OVER the years the Downpatrick area has produced many good jockeys with the likes of Anthony Dobbin, Paddy Vaughan, Gerard Tumelty, Declan Lavery, Brian Hamilton and Danny McMenamin to name a few.
On Tuesday of last week we may well have found another with Caoilin Quinn, the 18 year-old son of well known Downpatrick painter Mark Quinn.
Caoilin rode Sarim to victory in the 810 32 Red Amateur Riders race at Kempton Park.
The 10/1 shot trained is by Warren Greatrex, who Caoilin has been with for about a year.
This was Caoilin’s first ever racecourse ride and it was good that he had his father present to check him home.
Danny McMenamin also won on his first ride as an amateur. He then turned professional
and has been riding regular winners for lots of different trainers ever since his winning debut.
Caoilin will also turn professional in January and both he and Danny started out at Brian Hamilton’s Ballynoe stable, so hopefully Caoilin will be as successful as Danny.
Like McMenamin, Caoilin took part in pony racing prior to obtaining his amateur jockey’s licence. he rode over 30 winners, including three at the famous Dingle Festival, and he also
followed in his father’s footsteps as a very good Gaelic footballer.
Here’s hoping we hear a lot more about the latest local rider in the coming weeks.