'Flappers' throwing up some big names The pony racing scene continues to throw up fresh names and faces and among this year’s long list to grace the ‘flapping’ world is Finny (Finian) Maguire, 13 year old son of former jockey turned trainer Adrian Maguire. Maguire Snr, who himself partnered over 200 winners pony racing before going on to bigger things, has seen a transformation in his son’s (a cousin of Grand National winning jockey Jason Maguire) interest levels in the sport recently. He says “I remember once telling my wife Sabrina that ‘we won’t have any worries about Finny coming home broke up’ as he had no interest in ponies at the time but that all changed about a year ago!” “His friends got into the ponies and then he began to like them too. I was nine when I started pony racing but I can’t believe how much Finny has ‘switched on’ to it recently. “He has improved dramatically and, having had four rides on a hunting pony last year, has ridden seven winners this year. Davy Keane very kindly loaned us two good ponies and both have won for Finny.” “Finny has ridden in a few ‘open’ horse races this year too and hopefully he can build on that next year. I rode over 200 flapping winners, mainly in the midlands and north of the country, and there is no better foundation to any boy or girl aspiring to be a jockey.” Regarding his own return to the saddle when third in the Veterans’ Race at Bellewstown recently, Maguire adds “I tried to ‘nick it’ from the front but didn’t fool Conor (O’Dwyer) who was all bright eyed and bushy tailed and came and beat us! “It was good fun and I was delighted to finish third though I would have preferred to have jumped a fence too! I’ve been invited, by Bob Champion, to ride in the Bob Champion Race at the Aintree Festival on Grand National Day next year and would love to ride in the race.” While Maguire Jnr has a few years of flapping to content with, a name soon to graduate away from the scene is Pat O’Donnell, son of the trainer of the same name, who trained a Cheltenham winner with Chance Coffey in 1995. His father, trainer Pat O’Donnell stated “Pat is getting his jockeys’ license next month for Flat racing and will be apprenticed to trainer Tommy Stack. He currently is in a cast having chipped his radius bone but won’t be out of action for too long.” “Pat has been hunting since he was able to walk but only started pony racing late enough, starting two years ago with two winners, one of which was at Dingle. “He was always too heavy to ride in pony races but was lucky enough this year to get the job as David Keane’s stable jockey and has now ridden 28 winners. With just two meetings left, he is now in the position that he is likely to win the Southern Horses Championship. “He will continue his education at Glenstal Abbey but being in transition year now gives him an opportunity to ride out as much as he can at Stack’s. We hadn’t really considered an apprentice license until this year when he started to concentrate more on the pony racing. “His weight is in the lap of the gods but this year he has managed to keep it under 8st so weights shouldn’t limit him too much for the next year or two on the Flat." Another ‘flapping’ rider doing well is Conor King, who despite having no relations involved in racing, has impressed many during the year. Fifteen year old King was leading pony rider last year and has over 40 winners ridden in total. The teenager, who currently rides out for Mick Lee (father of jockey Bill Lee) in Co Limerick, currently lies in third place in the overall Jockeys’ Championship. Thomas Weekes
