TV Presenter for ITV Racing and Equidia. SAG Media - freelance journalist between Ireland, UK, France. Founder
@ThoroughbrdTale
. Racing to School Ambassador
Overheard conversation between two older women leaving cinema after A Star Is Born...โYou know she is actually a famous singer in real life,but I donโt think Lady Gaga is her real nameโ
Out of interest...would any racegoers out there be interested in being part of an online community to organise meet ups with like minded people at the races when youโre flying solo?
Was dreading doing this live this morning but hopefully did Pat and his family justice. Not that much could be added to all the wonderful tributes already made by people both in and outside of racing.
Pat was one of a kind and will never be replaced or forgotten
"His legacy will go on for a long time" -
@sagrassick
Pat Smullen: 1977 - 2020
An amazing ambassador to the sport, taken too soon
Watch LIVE
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@ITV4
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Wonder did the Irish Examiner ever think there may have been a reason that random racegoer had such an interest in the Cheltenham Gold Cupโฆsomething to do with her Best Mate perhapsโฆ
Overwhelmed by reaction to my earlier tweet and in quick response, myself and some other industry professionals have created
@StandUp4Racing
with objective of correcting misinformation about our sport on social media.
We want industry organisations to join with us now and act
Two years ago I was sat in hospital beside Mark Walsh after he broke his leg at Cheltenham,last year we were celebrating his first Cheltenham winner and today he just won the Champion Hurdle...
Racing is a funny game but Iโm so proud of him for showing world how talented he is!
The world would be a better place if there were a lot more people like him but unfortunately thereโs only one Danny Mullins
@dan2231
however luckily for racing heโs all ours!
Couldnโt be prouder of representing him with SAG Media, exciting times!
This might just be the cutest thing Iโve ever seen but I feel terrible at how sad my 3 year old nephew sounded when I didnโt say hello back to him on
@itvracing
today ๐ฅ
Special day as Gr1 winner Sporting John retired from racing and returned home to
@GrangeHillStud
where he was born and raised.
Huge thanks to JP McManus and to teams at
@PJHobbs1
& Martinstown Stud for looking after him so well during his racing career. Exciting times ahead!
Racing needs a proper spokesperson, like
@KickUpForRacing
in Australia, to be our voice and correct the misinformation spread by such groups on television and social media around events like the Grand National
The campaign group Animal Rising plans to 'disrupt' the Grand National on Saturday, calling on animal lovers to 'turn up' and 'make their voices heard'.
But would this protest cause more harm than good?
They say you should never meet your heroes, well if
@rachaelblackmor
is yours then you most definitely should! A reminder of the drawing 6yo fan Ailbhe
@kildare_18
did last year during lockdown and Rachaelโs reply sent through the
@ThoroughbrdTale
initiative
#racinghero
An emotional evening taking a walk down memory lane of my time as pupil assistant to the great John Dunlop. So sad to see once one of the most prestigious yards in the country now so unloved
Heartbreaking news from France that 21 year old jockey Romane Brizard has died as a result of her injuries from a fall at Blain-Bouvron-Le-Gavre. Thoughts are with her family, friends and her colleagues at Pierre Fertilletโs yard
#TousPourRomane
Itโs been a tough few days for everyone in racing so in the spirit of
@ThoroughbrdTale
I am going to share some positive photos of the care and love that goes on behind the scenes of our wonderful sport and I hope you all will too and use
#LoveTheRacehorse
Very lucky to visit Martinstown today and get to meet some of their stars on summer holidays but the highlight was of course seeing the legend that is Istabraq again. He looks incredible for 31 years of age and is a testament to how well the team there look after him
The wait is finally overโฆ car packed to the brim with coats, boots and of course all of the woolly hats and on the road early to
#CheltenhamFestival
for
@itvracing
In case you missed this on
@itvracing
last week, watch me buy a horse
@Tattersalls1766
auction live on camera!
Thinking of doing more pieces like these to show behind the scenes of racing and breeding industry if people would be interested in watching them?
Love this photo I took this morning of Espoir DโAllen looking down the Cheltenham hill that he conquered by a record breaking 15 lengths in the Champion Hurdle the day before
Itโs been a very difficult week but now on my way to
@ayrracecourse
for my first visit for
@itvracing
tomorrow and brought something along to help make the journey a little easier...
The Treadwells were like second family to me when I moved to John Dunlopโs yard as teenager. Liam was always a genuine,lovely guy and I was lucky to know him.
