McCoy tells of sadness as racecourse he rode first winner at announces closure
Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Don Cossack and Sizing John both won at the track, as did dual Ryanair Chase victor Allaho.
Thurles also provided Rachael Blackmore with her first ever winner, as it did AP McCoy.
'Thurles will always be a special place for me," said William Hill ambassador McCoy. "It's where I rode my first winner back in 1992 aboard Legal Steps, a second-string of Jim Bolger's, riding against the likes of Christy Roche and Mick Kinane. It's sad that it's closing, because I always used to think it was 'the only all-weather track in Ireland', because they'd race there no matter what the weather was like!
'It's very sad to see any racecourse closing, and it's just a sad day. You've had plenty of good horses winning there over the years, and the likes of Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott were never afraid to send their best horses to the track. You obviously had Don Cossack, Allaho, and Sizing John win there over the years, and that's just a testament to the place.
'Rachael Blackmore rode her first winner there too, and it was one of my favourite tracks in Ireland due to having ridden my first winner there. It's a loss to Irish racing and it's never good to see a track close.'
Willie Mullins recorded more than 250 winners at the venue and told of his shock at the immediate closure.
He told the PA news agency: "It was a major shock this morning to hear the news. It will be a huge blow for Irish racing, more specifically Irish jump racing and winter jump racing.
"Thurles is a track that always had beautiful ground in the winter when other tracks couldn't.
"It's the last family-run track in Ireland, I believe. Pierce Molony ran it for years, his father ran it before him and Riona and family have run it since Pierce died and they've been fantastic for the Irish jump fraternity over the years."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
7 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
'I hate Plan Bs': O'Brien's eyes fixed firmly on Rijeka
Europa League third round; Rijeka v Shelbourne, Stadion HNK Rijeka - Weds, 7.45pm Irish time. Plan Bs are for strategists that don't include Joey O'Brien. Shelbourne's manager sees Rijeka, instead of potentially Linfield, as the team to beat for the Reds to secure a maiden European league phase participation. The Croatian double-winners his team faces in the coastal city of Rijeka have form in that regard, reaching the Europa group stages four times between 2014 and 2021. Ludogorets tumbled them back into that eyeline with an extra-time 3-1 Champions League victory last week. Defeat came with a deeper cost of losing two influential attackers, Gabriel Rukavina and Toni Fruk, to red cards and suspension for this first leg. They'll still fancy accounting for the Irish visitors over a tie which concludes next Tuesday at Tolka Park. Managed by former Montenegrin international Radomir Đalović and captained by Bosnia Herzegovina goalkeeper Martin Zlomislić, their squad is a cross-section of nationalities spawned from the former Yugoslavia. The cascading nature of the champions path presents Shels with another shot at the Conference League group if their mission fails. It would probably entail a derby match against Linfield, or more succinctly a rematch after the League of Ireland prevailed in the first All-Island clash last month. Former Ireland international O'Brien is aware of the permutations from Monday's draw, without letting the minds of his players wander towards future possibilities. While Shels players have highlighted the kudos and financial rewards from having six extra games in the next phase, their singular focus on getting there is through the Europa. 'I spoke to the players and I said I hate Plan Bs,' he asserted. 'If you think about Plan B, blah, blah, blah, you take your eye off the ball. You play safe and you play as if it's not too big a deal. 'This is it for us. This is the game we want to attack and this is the tie we want to win.' Shels may have Conor Kearns returning in goal. He limped off in the second, away leg against Linfield to be replaced by Lorcan Healy and then new capture Wessel Speel but could be fit to resume. Qarabag, another team with European pedigree, inflicted a 4-0 defeat on Shels in the second round and O'Brien was loath to offer an opinion on how this test compares. 'It's hard to say because, looking at them from the Ludogorets game, they were the better team and should have won that tie. 'We're prepared for a tough game but there's only so much we can talk about the opposition. It's about players knowing that while we'll have to suffer for times without the ball, biting down the gumshield at times to get through them, we've to make the most of our spells in possession. 'We were guilty last week against Qarabag of too many cheap turnovers, especially in the first half. If you keep giving away possession against this calibre of team, they'll pin you in, the momentum is with them for chances and it's a long night.'
