Live

Highlights on Off The Ball

07:00 AM-01:00 PM

Highlights on Off The Ball
Advertisement
Racing

"If you don’t dream big, you’re going nowhere” | Kilkenny legend and horse breeder Charlie Carter

On this week's Friday Night Racing, Carter described how it felt to see your horse first past the post against top-quality opposition.



Racing

"If you don’t dream big, you’re going nowhere” | Kilkenny legend and horse breeder Charlie Carter

“It was as good a day as any that I’ve ever had racing, that’s for sure”; that’s how breeder Charlie Carter described watching Howyabud storm home in the Savills Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown on December 28th.

The 4-year-old headed into the race at 25/1, but beat the Willie Mullins-trained odds-on favourite Horantzau D’airy on the day.

Sporting black and amber silks, Howyabud was the first racecourse winner for Kilkenny legend Carter.

Carter won 3 All-Irelands and 4 Leinster titles with the Cats before a dramatic exit from inter-county hurling in 2003.

Carter joined Johnny Ward on this week's Friday Night RacingHe described how it felt to see your horse first past the post against top-quality opposition.

“It was a magical day. We knew he was decent, but going up to Leopardstown to take on Willie [Mullins], Gordon [Elliott], Henry [De Bromhead] and the others, you get a fair idea of how good your horse is after that.”

Carter also gave his thoughts on what the future holds for Howyabud after a prominent victory.

“It’s a strange one - his race ended up being 5 seconds quicker than Journey With Me the next day at the same course with the same distance.”

“We’re entitled to dream big. A lot of dreams are burst, but if you don’t dream big, you’re going nowhere.”

Carter: "It’s probably as good a decision as I’ve ever made.”

Carter explained how he came to be not just an owner, but a breeder as well.

“I used to have half-breds here on the family farm" Carter said. "Then back in 2000, I went up to Tattersalls.” 

“I ended up buying two foals: Saddler’s Hall, and this foal by Anshan, who was from the family of Papillon, who, at the time, wasn’t long after winning the Grand National.”

“So I brought home the two of them. I resold Saddler’s Hall. I kept the mare and raced her, and she was good enough to win the Mares Maiden [Hurdle] in Naas one day.”

“She placed a few times as well. After that, I bred her, and she had a few foals, and then she had this beneficial filly.”

“I’m a seller - I breed and sell", Carter continued. "So I had this decision to make: do I bring her to the sales, where she’s probably not worth a whole lot, or take the plunge and run her?”

“I took the plunge and it’s probably as good a decision as I’ve ever made.”

Dr. Una May replaces John Treacy as Sport Ireland CEO

Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!

Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.


Read more about

Charlie Carter Friday Night Racing Horse Racing Howyabud Kilkenny Hurling Leopardstown Racecourse Off The Ball Willie Mullins