You never know what someoneโs going through but I hope heโs at peace now. Thoughts are with his family and many friends
Sad to hear that my beloved Footpad is heading to the States. I will miss this brave horse so much but Iโm sure we will meet again soon. Best of luck to his new connections. Cheltenham wonโt be same this year without him posing for photos at every chance
@simon_munir
Itโs been a while since I bored you all with my photos of Thousand Stars so here you go! Stars and
@katiewalsh9
trialing horseback interviews for
@RTEracing
today
@LeopardstownRC
Still as handsome as ever and disgusted Iโd no carrots for him!
#drf
Itโs early days at Royal Ascot on
@itvracing
The Opening Show but Wesley Wardโs pony Circa is already a strong contender for my favourite horse of the week
How the week startedโฆhow this morning startedโฆhow today finished! Thanks to
@McConnellRacing
for not putting me off my hunch and making me look like a tipping genius on
@itvracing
Thank you so much to
@mjyharris
for this beautiful photo of me and Majborough having a moment after his win while groom
@amamoro
switched horses for the next race
iPhones didnโt exist when I rode my first ever racehorse at John Oxxโs yard but I owe the Boss everything for the chance he gave a naive 16 year old and all he taught me during my many years riding out for him. Many happy memories and some great friends made along the way
What a great idea from
@IrishNatStud
to have the Living Legends on parade for an hour before racing
@punchestownrace
this week with students and staff on hand to answer questions and buckets of carrots to keep everyone happy!
For future reference
@ChampionsSeries
, the breeder of a thoroughbred is never โunknownโ even if bred in such a foreign land as France. A quick look at
@RacingPost
would provide necessary information. Breeders are vital to our sport so give them due credit especially in a Gr1
Itโs been a tough 48 hours personally but not helped by some of the horrific comments I have read on here about some close friends either.
Rule of thumb: if you wouldnโt say it to someoneโs face then donโt tweet it about them
Thank you to all the stable staff, trainers, jockeys and horses who made this week so special and my job on
@itvracing
so much easier. Still find it hard to believe that I get to call hanging out with so many two and four legged stars โworkโ but long may it continue!
Saw St Marks Basilica this morning at Ballydoyle and he was retired by this evening...not sure Iโll be invited back anytime soon!
Lining mares up to visit him
@coolmorestud
though as he is one impressive looking horse
This is great example for us all of importance in getting young people interested in racing for future of our sport. This is why we need ideas like
@RacingtoSchool
@ThoroughbrdTale
and
@HRIRacing
Go Racing Kids Club.
Where would
@TomMarquand
be if he hadnโt won those tickets!
In past 10 days I have worked at race meetings in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales for
@itvracing
and
@RTEracing
.Have loved every single day in its own way and I've been reminded yet again what a great sport racing is,to think I actually get paid to do this!
#dreamjob
I hope I will have half Mrs Mullinsโ wit, style and energy when Iโm half her age. The First Lady of Irish racing, her presence will be much missed at Cheltenham this year and every year. This is my favourite of many wonderful stories about her as told by grandson Patrickโฆ
.
@GardaTraffic
Iโm fed up of dangerous drivers using country roads as shortcuts. Man just accelerated at me when I was on horseback and asked him to slow down,then became abusive+aggressive.Can dangerous drivers be prosecuted from โdash camโ footage if riders were to wear them?
I couldnโt be happier for my ski buddy Emmet of the Macโs!!
I roared
@emmet_mac
home a week ago when he was close second in the Irish Derby and it was only a matter of time until he got the big race success he deserved.
Couldnโt have happened to a nicer guy!
Olivier Peslier; my childhood idol who became employer, landlord, co work rider & most importantly great friend. Couldnโt sum up how much he means to me in a post so here is my favourite memory, us both smiling as I pass him to win Journalist Race in Chantilly (he was the leader)
Finally back home after the most amazing week with
@itvracing
. It felt so good to be back at Cheltenham and in my happy place on the track every morning with the equine heroes and hardworking stable staff. Thanks to all of them and The Opening Show team for making my job so easy
Christmas came early
@Ascot
today! Iโve waited almost three years to do winning interview on
@itvracing
with
@JohnnyBurke2
but it finally happened in our last televised race before Christmas. Hereโs to many more, theyโll all be well deserved!
5 hour round trip to bring mare to be covered today,stopped at 5
@GardaTraffic
checkpoints with polite&friendly guards at every single one. Highlights being recognised as โSally Ann off
@itvracing
โ at one and kind person bringing coffee&pastries to guards at checkpoint in rain
Today is normally my favourite day of year and right now Iโd be walking laps of Cheltenham parade ring with the rest of
@WillieMullinsNH
team.
