Houlihan is 2020’s winning-most private trainer

BALLYDUFF’S Chris Houlihan, as a private trainer, won more races during 2020 than any of his peers in this country.

That is one hell of an achievement by him and, furthermore, only one other private trainer, Karol Ramsbottom, won more prize money than him - €42,530 as against €27,625 - with the bigger pots available in Shelbourne Park obviously being a decisive factor in favour of Ramsbottom.

Needless to say, Ballymac’s Liam Dowling is on a much wider range of lists – second in the list of public trainers for prize money won (€125,890), second in the list of owners for prize money won (€146,795), third in the list of total wins by a public trainer (83) and second in the list of total wins by an owner (82).

Liam’s two dogs, Ballymac Anton and Ballymac Wild, were second and sixth, respectively, in the list of prize money won (€36,595 and €31,503), with Des Grace’s Pestana, now at stud, fourth on €34,850, while three other Dowling greyhounds, Ballymac Kingdom, Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Ariel were on €19,690, €15,290 and €13,375, respectively.

The number of races won by Ballymac

Anton (also now at stud) was eleven, which, along with ten won by Ballymac Wild and another eleven won by Ballymac Kingdom, leaves Dowling with three greyhounds in the top seven in the relevant category. Pestana also achieved eleven victories.

Largely because of Pestana, Des Grace is sixth in the list of owners for prize money won, on €37,220, while Millstreet’s Donal G O’Mahony, the 2020 Owner Of The Year at Tralee Track, is tenth, on €30,410.

O’Mahony is also third in the list of owners with the most wins (66), while

Limerick’s Neilus O’Connell, another very familiar figure at Tralee track, is sixth in the list of public trainers with most wins (62) and also sixth in the list of prize money won by public trainers (€45,568).

Tarbert’s Patrick O’Connor made it into the list of public trainers with 44 wins, while two more of our private trainers, Johnny O’Sullivan and James O’Regan, occupy places of honour for prize money won (€10,245 and €9,485, respectively), with O’Regan also 11th in the list of races won (25).

A pretty impressive range of achievement between the lot of them, is it not?