NEXTGEN: Conor Rabbitt

Next Generation | Rider

Name: Conor Rabbitt
Age:  18 
Area:  Kilpullagh, Galway

Conor Rabbit is the latest rider to feature in our Next Generation feature following his first career success between the flags at Farmacaffley aboard the Warren Ewing-trained Ranieri in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Galway native is currently doing his Leaving Certificate but rides out for Warren Ewing and Paul Gilligan at weekends and on school holidays.

Having made his riding debut in a Roscommon Bumper in May, it was after a total of four rides in Bumpers for Paul Gilligan that Conor Rabbitt had his first ride in a point-to-point when aboard his mother Christine’s Sir Carno in an Open at Oldtown in February and is looking forward to the rest of the season where he hopes to gain more opportunities.



Are you from a racing background?

I have no racing background as such, but my parents do have a background in horses, they are involved with hunting and show jumping. I would have done both hunting and show jumping from a young age and I also would have done quite a bit of pony racing.

My cousin Rossa Ryan, who is a flat jockey over in England and his father David were very good to me when I was younger, and they taught me a good bit and introduced me into pony racing.

I did three years of pony racing and during that time I rode one winner, which was down at the Dingle pony racing festival on a horse of my own called Our Souls back in 2018. I beat Warren Ewing’s son Sam in that same race, so I was delighted.

How did you get started in racing?

I started riding out for Paul Gilligan at his yard and that’s how I got started.

My parents also bought a horse called Sir Carno for me at the Doncaster sales last summer to help me get going. I try and ride him out myself, when the evenings were dark, I used to ride him out before school but now that the evenings are getting a little brighter, I am able to ride him out after school. The odd day when I am stuck my mother will ride him out for me.

Where are you based at the moment?

I am currently in school doing my leaving cert. I know Warren Ewing from the pony racing circuit, and he invited me up his place in Co. Antrim to ride out for him about year and a half ago, so I have been going up to his at weekends and during school holidays since then.

I also still ride out for Paul Gilligan a bit; he is only down the road from me at home.

Have you ridden out for anyone else to date?

I rode out at Gordon Elliott’s yard for a couple of weeks about two years ago and I also have ridden out for a couple of local Galway trainers such as Martin Cullinane and my cousin David Ryan.

What is your plan when you finish school, will you ride out full-time?

Yes, I plan to go at horses full-time. My mother has recently gotten out her handlers permit and has a couple of pointers at home, so we would like to expand on that more after I finish school. My parents have been a great support to my riding career and as a result they want to try and start buying store horses and produce them as four-year-olds.

Can you tell me about one of your earliest racing memories?

When I was 12 years of age and started going pony racing with my cousin Rossa, we bought a pony from Adrian Browne, who is a very accomplished pony racing trainer, that would have to be one of my earliest racing memories.

You were delighted with your win on Ranieri?

I was happy out; I knew the horse well enough; he is a very straightforward horse but getting him to go forward can be an issue sometimes. Warren had another horse in the race on the day, who can be another tricky character, but he fancied him more on the day, but it just worked out that I ended up in front.

What’s the plan with Ranieri now?

The plan is to run him in a winners’ race at Kirkistown and thankfully Warren is very good to me and has told me that I get to keep the ride on him.

Have you ambitions for this season?

Hopefully to just get more experience and if there are more winners to be got then I will most definitely take the opportunities.

What do you think about the opportunities for novice rider’s in point-to-pointing?

I think sometimes it can take a trainer supporting you to get going and thankfully Warren has been good to me. I think the opportunities are there if you ride out for a trainer full-time or if you have your own horses to be tipping away on. Its not easy if you are not involved in a yard as outside rides are not easy to come by for younger riders starting off.

How about another rider you think might be up-and-coming?

I think Jordan Gainford is an exceptionally good rider, he mixes with the best of riders and in time he will be as good as Barry O’Neill and Jamie Codd. When he gets another season or two under his belt, he will be one to watch out for, he is very talented.

Who has been your greatest influence in racing?

My family have been a big influence on my riding career, but I would have to say that I look up to Davy Russell, I love the way he rides. I met him at a point-to-point when I was nine and I have been a big fan since.
Warren has been a huge contributing factor of late to my riding career, the year and a half I have been with him I am ten times the rider I was.

Paul Gilligan is another trainer who has been very good to me.

Do you play any sport outside of racing?

I used to play a lot of soccer, but unfortunately since I started riding out, I have had to give it up as I don’t have enough time.

How do you relax away from racing?

I sit down with a cup of tea, put the feet up and watch racing on tv or I would go and meet up with friends from school.