Barry Geraghty is one of those jockeys you know you’ll get the best out of no matter what the circumstances. An honest and endearing character of Irish racing, he has plied his trade at the top level of the game for near on 15 years now and has become one of Ireland’s favourite sons.
A Meath man, who has won three Queen Mother Champion Chases, a Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle and an Aintree Grand National among a plethora of other top National Hunt prizes, he currently splits his time between Ireland and the UK.
The 32-year-old takes the majority of his mounts for the on-fire Nicky Henderson yard and, at the moment, the partnership can’t seem to do a whole lot wrong.
With Cheltenham just around the corner the omens look good for one of Ireland’s greatest-ever jockeys.
Ahead of the March festival, JOE had a quick chat with Barry and found out what he belives his best chance of a winner will be, becoming a tweeter and the future of Irish horse racing.
Even those with only a faint interest in horse-racing know the name Barry Geraghty and the success attached to his illustrious career.
He is renowned for a never-say-die attitude in the saddle, whether it’s in a hotly contested Cheltenham race or a lowly-classed hurdle in Taunton and, on a daily basis, his name is bellowed in support in bookie shops across the country.
Since teaming up with Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows, his track record has shifted into overdrive and in 2009 he rode his 1,000th winner, the same year as winning the Champion Hurdle onboard Punjabi.
Six years earlier he had won the Aintree Grand National with Monty’s Pass and so, you get the picture. Barry Geraghty is a rare commodity in the racing world – a winner through and through.
The main thing is that you don’t want to come out of it [Cheltenham] with too many regrets
With Cheltenham fever starting to accelerate I caught up with the man himself and wondered if he was as plugged in to the online world as we are here in JOE Towers.
“Well as Ambassador for the HRI I do have to tweet a fair bit and get on Facebook,” he says.
“I’m on quite a bit but I wouldn’t be plugged in all the time. It can be a bit of a distraction so I don’t get too into it. I wouldn’t want to be tweeting every day!”
The conversation turns to horses and racing pretty swiftly. The first thing most people will ask someone who has a direct line with the racing game is if they can give them a winner, and why would we be any different?
“I’d have to go with Big Zeb. He’ll take all the beating again after winning at Cheltenham last year,” Geraghty says.
Now, it has to be said that he provided this information before Golden Silver bested Big Zeb in the Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown but, nonetheless, the Colm Murphy trained star will have a lot in his favour going to Prestbury Park to retain the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Geraghty takes the last on Kicking King in the 2005 Cheltenham Gold Cup
One of Geraghty’s many star horses was Gold Cup Kicking King, whose career was cut short by injury. Having won the Gold Cup in 2005, Kicking King had the potential to become one of the greats.
Indeed, he was held in high regard by all racing followers and it was a sad occasion to see his days on the track come to an abrupt end. Geraghty has fond memories of the Tom Taffe-trained jewel.
“He was right up there with the Best Mates and the Kauto Stars. A top class performer,” he says
“He was phenomenal when he won his Gold Cup and his first King George.
“But it’s so hard to keep those three mile chasers right though, big heavy horses that are susceptible to injury.”
With Cheltenham on the horizon some new stars of racing are sure to be born. For Geraghty it has, more often than not, been a happy hunting ground and the prospect of riding winners at the prestigious festival is what it’s all about for jump jockeys.
“It’s always great to get one winner,” Geraghty says.
“Once you get the first one you can start thinking about more. The main thing is that you don’t want to come out of it with too many regrets.”
It would be a shock if Geraghty didn’t get more than the one win given that his partnership with Henderson has flourished this season in particular.
I’d be hopeful that retirement is a long way down the road
Henderson’s nemesis is Paul Nicholls, who will bring an army of horses to Cheltenham, but Geraghty believes the rivalry between the trainers is in good spirit and that, at the end of the day, the best wins out.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any tension there between Nicky and Paul,” he says.
“They’re always having a battle to win the same race but if you win you win, if you don’t you don’t. You just try and hope things go well on the day.”
For some trainers and those employed in racing, both in Ireland and the UK, these are worrying times. Prize money is not what it once was and, as a result of the economic crisis, there are less horses in training which has consequences for anyone trying to make a living out of horse racing.
“Trainers are coming under pressure as well as jockeys,” Geraghty says.
“Business lads that have horses are going bust and it has a big knock-on effect. It’s so important that the tax on the online betting came through because that, in turn, will keep prize money levels up, owners in racing, horses in training and sustain employment.
“It’s 1pc but it really should be 2pc. It’s the kind of funding we really need.”
Barry on Monty’s Pass after winning the 2003 Martell Grand National at Aintree
The future of racing in Ireland looks brighter when we look at the many rising stars in the saddle. Geraghty, Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell can’t go on forever but something the jockey doesn’t like to ponder is hanging up his spurs.
“I’d be hopeful that retirement is a long way down the road. I couldn’t tell you if I want to become a trainer some day,” Barry says.
“I’d have to say Paul Townend is a super jockey. Davy Condon and Paddy Flood are obviously well on their way also. Peter Carberry, a brother of Paul’s, is a real good rider too.”
Life for some jockeys is clearly tough at the moment given financial circumstances but what about the strain of keeping their weight down, of trying maintain a social life and juggling a young family at the same time.
Barry’s wife, Paula, is a nutrionalist by profession which has its obvious advantages for a jockey.
“It definitely helps me out,” he admits. “I try to eat as healthy as possible. Picking the right foods is probably more important than quantity.”
“I’m so busy at the minute I haven’t had chance to go out with the lads on the lash. I leave that to the younger lads anyways.”
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