It was a memorable win for Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee, who guided home an astonishing seven winners at another successful Galway Racing Festival.
Billy, one of the most popular riders in the weigh room, easily secured the top flat rider prize and was two wins clear in the jockeys’ title standings after the Bank Holiday Weekend.
One of the wins was with the well-fancied Thread of Gold for top trainer Willie Mullins in the valuable Guinness Handicap.
Also, Athea trainer Eoin McCarthy enjoyed the biggest win of his fledgling career, courtesy of ‘Shadow Paddy’ (5/2f) in the Grade 3 Novice Chase.
It was a third win on the spin for this gelding, which was given an intelligent ride by Gary Noonan of Newcastle West.
Eoin said: “It is this dream you are chasing the whole time and Ella, my second child, had a tear in her eye leading him in and another daughter Clodagh is the same.”
The Complete Package Syndicate of Knocklong are the owners, and stole the show in the winners’ enclosure.
“These are real racing owners and I can’t thank them enough as they follow him everywhere. I was so nervous all morning so I’m buzzing now as this horse doesn’t understand the weight on his shoulders. I have big aspirations for him and this is what we do it for.”
Syndicate-leader Paddy McAuliffe (Kilmallock), a lifelong racing fan and former publican/bookmaker and county councillor, said: “I had a horse previously with Eoin who was jointly-owned by my late brother (Phil, Athlacca) and he won three times.
“I then bought this horse for €10,000 and, by the following morning, I had 11 members involved. I left them all in and I’m delighted, thrilled.”
The winners’ prize was a handy €25,000.
Meanwhile, Michael Lynch has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer at Limerick Racecourse.
He had been in the position since spring 2024.
Limerick’s next main action is its two-day Munster National Meeting in October.