Memories of racing at Tyrella in 1980s

Memories of racing at Tyrella in 1980s

6 May 2020

ONE of the late point-to-point meetings to take place prior to the lockdown was the popular East Down meeting at Tyrella.

With fans missing out on any form of horse racing at present, a look back at the East Down’s meeting on Saturday, March 19, 1983, should be of interest to those that love and miss the sport.

Acting stewards that day were Major W S Brownlow, Brian McNabb, Brian Fitzsimons and Frank Turley The honorary surgeons were Dr J Erwin, Mr Johnnie Boyd, Dr Welby Henry, Dr F Curran and Dr Jimmy Love.

The first race of the day was the confined hunt race with six of the ten entries going to post, and the 16/1 winner proving to be the grey mare Lisgarvan, owned by Ballynoe builder John Turley and trained by Jennifer Maxwell. The successful jockey was the late and sadly missed George Mernagh.

Garryhinch, owned by Mrs Grace Dunlop, of Killinchy, and ridden by Colin McBratney, finished second ahead of James Kelly’s Levedece, ridden by R Andrews.

Paul McMahony rode Joe Magee’s Islandmore while Kieran McLoughlin was on Tom Newsam’s Charlie Waterloo and Raymond Martin was on Billy McCluskey’s Red Peter.

The second race, the Elanco Chase Qualifier, went to Celtic Bay, owned, trained and ridden by Ards man Peter Mawhinney, from River Saint, owned, trained and ridden by Frankie Fitzsimons. Ronnie Duke’s Lucky Gem was third.

The third race of the day was the Rea’s Emporium Open race that saw ten go to post. Victory went to Wilson Dennison’s Let Him Go, ridden by Ivon Keeling, from John McCawley’s Veteran Nightmaster with his son Denis in the saddle.

Third past the judge, W H Montgomery, was Adam Turner’s Garland VI, ridden by his son John, whose sister Margaret also rode in the race.

She was on board Andy Pandy, which ran in the Grand National and was a long way clear before falling.

The fourth race was the Abbey Lodge Hotel Maiden race and it had to be divided. The first division was won by Harold Kirk’s Sir Owen, ridden by Tony Martin, with Fulleria second, ridden by Mike Todd, later the manager of Down Royal racecourse for many years. Vicar General and John Bryson were third.

The winner of the second division was Leonard Phillips Derryvore, ridden by his son, Michael, with Bonnety Bridge second, owned by Sara O’Hare’s mother and ridden by George Mernagh. Third home the David Law-ridden Ballyhock. Harold Kerr now buys horses for Willie Mullins.

Only three finished in the East Downshire Open Farmers race, victory going to The Attorney in the colours of Brian Hamilton, providing Jennifer Maxwell with a double, John Sleater being the successful rider of this one. Second home was Comber owner Dorothy Murdoch’s Castlewell, ridden by her husband Alex, with Master of Sands, owned and trained by Dromore’s George Wilson, third and ridden by Raymond Martin.

The final race on the card was the Maginn Bros 4 and 5 year old maiden and victory went to Tramps Dream, ridden by Comber electrician Millar O’Prey, who also played cricket for North Down.

Ballybentragh, in Wilson Dennison’s silks, took second ahead of Ballygowan owner Vincent Murray’s Mr Deeds, ridden by Paul McMahon. Sadly Millar passed away at an early age.

Neville Ring was the noted race reader at the meeting. Advertisers in the race card included the Dunmore Hotel, Killyleagh, which had just been bought by Eric Johnston and Mervyn Boyce of Ballygowan, Daft Eddy’s at Sketrick Island, near Killinchy, O’Reilly’s Bar & Restaurant, Dromara, M J McKay Chemist, Ballynahinch, Downpatrick Farm Equipment Ltd, O’Hare’s, Castlewellan, Ginesi’s Cafe, Ballynahinch, J & J Rea’s, Downpatrick, Stewart’s Motor Works, Downpatrick, Seaforde Inn, Kane of Comber, Slaney Inn, Raholp, William Laverty Butcher, Downpatrick, and T McGreevy Butcher, Downpatrick. Unlike these days there were no Southern owned or trained runners. In 1983 race cards cost 50 pence — they are now £4 or £5.

The red and white striped colours worn by the rider of Bonnety Bridge, belonging Mrs J Ferris of Newry, were also by Mark O’Hare when he rode Honeysuckle, the unbeaten mare and recent Cheltenham winner, to win her maiden point-to-point. Mark is married to Mrs Ferris’ daughter Sara, whose father, Don, had his only win on Bonnety Bridge at Tyrella.