The new Horse Racing Ireland Ownership colours campaign
focuses on the team aspect of the sport of racing. Many may question if Racing
is a Team Sport? However, apply Googles
definition of a team sport to racing, ‘any sport where
individuals are organised into opposing teams which
compete to win’, and it won’t take you long to realise the owner, trainer,
jockey, stable staff combination is one of the tightest knit teams in any
sport. A fiercely competitive team with a desire to win and a special bond ‘the
horse’ bringing them all together.Â
At the
centre of this team is the Owner. Like any sport it is the ‘colours’ or ‘strip’
that differentiate the teams in a match or in this case a race. Once the jockey
puts on the colours he is part of the owner’s team.
Seeing your
colours in the parade ring, following them throughout a race and if you’re
lucky enough see them flash past the winning post in front is a feeling like no
other. It is almost impossible to describe the adrenaline rush and emotion you
feel at that moment.Â
Donie O’Connell,
member of the Men of Forty Eight syndicate and All-Ireland medal winning
Tipperary Hurler describes ‘the buzz, the
thrill, your heart thumping like being in the height of an All-Ireland final’.
Owner Barry
Maloney says ‘The excitement and
adrenaline rush and being part of the journey is just so different, you won’t
experience it in any other sport, it is unique.’ Â
For Rich
Richie ‘having that win and being part of
the team is what makes racing great’ and for owner and Leeds football fan, Steve
Parkin, ‘the thrill of his horse winning is
bigger than Leeds United winning the champions league.’Â
However you
describe it, win lose or draw there is a pride for your horse, your trainer,
the jockey, the stable staff, for your team, that makes racing one of the most
special team sports in the world. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The colours
campaign gives you the opportunity to design and win your very own set of
colours. The winning colours will be registered for life. Once you have your
colours you just need to find your team and enjoy the thrill. Â Â https://www.racehorseownership.ie/teamcolours/
Amber Byrne | Owner Development Manager at Horse Racing Ireland Ownership
Published 7th February 2019