Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) launched a unique book and audio archive recounting ‘The Lives and Times of Irish Racing People’ at a reception in its offices on the Curragh on Monday 19th November, hosted by Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of HRI.
Rosaleen Tonson-Rye and John Burns from Crookstown, Co. Cork were both featured in the book and audio collection, talking about riding and training horses and Rosaleen’s show-jumping career.
The audio archive, compiled over a twelve-month period by Maurice O Keeffe of Irish Life and Lore, records the racing and personal memories of 46 people who have been at the heart of Irish racing throughout the 20th century and up to today in some cases.
The book, titled Racing Reflections, draws on a selection of 25 of those lives, presenting a cross-section of the human story behind the success of Irish racing. It is richly illustrated with previously unpublished personal and family photographs. Five euro from each sale (cover price €20) will go to the Injured Jockeys Fund.
The book was launched by HRI Chairman Denis Brosnan, who was joined by many of the featured racing personalities. Maurice O’Keeffe introduced the book and played excerpts from the audio collection.
Denis Brosnan, Chairman of HRI said: “We are extremely happy with how the book has turned out. It brings us into the homes, stable yards, racecourses and lives of each narrator. Ireland has a reputation for producing the best thoroughbreds in the world but it is the people, with their native talent and understanding of the horse, who make the real difference.”