Irish jockey Sean O’Keeffe has reflected on a very sad week for the sport with the passing of his good friend and talented young jockey Michael O’Sullivan after a fall at Thurles last week.
O’Keeffe was a good friend of O’Sullivan’s, with both riding out together at Willie Mullins’ Closutton yard as well as being rivals on the track.
Below you can read O’Keeffe’s reflection on Michael O’Sullivan’s untimely passing along with his thoughts on the challenges of life as a freelance jockey.
The Passing of Michael O’Sullivan
It has been a tough week. I knew there wasn’t going to be much good news coming out during the week but for that to actually happen is hard to come to terms with.
The weighing room is a close environment – he was very popular in there. I have known him since we rode together in point-to-points, we started out at a similar time and then most recently, riding out at Willie Mullins’ yard for him. We were rivals on the track, didn’t live too far from each other, we shared lifts to places, I have known him well.
I suppose it is something that will make you think alright. It’s nice we don’t have racing for a couple of days but look, we are all doing it for the same reason and that’s why he did it, we all love it. It certainly puts perspective on your life and it does make you think but when you go back, you have to try and carry on as normal.
It is still hard to believe it has happened, you see someone that you have been seeing on a regular basis and it is hard to believe at the moment.
The Challenges of a Freelance Jockey Lifestyle
It is very competitive here in Ireland, the group of riders are from the top. Even a long way down, there are lots of riders that don’t get opportunities. It is very competitive but lucky I can pick up as many rides as I can. I am attached to a couple of yards like Willie and Paul Nolan’s for example, there are other trainers as well you try and do some bits for that you can stay loyal to and they can give you rides.
There are a lot of costs involved, lots of driving in the summer, driving to Ballinrobe for one ride isn’t going to pay loads but in fairness, you can make a living but you need to be riding on a regular basis, you need to be getting two or three rides at the track each day. Prize money, there are some good ones on the big days for sure, on a regular basis it isn’t a huge amount.
You get just over €200 for a National Hunt ride, there are a good few deductions off that then before it comes down to us!
It’s the strongest it has ever been. The great depth is there, there are some great lads who aren’t getting many rides. A lot of conditionals and claimers now, maybe before they would go to England but the best horses are in Ireland at the moment so the younger ones are staying here that are very good and it is making it even deeper.
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