Jerry Hannon - racing’s ‘voice’ reflects on Cheltenham memories
controlled enthusiasm you might call it,” said Jerry.
Jerry admits he’s only ever been to the Cheltenham Festival once in his life. But that memory is a special one and he’ll be heading back there next week because of it. His dad Joe took him there when he was 16 in 1997. Joe’s timing couldn’t have been better as that trip coincided with the emergence of one of the sport’s greatest stars: Istabraq. Charlie Swan hacked home that day in the Sun Alliance Hurdle in the first of Istabraq’s 4 Cheltenham wins. Sadly, Joe passed away 8 years ago this month and Jerry will this year honour his memory by heading back to Cheltenham to mark the 20th anniversary of that first visit.
“I was in 5th year at St Michael’s College in Listowel. At the time I was in-between exams and Dad took me out of school for the week. I’m going back this year as I thought about it on a sentimental level. Dad died 8 years ago, so I just said I’d go back and remember it. Being 16 at the time I only half recall it. I was a big Charlie Swan fan growing up and it’s probably no surprise that Istabraq is one of my favourite horses of all time,” said Jerry.
Jerry’s career started out with the Healy family from Listowel, who were neighbours of his. He cites the influence of the late Liam Healy as one that got him into racing from a young age and he hasn’t looked back since.
“They only lived around the corner from me and that’s how I got into racing. I’m not sure what career path I’d have taken only for the late Liam Healy and his family.”
Nowadays, Jerry is the established voice in racetracks the length and breadth of Ireland. But as with many of life’s great journeys they sometimes start from a position of obscurity. Jerry first grasped the mic at a pony meeting before graduating to the point-to-point circuit. It was here that he called home a certain horse by the name of Faugheen.
“Istabraq is my favourite, but from a commentary level it’s Faugheen. The day he won his point-to-point in Ballysteen, as a 4 year old, I called him in his very first win. I’ve done this up along his career and did so the day he won the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown. He’s just a horse whose career I feel was progressing around the same time as my own was. I did my first commentary on October 17, 1999 at a pony meeting in Athea. The late James Horgan and his daughter Liz gave me my first break calling horses,” Jerry added.
So, where exactly does Jerry Hannon get the kick from calling horses home every week and is there a particular day that stands out?
“I suppose any day that you can call a race in the Punchestown Festival or the Curragh is special. Last September I called all races on Champion Stakes Day in Leopardstown. That’s one that stands out.” And the kick? “It’s even better when you can call photo finishes accurately, and even though that’s not my job, you still like to stick your neck out in a subtle way. It’s nice sometimes coming down from the stands afterwards and hearing people say ‘fair play Jerry, you called that one right’. That’s an aspect I enjoy. I suppose you could say I’m enthusiastic because I love what I do. That’s the kick for me.”