This week, Miriam O'Callaghan meets horse trainer Ted Walsh and his son, the jockey Ruby Walsh. Ted and Ruby recall for Miriam, a particularly magical moment in their racing careers when Ruby rode Ted's horse Papillion to victory in the English Grand National when Ruby was twenty years old. They recall the details of that extraordinary day. Ruby says that this will always be the best day he has ever had in racing.
Ted explains to Miriam the bond he has with Papillion and how he will miss him when he dies. Comanche Court was also a special horse trained by Ted who died recently. Ruby rode him to victory in the Irish Grand National only days after his English Grand National win on Papillion.
Ted says that he spotted Ruby's talent when he was a teenager riding at the schooling races in Naas. He explains that Ruby was naturally good at it and it didn't phase him. Ruby realised that he wanted to be a jockey when he was twelve or thirteen.
Ted reflects on his own career and his regret that he never went professional. As a result, he always encourages young people with talent to take the next step and become professionals. They explain to Miriam the weight issues facing professional jockeys.
Ted recalls his parents and his father and his uncle Ted who both trained horses. He describes how the family moved to America in the 1950s where a relative was also involved in training horses. But they moved back home eventually settling in Kill, County Kildare. Ted met his wife, Helen, who was in his sister's class at school. They have two sons and two daughters, all involved in horse racing. Ruby met his wife, Gillian, when he went to work with Willie Mullins when he was a teenager. They have two daughters. Ruby describes how racing involves him travelling a lot.
The family all work in horse related areas. They row about everything. But they never let their arguments lead to a rift in the family. Ruby says that his father is a good trainer, but it less confident than he appears and is hard on himself. Ruby isn't sure if he wants to follow his father into training. Ted says that there are lots of good trainers, but nowadays you have to know about business - wages, tax, insurance, health and safety. Ted says that this is crippling small trainers. Ted gives great credit to the major trainers who manage big operations.
Both Ted and Ruby tell Miriam how magical it is to ride a winner at Cheltenham. But it is at that race course that Ruby has sustained some of his most serious injuries. Ted tells Miriam of the worry involved when your child is a jockey. Both men would like to win more races, one as a trainer, the other as a jockey. Ruby explains to Miriam that he might not have got so far in his career without the help of his father, but his father says that Ruby's talent would have outed anyway. They conclude the conversation with Ted telling Miriam that when you meet a good horse, you couldn't have a better friend.
Their choice of music:
Imelda May Kentish Town Waltz
Mundy July
Paolo Nuttini 10/10