Ted Walsh on his career, favourite horse, and love of Punchestown

The Walsh’s are undeniably one of the leading horse racing families in Ireland and most certainly in Co.Kildare.
In the summer of 1960, aged 10, Ted Walsh moved with his family to Kill from Fermoy in Co. Cork. The change would eventually spawn a prosperous career in racing for young Ted and also started a lifelong love affair with Punchestown racecourse.

“It was a Tuesday, Wednesday meeting then and it was a big thing. All the schools were closed, Naas was closed for a half day, and all the banks were closed,” Ted recalled.

“A man called Peter Lawlor, who had a farm in Naas, had a little mare and I remember going to Punches-
town and watching her when she won a big race that year (1961).

“There was a horse belonging to the Newell’s, he ran both days and won both days. You might win the Bishopscourt Cup and then the Ladies Cup. I was 11 or 12 then and I remember going with my dad. We had a runner, a horse called King Brian, I remember leading him around the ring and that was a big thing at 12 years of age to bring him around the ring at Punchestown.”

The Punchestown tradition of Walking Sunday was, and continues to be, alive and well. The walk was the excitement-builder for a huge couple of days of racing action in store as Punchestown welcomed some of the best horses towards the end of a busy season.

“All these things stick in your mind. Massive excitement (when it came around each year), like an All-Ireland final. Punches-
town was only once a year and as many people would be out in the in-field as would be out in the stands,” Ted explained.

“I remember my own father and uncle would come up by pony and trap from Cork. They’d stop in The Heath in Portlaoise to break the journey up and come on the rest of the way the day after. My mother’s brother (Martin Buggy) would cycle up from Gowran (Kilkenny) early on Tuesday, cycle home in the evening, and then cycle back up again on Wednesday.”

These formative experiences would play a role in the beginning of what would come to be a thriving career in racing for Ted. In the saddle, as a trainer, and on the big screen.

“I was reared in a yard and we had our own runners in Punchestown. I think one of the big days in Punchestown for me was when my Dad trained a horse called No Hill. He won the Punchestown Gold Cup (1976), which was a massive day for us,” Ted said.

“I rode a fair few winners for my Dad in Punchestown too, so I was reared up in that environment. I was never going to be involved in anything else, only horses. From the time I was 10, there was nothing else in my life.”

Ted’s riding career would involve a long association with Clane’s Peter McCreery, who he rode over a 100 winners for, including two Irish Champion hurdles, a Queen Mother Champion Chase in Cheltenham and plenty more at Punchestown.

“All my dreams that I grew up hoping for, that I might have failed to achieve as a rider, I achieved as a trainer, with the exception of being second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“If I had that in the bag I would have the whole lot, the whole shabang, but sure look,” Ted said.
Ted’s visit to The Late Late Show during the Tubridy days brought about the mildly controversial (and jovial) topic of his favourite child. There were conflicting views on that topic, but a clearer answer emerges when you ask the man himself about the horses he trained.

“Commanche Court was definitely my favourite horse. I had a lot of good horses, Papillon would have been the biggest one career-wise because of winning the (English) National. But Commanche won the Triumph (Hurdle), won the Irish National and (Punchestown) Gold Cup,” Ted explained.

“I am splitting hairs when picking Commanche Court over Rince Ri and Papillon. Any Second Now, Sea Bass, Rock the Prince I like them all. As one in particular, I would have to say Commanche Court.”

Who could blame him as the beloved chestnut gelding won a Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1997, as well as the Irish Grand National in 2000 for the Kill trainer.

“That was a fantastic year (2000). Everything clicked into place in the space of a month. Papillon won the English National, Commanche (Court) won the Irish National and then came back and won the Punches-
town Gold Cup. All in one incredible month,” Ted recalled.

On-board for both of those Grand Nationals wins in the millennium year was Ted’s son Ruby, who would finish his illustrious career with over 2,700 career wins as a rider.

“Yeah it is a huge thing when you have that (Ruby riding the horses). That really makes it (more special) for that to happen. That is another reason Punchestown was great because they were all involved. Katie rode winners there over banks and fences and Ruby did as well. So we were all very much involved in the whole thing. We all retired in Punchestown too. Ruby, Katie and myself all called it a day in Punchestown,” Ted said.

“It is all brilliant. No different than any other parent, you are always hoping that your children will be happy and do well. They are all happily married and I have lovely grandchildren.”

Ted would step away from racing punditry just last year after 40 years of coverage of his beloved sport.

Following a thriving career in all departments, one of the most recognisable faces and voices in Irish racing decided to move on following decades of coverage.

He may have stepped away from on-screen duty, but no doubt excitement is building again in the Walsh household for the Punchestown Festival as it rolls around once again.