Terry Casey

I'm from Southill, Co Limerick and I always had a few ponies and a few cobs. My dad, Willie Casey, was a professional fighter and a European Super Bantamweight Champion (2010). I used to box away in the amateurs when I was younger. I won Limerick, Munster and Irish titles at boxing when I was 14. My brother Myles actually fought for Ireland in the European Championships in Bulgaria when he was 16. My father is a boxing coach, and I'd always try and get down to the boxing club and do a bit of training, but I haven't competed in about five years. I always wanted to be in sports - I played soccer as well and was useful, but I leaned more towards the horses when I was getting a bit older. My father has always been a big supporter of mine and as long as I was doing something, he was happy. I went through the Moyross Youth Academy Equine Programme. They came to my school when I was in Fifth Class. They were looking for people who had an interest in horses to see if they wanted to get into racing or work with horses. I took the opportunity as I always had an interest in horses. They would come once a week on a Wednesday and I'd get out of school to go to Quin, near Ennis, where they had cobs and ponies. They taught me the basics in terms of looking after a horse and how to ride in a saddle. It really built my interest. Wesley Joyce, who is from around the same area, went through that programme as well - he was a few years before me.

I was going out on work experience in school and told the lads in the programme that I wanted to learn how to ride racehorses, so the lads got on to Eric McNamara in Rathkeale which is only about half an hour from me. I was there every summer riding out and the lads out there were a big help to me too. When I was riding out in Eric's I really got the bug for it and I wanted to get my licence, so I went to RACE (Racing Academy and Centre of Education, Kildare) for a year. When RACE shut down, I had to come home and there was a job with Michael Mulvany, so I moved up to him. I was apprenticed to him for two years.

My first winner was on Duke Of Leggagh for Michael in an apprentice handicap at Roscommon in May last year. I had a good few seconds before that, so to get over the line on one of Michael's horses was brilliant. There would be a bit of relief in there as well. I never did pony racing, so I just got thrown in at the deep end straight away. Wesley rode a winner that evening as well. It was a couple of races beforehand (Gangsta Man). Wesley was in Mulvany's with me and he's still there. He looked after me for the two years I was up there which was a big help. He's ridden a good few winners now. I left Michael just after Christmas, there was no falling out or anything. I just got a job in Danny Murphy's. It is nice to still ride for Michael and I had two winners last week (Nephin Mountain in Ballinrobe and Dinamine at Naas) for him which I was delighted about. It was nice to get them. Michael was very good to me for the two years; he gave me plenty of rides and opportunities.

I'm in Danny's about two or three months now. I saw a post that Danny was looking for an apprentice. I gave him a ring, and he told me to come up on the Monday morning to see how we got on. I've been there since and I have been lucky enough to ride a winner for him (Sovereign Cry, Naas). I'm on six winners now including five for Michael. Danny is a good man to learn off as he has been there and done it as a jockey. He rode a lot of winners, and I'd always ask him for advice. He would always help you to bring you on. I'm in Danny's every morning riding out lots. His Eclairage is a very fast filly, and she would be the best horse I've sat on. She would be a hardy filly. If you do take a pull on her, she could run her race before she gets to the line. I was just pipped on her in a good race at Navan (May). It was her first race of the season, and it was one of my first rides for Danny. Navan is a stiff finish for her, and she just got caught close to the line, but it was a big run from her.

I haven't been getting that many outside rides, I've just been picking up a few here and there. Now that I'm after riding a few winners, I'd be hoping to kick on from there and try and get going - I'd be open to more outside rides. I love riding the horses out, but there is no better feeling than when you ride a winner. Winners push me on; you get more and more hungry for winners. They keep me driving on. The more rides you get, the more experienced you become, and the better you will get in the saddle. It's a tough old game and you have to be really interested in it. If you are interested in it, it is great, though. You get to work with horses every day - you get to ride them out, look after them and feed them. That's all I really wanted to do. It is my dream job which makes it easy getting up in the mornings when you know you are getting to do something you love.

Terry was in conversation with Michael Graham.

If you would like your racing story featured in this blog, please email [email protected]

About Michael Graham

Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

View Latest Articles by Michael Graham