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Luxembourg axe star man Gerson Rodrigues after controversial appearance at home to Ireland
Their manager Luc Holtz had already paid the price for his role in the episode by being denied a contract extension. Ireland's friendly in Luxembourg in June was marked by protests from home supporters at the presence of Rodrigues in the side, their second home friendly of that June window. He had been convicted of a domestic abuse charge and was given an 18-month suspended sentence but politicians and women's rights groups there protested at the fact he was being selected. Irish fans in the stadium joined in the protests, with travelling supporters from Ireland displaying the red card and booing any time Rodrigues touched the ball. Long-serving coach Holtz had defended, before the game and in the aftermath, his call to select the player saying there was no legal block on his selection. Last month the Luxembourg FA decided, after a 'thorough analysis' of the matter, not to extend Holtz's contract when his current deal runs out in December, though they plan for him to be in charge for World Cup qualifiers, including a date with Northern Ireland. The FLF also apologised to a local journalist who had been barred from attending a press conference over his coverage of the affair. And now they have stated that Rodrigues – who has since moved to a club in Thailand – will not be selected for national team duty. They begin their World Cup campaign at home to Northern Ireland next month. 'The image of the Luxembourg football institution and all its members has been affected by the 'Gerson Rodrigues affair'. We would like to point out that the reputation of the Federation and its members is above any individuality and sporting considerations,' the FLF said. 'Despite the advice and recommendations that the Federation officials tried to give to the player concerned, he did not respond favourably. 'Consequently, the board of directors has decided that the aforementioned player is no longer eligible for selection until further notice for future international matches of the national team.'
Extra.ie
4 hours ago
- Extra.ie
SAIPAN to have world premiere at major global film festival
One of 2025's most anticipated Irish films has finally gotten its world premiere date. SAIPAN, which tells the story of the infamous feud between Republic of Ireland football captain Roy Keane and national team manager Mick McCarthy during preparations for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, will celebrate its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) next month. The flick will be screening as part of the Centrepiece programme which recognises the best of international cinema. Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane in SAIPAN. Pic: WildCard Distribution The hugely anticipated film about the infamous confrontation sees Éanna Hardwicke take on the role of Roy Keane while Mick McCarthy is played by Steve Coogan. The film joins the lineup for TIFF's landmark 50th edition, which will run from 4 – 14 September. Speaking about the world premiere, directors Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn said: 'Having premiered our last film Ordinary Love at TIFF we are thrilled to be returning with Saipan and are so honoured to be included in the stellar TIFF 50 line up. It is such a special festival to screen and watch films and TIFF audiences are the very best.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@extradotie) The official synopsis for the film reads: 'SAIPAN is the thrilling story of football player Roy Keane and his manager Mick McCarthy, and the events leading up to Ireland's incendiary 2002World Cup campaign. 'The intense rivalry between these two personalities transcended the game, gripping an entire nation and the sporting world. On the surface, the feud was all about standards, but deep down it was a hugely emotive story of two men whose rivalry and contempt came to surpass the sport they loved. This is the definitive account of one of the most fractious fallings-out in the history of sport.' Directed by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Barros D'Sa and Glenn Leyburn and based on an original script by Paul Fraser (Heartlands, A Room for Romeo Brass), SAIPAN stars BAFTA nominated Éanna Hardwicke (Lakelands, The Sixth Commandment)as Roy Keane, with two-time Academy Award® nominee Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Reckoning) as Mick McCarthy. Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy in SAIPAN. Pic: WildCard Distribution Supporting cast includes Alice Lowe (Sightseers), Jamie Beamish (Derry Girls), Alex Murphy (The Young Offenders), Harriet Cains (Bridgerton)and Peter McDonald (The Batman). The film is produced by Macdara Kelleher and John Keville for Wild Atlantic Pictures (Evil Dead Rise, Cocaine Bear, Black 47) along with Trevor Birney and Oliver Butler for Fine Point Films (Kneecap, No Stone Unturned) with Patrick O'Neill, Rachael O'Kane, Rupert Preston and Ed Caffrey serving as Executive Producers. Last year, it was revealed that a mansion on Belfast's northside was used for filming, with the location set up as the house of McCarthy. Producers Kelleher and Keville previously said: 'A million words have been written about what happened on that fateful week in 2002 on the tiny island of Saipan. 'Next year, audiences will finally get to experience first-hand the feud between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy and why it was labelled 'the worst preparation for a World Cup campaign ever.''
