Cathy Gannon: ‘I used to ride my pony to school, tie him up and ride him back’
No woman rider has been apprentice champion in Ireland since Gannon. Nobody has come close. She beat the odds
Horse racing
Energumene returns to action in style with third Hilly Way success in Cork
Willie Mullins star cut to 5/1 to pull off another hat-trick in Champion Chase at Cheltenham
Festive plans for star McManus chasers could be clearer next week
Fact To File, Spillane’s Tower and Corbetts Cross all excelled as novices last term
Ex-trainer points to ‘pressure from Europe’ as possible route to improving welfare standards
Ger Hussey has no regrets about about going public with proposals to address wastage rates in racing
Energumene on course to make long-awaited return to action in Hilly Way
Ireland’s champion jockey Colin Keane takes part in international jockeys challenge at Happy Valley track in Hong Kong
Golfing aces hoping to be on a par with home runners at Fairyhouse
Harry Derham is hoping to see Givemefive give a good account when he travels to Ireland for the WillowWarm Hurdle
Racing’s bittersweet progress makes popular underdog success stories unlikely
Modern jump racing has become too hardnosed to allow feelgood stories such as Danoli, Limestone Lad and Solerina
Fact To File clear Gold Cup favourite after exciting Durkan finish signals changing of the guard
Willie Mullins star beats Spillane’s Tower by half a length with reigning dual-Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in third
Vintage Durkan clash in prospect at star studded ‘Premiere Weekend’ in Punchestown
Farcical scenario in Saturday’s Grade Two as all three runners owned by Michael O’Leary and trained by Gordon Elliott
Irish star Auguste Rodin to receive historic retirement ceremony after his final race in Japan Cup
Aidan O’Brien runner joined by French hope Goliath and Germany’s Fantastic Moon in attempt to end 18-year run of Japanese dominance
Racing’s reaction to coverage of Cheltenham deaths shows worrying insecurity about nature of the sport
Scrutiny isn’t the problem for racing: being able to stand over what it reveals is what counts
Willie Mullins set to take wraps off some of his biggest stars at Punchestown
Top three in Cheltenham Gold Cup betting set to clash in vintage John Durkan Chase as winter weather sets in
Fact To File could head formidable JP McManus team into John Durkan test
Grade One winners Inothewayurthinkin and Spillane’s Tower also set to ‘tog out’ for Sunday’s €150,000 Punchestown feature
Top amateur Derek O’Connor to team up with Fastorslow for John Durkan Chase at Punchestown
Regular jockey JJ Slevin aiming to return from foot injury before Christmas action begins
Gordon Elliott aiming to maintain Troytown dominance with strong team topped by American Mike
Bob Olinger back to defend Lismullen Hurdle on day one of Navan Racing Festival
Ex-trainer says Horse Racing Ireland response to plan for retired racehorses is ‘discouraging’
Ger Hussey calls on high-profile names within racing to publicly back his plan for centralised hub to tackle problem
Consolidation of Irish racing’s charity sector urged by injured jockeys’ body
Irish Injured Jockeys says Mazars report into €350k transfer underlines how there are too many separate funds
Ryan Moore confident Japan Cup hope Auguste Rodin can be competitive in final career start
Aidan O’Brien’s 2023 Derby hero set to be joined in Tokyo by French star Goliath and Germany’s Fantastic Moon
Marine Nationale returns to action in Grade Three Naas highlight
Former dual-Stayers Hurdle champion Flooring Porter out for rest of season after injury setback
Willie Mullins already planning for next year after disappointing Melbourne Cup
Both Vauban and Absurde finish out of the frame as champion trainer turns attention back to domestic action
Meet Robbie Dolan: Irish man who went from The Voice Australia contestant to winning country’s biggest race on a 90/1 shot
The Kildare man first came to Australians’ attention as a singer but will now be forever linked with the country’s most famous race
Willie Mullins weighing up Galopin Des Champs’ return to action
Jack Kennedy has three rides at Fairyhouse as champion jockey makes comeback from suspension
Auguste Rodin in contention to try and give O’Brien breakthrough success in Japan
Ireland’s only Japan Cup winner was the Frank Dunne-owned and trained Stanerra in 1983
Irish geneticist’s software aims to keep harmful effects of thoroughbred inbreeding in check
Equine researcher says relentless search to exploit fastest horses’ qualities has led to potentially damaging narrowing of gene pool
Ground conditions may prove crucial to outcome of first Grade One of National Hunt season at Down Royal
Complimentary entry to the Curragh on Sunday for final programme of 2024 flat campaign
Hewick added to €150,000 Grade One highlight at Down Royal ahead of ‘Shark’ Hanlon suspension
Aidan O’Brien turns to Frankie Dettori for some of his Breeders' Cup runners in Del Mar
Aidan O’Brien closing in on becoming most successful trainer at Breeders’ Cup
Irishman’s tally of 18 Breeders Cup victories only two behind renowned US trainer D Wayne Lukas
Clean sweep for Irish juveniles in weekend Group Ones as Twain enters next year’s Guineas picture
Joseph O’Brien lands three-runner Criterium De Saint-Cloud with Tennessee Stud a day after old rival Hotazhell wins Futurity
A set number of strikes is required to limit use of the whip by jockeys
Irish jockey Jamie Powell unfortunate to be the one to underline how British racing’s whip rules do what it says on the tin
Paddy Smullen teams up with Dermot Weld for Curragh ‘Amateur Derby’ ride
Former Irish St Leger hero Sonnyboyliston now trained by Charles Byrnes and set for first run since 2022
Gordon Elliott in pursuit of ‘National’ glory on both sides of the Atlantic
Galvin and Jack Kennedy line up for $250,000 American Grand National in Far Hills
Ground conditions again prove central element in Champions Day conclusion to cross-channel flat campaign
Aidan O’Brien pitches Arc third Los Angeles against Economics and Calandagan in Champion Stakes
Gambling law fails to tackle key fears, betting giant claims
Legislation establishing an independent regulator passed this week
Shrugging shoulders at Irish racing’s ‘wastage’ rate won’t cut it anymore
Ex-trainer Ger Hussey poised to deliver his proposal to authorities about system for dealing with horses after they stop racing
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