Image © Healy Racing
Name: James Sampson
Age: 17
From: Birr, County Offaly
How did you get involved with horses?
I was never really interested in horses before Covid. When Covid-19 hit, my older brother Shane, who used to have a handler’s license, took in a few breakers and that to keep him busy. We only live five minutes down the road from Denis Hogan’s yard and a few of the lads that work for Denis, used to come down to ride them, and when I saw them all riding, I started to ride myself and got more interested from then.
I started to ride out for Shane Broderick when I was 12-years-old and I learned loads down there. I then went to Denis Hogan’s when I was around 13 to ride out and I’ve never looked back since. I never got the chance to go pony racing or hunting or that, I think I was thrown in at the deep end.
My father Ger has a big interest in racing, he likes to follow the racing and would know his form inside out, but he only ever owned one horse and that was before I was born, I think it was in training with Charlie Swan.
What was the first racehorse you ever sat on?
Yes I do. Added Time was his name. He came out of Denis’ yard and won a six-year-old and upwards maiden at Borris House for local lads Damien, Brian and Ray Loughnane. Damien rode his first winner on him.
Where do you work full-time?
I’m in sixth year at school in Roscrea and I work at Denis’ any day that I can get off school and every weekend.
I’ll do my Leaving Cert and I’ll probably take a gap year out and I’ll give riding a good go next year, if it goes well, I’ll stay at the horses otherwise I’ll go back to college and get an education while still riding. That’s the plan.
Have you went to any other yards to gain experience?
I did a couple of weeks in Colin Bowe’s and I went to Enda Bolger’s too. It was good to get the schooling experience with them and I learned a lot.
Have you had many track rides?
Yeah, I’ve had eleven rides so far on the track. My first ride was at Limerick in a bumper for Denis on a horse called Mr Bezi. Denis has been very good to me and Iggy Madden has been a great supporter of mine on the track too.
How did the ride on Macgiloney come about?
When Macgiloney first came back into training a few months ago, Denis said to me that as he was a 12-year-old now, he might give him a few runs in open lightweights and he told me that I could ride him. I was fairly excited at the prospect and when I saw him entered up, I was delighted, I couldn’t wait to ride him.
Were you expecting Macgiloney to run well?
No, we thought he was going to need the run. Everything else in the race had a run behind them and our lad was off since the autumn. It was a fair shock.
The way he likes to be ridden is out the back and he looks like he doesn’t have any interest, but when he passes one horse, then he just flies home. Once he gets a run at them, he’s very good.
Can you describe the feeling of riding your first point-to-point winner?
To be honest, it was a bit of a shock! I didn’t expect it at all and when he passed the line in-front, I was in total shock. It was brilliant and it was special to get my first winner for Denis as I’ve been there since I was very young.
Were your family there on the day?
No they weren’t actually. They were very disappointed that they weren’t there but we didn’t expect the horse to win. If we’d been expecting it, they would have went racing. They will be there the next day, hopefully.
Do you know what the plan is for Macgiloney now?
I think, if he qualifies for a hunter chase, he will go there and if not he’ll go back to open lightweights.
Was it always the plan to take out your license?
From the first time I ever sat on a racehorse, all I wanted to do was to be a jockey and I couldn’t wait until I was 16 and could get the license.
I’d love to turn professional but my weight won’t allow it as I’m fairly tall. I like riding as an amateur and absolutely love riding in point-to-points
Who is your biggest influence in racing?
My brother Shane. He was always encouraging me and egging me on to go to different yards and telling me to work as hard as I can. He’s been very good to me.
Is there anyone you turn to for advice?
Daniel King who works in Denis’ with me is very good, he will tell me if I done something wrong and he will tell me if I’m doing something right. He’s very good like that. Denis is brilliant too, he will always go through a race with me and give me advice.
Have you any interests or hobbies outside of racing?
I’m from a big hurling family. We are all hurling mad so I’d play a lot of hurling through the summer. When I have any free time after the horses, I’d always be playing hurling or at a match.
What are your ambitions for the rest of the season?
I’d like to get my name out there and if I can get a few outside rides and maybe a winner along the way, I’d be very happy.
Do you want to add anything else?
I’d like to thank Denis for supporting me and thank the owner Michael Moloney the owner of Macgiloney for giving me the opportunity to ride him.
As a bonus for talented new point-to-point riders who feature in p2p.ie series of NextGen articles, Dungar Quality Oats will sponsor a special draw where one of the riders will win a cash prize of €500. All NextGen featured jockeys who have ridden their first point-to-point winner will be automatically entered into this draw. The draw will be conducted and prize winner announced at the end of the point-to-point season.
