Hi,
This is probably a long shot as well, but does anyone know anything about my old boy, who used to P2P in Eire as "Direct Hit"? He's now 32 (!) and known as "Danny Boy". Boss thinks he's probably the oldest member of the ex-racers club :-)
In Ireland he'd been bought from a Farmer called Mr O'Reagan as a 3yo before going into training with P.P. Hogan. Apparently he was placed a number of times around 1978-81 and ridden by Ted Walsh and Enda Bolger; I think it was a tendon injury to the NF which put him out of racing.
From racing, he was sold into the UK and the next information I have is around 1989, when he was purchased from a Dealer in Ayrshire called George Babes by a Farmer called Mr. Cannon in Wigtownshire (Scotland) whose daughter Kirsty successfully did Pony Club competitions on him for about 4 years. I bought him from them in 1993, and we did well in Riding Club stuff until another leg injury slowed us down a bit!
He is now semi-retired but still enjoys a hack on good going, and won a Large Ridden Veteran cup at a show this summer, so he's still being successful.
If anyone remembers him and can help me fill in some of the gaps, I'd be really grateful! I don't have any memorabilia or photos of him from his racing days, and also don't know what he did between Ireland and Wigtown.
Fingers crossed!
I dont know the horse, but just wanted to say that George Babes is a very well known dealer, still up and running in the North. He sells international showjumping ponies now, so his contact details should be easy to find somewhere on the web. (just in case you wanted to get in touch with him to ask where he bought the horse from!)
Sorry I dont know anything about your lad, but I just want to say a big well done for being able to keep him fit and healthy at such a great age, thats fantastic
Hi
Firstly I have to join Marylou's Mum in saying well done for keeping him fit and healthy all these years - 32 is a fantastic age for any horse, let alone a thoroughbred!
I know PP Hogan is/was a prolific producer of point-to-pointerss in Ireland and used to sell them for a lot of money. I've checked my 'Horses in Training - 1978' manual which covers flat and NH horses in UK and Ireland and he is NOT listed in there so possibly wsa never actually in training, just went straight to pointing.
I would see if you can contact George Babes. I Googled his name and he is very active in the BSJA and must have children or relatives competing as there were lots of Babes in showjumping results. I also found his name mentioned several times in a forum where somebody was asking for reputable dealers in Scotland. His name came up several times favourably, having a reputation for selling good quality RC and showjumping horses.
Good luck. Would love to see a picutre of him.