This yearโs Festival is far from โnormalโ but at least I can enjoy it some how through
@ThoroughbrdTale
host
@FrancescaJane_x
(๐ฅฐFootpad)
Best news all year, a full 90 minutes each morning of the Cheltenham Festival of me running around in a bobble hat and boots harassing trainers and stable staff live on
@itvracing
!
I never got to know Malcolm Jefferson but the reaction from everyone involved with Waiting Patiently today made me wish I had.I have known Brian Hughes a long time and it takes a lot to make an Ulsterman emotional but being down at winning post with him was a special moment
Can we stop wishing happy birthday to racehorses on Twitter throughout the spring,itโs starting to get ridiculous. The standardised birthday for all thoroughbreds in the Northern Hemisphere is 1st January
I loved seeing the emotion of JP MacManus after todayโs Irish National success
@Fairyhouse
I hope I still love the game as much as he does in 40 years time!
Cancer darkens nearly everyoneโs door at some stage so can I ask that we all PLEASE try in some way to help
@cancertrials_ie
. And Iโll start by donating all my riding fees from
@IrishChampsWknd
to this worthy cause.
@irishkor
you better get me plenty.
#letskickcancerass
Still struggling to find the words to come close to summing up how Iโm feeling at the moment but will leave this here for anyone who would like to participate in Patโs funeral on Zoom this Friday
What an amazing few days
@CheltenhamRaces
to kick off the jump season for me. Thank you as ever to the jockeys and stable staff for making my role so easy and to all
@itvracing
team for making it so much fun.
No surprise that Sporting John was my number 1 of the meeting ๐ฅฐ
Looks like The New One knows exactly where he is! Looking forward to seeing him parade later
@haydockraces
ahead of the race he won 4 times thatโs now named in his honour live on
@itvracing
I love Cheltenham,I really love Cheltenham,I really do love Cheltenham...but I despise packing for 4 days of Festival plus Sandown beforehand,Uttoxeter after,2 days of leading out for Willie Mullins and a christening to top it all off.Brain is officially fried ๐คฆ๐ปโโ๏ธ
Ever since my super mare Sorry Woman gave birth to a beautiful colt by Profitable
@NewtownStud
last night, this is my new favourite form of entertainment. God bless technology!
No offence to Helen or many other people tweeting on this subject but I find it so frustrating that
@ThoroughbrdTale
has existed for over year yet so few racing media/journalists have supported and promoted it to wider audience when there is so clearly an appetite for our message
Always thought need to do a DETAILED account of how a racehorse is looked after ... a proper real time 24 hr dedicated show from the morning they go on the gallops to the night time feed ... easily done just need to show how much horses are loved โค๏ธ๐
@itvracing
@mickfitzg
Loved every second of my three days on
@itvracing
at Royal Ascot doing paddock walks and The Opening Show while wearing
@Hobbs_London
. Thank you for all the lovely messages.
Now for a day off work to cheer on Flotus and Sydneyarms Chelsea!
Not all trainers will be able to do this obviously for their own financial reasons but big effort from Mick Easterby for his owners at a difficult time
8 years ago Pat Smullen lifted this trophy after winning the
@ayrracecourse
Gold Cup on Captain Ramius, bought by my late father as a foal for long time family friend Clodagh McStay. It seems fitting to be here this week of all weekโs for
@itvracing
@OaklawnStud
@mcstayagent
Great to come home from Haydock last night for a first cuddle of many with my new foal,a full brother to "The Prince" by Starspangledbanner. He will have a long way to go to replace his older brother but be warned there will be a lot of photos of him over next few months!
I learnt so much from John Dunlop as his pupil assistant at Castle Stables and my familyโs involvement goes back much further than that to the happy days of Millenary,Leggera,Snowfire,Let The Lion Roar. My thoughts are with all the Dunlop family. Rest in peace Guvโnor
Loving the love for
@ThoroughbrdTale
and all the new followers! If you have enjoyed the week of even one of these past guest hosts then please share this photo in a tweet to your followers and encourage them to follow TT. It is only way we can spread our message to right audience
Happy New Year to the more than 8,000 followers of
@ThoroughbrdTale
, my wish is that many more join you in supporting our positive message about the racing and breeding industry in 2021
#ThoroughbredTales
To people getting up in arms about my tweet,I wasnโt wrestling calves for is part of life on every cattle ranch to vaccinate and castrate calves.Meat doesnโt just magically appear on a plate.Thats all Iโll say so unfollow but donโt waste your time replying
This can only mean one thing... time to get back to work
@itvracing
for the jumps season!
And what better way to do it than with my first ever day working for ITV on Irish soil
@ClonmelR
with a great dayโs racing in store!