Irish born jockey Tom Ryan has seen the best of jumps racing overseas and locally – and he has sat upon a much faster horse as well! Find out more about him…
Do you come from a horse/racing family?
Yes, my brother David trains in the west of Ireland and I have two nephews who are jockeys in England; John Fahy and Rossa Ryan.
Did you always want to be a jockey?
Yes I always wanted to be a jockey, ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper!!!
What is your first racing memory?
Going racing with my Dad in the very early days to the old Limerick racecourse.
Who is your favourite horse and why?
Vatuvei aka Willie, I won a JJ Houlahan Hurdle on him a few years ago. He was also a Moonee Valley Cup and VRC St Leger winner – he was my hunter but now he just hangs out in a paddock here at the farm looking after some younger stock.
Who is the best horse you have ridden?
Kadoun (Cheltenham festival winner); at home it would be Ka Ying Rising. I used to ride him at Lindsay Park when he was with us prior going to Hong Kong. He always gave a great feel, but you would have never thought he’d be what he is though.
Who is the best horse you have seen?
Black Caviar.
Your favourite racing moment?
Winning on Kadoun in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham festival (50-1 in 2006).
Your best ride?
The Cunning Fox in the 2025 Galleywood Hurdle.
Best ride of another jockey you have seen?
Paul Carberry on Moonbeg Dude in the 2013 Welsh Grand National.
Is there a ride you wish you could do again?
Man Of Class 2013 Warrnambool Grand Annual – got there way too soon and got beat!
Which horse currently racing would you love to be riding?
Stern Idol.
Which horse from the past would you love to have ridden?
Sprinter Sacre.
Do you think horses know they have won?
Yes definitely, they are highly intelligent animals.
If you time travel into a past racing moment what would it be?
I would love to have been there when Dawn Run won the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
Who do you admire most in racing?
Peter Moody, the most fantastic trainer and a good fella to have a beer with!
What is one change/improvement you’d love to see in racing?
It will never happen but a proper race program for young staying racehorses.
What’s the funniest moment you’ve experienced in racing?
A lot that can’t be told for one reason or another!! But one jockey who will remain nameless losing the button on his breeches… and they continued to drop down till he was showing his arse for all to see!
What is your favourite pastime outside of racing?
Going to the local for a pint of Guinness.
What is your favourite book?
The Club by Christy O’Connor. It’s a fly on the wall type book about a year in the life of a GAA club in county Clare, Ireland; it would have you in tears at times.
Best concert you’ve seen?
The Boss, Bruce Springsteen.
What slogan summarizes your outlook on life?
Talent will always beat work, but work will beat talent if talent doesn’t work!
Favourite food?
Japanese or French.
Favourite racecourse?
Cheltenham.
If you had not been a jockey what would you have done?
I don’t know but it would definitely have involved horses.
