training license. Born and reared in Doneraile, his longevity in such a competitive environment is testament to his knack for getting the best out of his charges.
The first ever recorded Steeplechase run in 1752 between Buttevant and Doneraile in north county Cork.
The history books state that Edmund Blake and Cornelius O’Callaghan raced along the banks of the Awbeg River at breakneck speed clearing stone walls, ditches and hedges in a show of strength stamina and tremendous skill.
The start and finish were marked by the church steeple in each town, hence the term “Steeplechase”. Little did they know that their entertainment would revolutionise the art of national hunt racing.
The Steeplechase was not the only racing tradition with links to Doneraile.
In 1776 Anthony St. Leger, an army officer and nephew to Arthur, first Viscount Doneraile, devised a flat race which was to set the pattern for classic racing throughout the modern world.
The race, a sweepstake for three year old fillies and colts was run for the first time on 24th September 1776.
This race was subsequently named “St. Leger Stakes” and it remains the world’s oldest classic race.
The Doneraile area’s rich and wonderful tradition of horse racing and hunting has been a source of great inspiration to John Joe Walsh of Kilbyrne Stables.
John Joe has been training horses for most of his adult life having first taken out his license 50 years ago in 1966 following a riding career that yielded 23 winners as an amateur under NH Rules and also some Point-to-Points.
He inherited his passion for the sport from his late father Maurice who trained Point-to-Point horses and, down through the years, his stable slowly grew in numbers based on his success.
“It’s all I know and all I am used to,” John Joe quipped when speaking to Irish Tractor & Agri magazine.
John Joe’s impressive Kilbyrne House Stables has capacity for 60 horses and boasts a sand gallop, a wood chip gallop, a grass gallop and schooling ground. With a well deserved reputation for getting the best out of his horses, he currently has 30 to 40 young horses in training.
At the time of writing, he has sent out 68 runners in the 2016/2017 National Hunt season and the stats show a return of four winners, six seconds, seven thirds and seven fourths which culminates in a total prize money of €71,100.
“We’ve always kept a couple of flat horses as well, we’ve had some good sprinters here down through the years and we’ve been fortunate in that we’ve enjoyed some fairly good successes.”
John Joe’s curriculum vitae includes Kerry National, Munster National and Troytown Chase successes and horses such as Senator Maclauny, Fairy King, Propunt, Lord Singapore, Function Dream (National Hunt) and Rathclare and Roses Entwine (Flat) would have been well known to punters down through the years.
He is assisted in the day-to-day running of his training enterprise by his sons Brendan and Martin.
“I have 10 riding out for me at the moment,” he revealed. “Ambrose McCurtain and Adrian Heskin also ride out for me along with other amateurs. It’s very hard to get good staff these days but I have to say that I’m lucky with the ones I have.”
As well as his highly regarded team, John Joe has built up long-lasting relationships with a loyal base of owners.
Training horses is a tough game but it’s practically impossible without the backing of owners who are prepared to place their trust in the trainer. John Joe considers himself to have been fortunate in that regard.
“I’m also lucky to have owners from all over the country. A lot of my owners have stayed loyal to me for a long time, some of them go back over 30 years and, obviously their support has been crucial to the continued success of the stables.
“We’re busy and not short on horses that moment. There were more challenges in years gone by than there are now but it can be very hard to get into races. The type of races have changed and the low grade horse is not being looked after. It’s a bit better in National Hunt but something that I feel could be looked at.”
Improved facilities for owners and trainers at race tracks throughout the country is another item that should be top of the agenda for the powers-that-be according to John Joe.
“Some of the tracks have to do more to look after owners and trainers. Some tracks leave a lot to be desired in that respect.
“Syndicates need to be looked after better too. Anyone involved in a syndicate should get a free pass for entry to races, not just one or two to be shared around 10 to 20 people. We have to keep everyone happy and encourage them to stay involved in horse racing.”
John J. Walsh
Kilbyrne House
Doneraile
Co Cork
Tel: 353 (0) 2224205
Mob: 353 (0) 862457486
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 4 No 7, September 2016
