Denis O'Regan makes jumps jockey history at Hereford
O'Regan became the first jockey to win at every jumps racecourse in Britain and Ireland
Monday, 06 November 2023
O'Regan roared to victory onboard Fiveonefive for a very special Novices' Hurdle victory
It’s a great personal achievement but I don’t know if anyone else would care to be honest. I’m not sure any of the lads would swap a Jockey’s Championship or the Gold Cup for it. - Denis O'Regan
History-maker Denis O’Regan saluted those who supported him after he became the first jockey to win at every active jumps track in Britain and Ireland, writes Ben Hart.
O’Regan secured his place in the record books after winning onboard Fiveonefive for Navan trainer Cian Collins at Hereford, completing the set on both sides of the Irish Sea.
The 41-year-old has waited more than three years to conquer the last frontier, and paid homage to those who have stood by him during the long and winding road to history.
“It’s lovely, it’s a personal achievement,” he said. “I’m not sure if anyone else has ever done it, but to be honest, it doesn’t matter.
“It just matters to me and I’m only back from injury yesterday after 14 weeks, so I have a couple of thank yous to say to my physios. They all helped me get back, so that was brilliant.
“My boys and my wife are watching at home too which is great.”
Hereford has not exactly played fair for O’Regan, having closed for the last four years of his time based in the UK before reopening almost as soon as he relocated to Ireland.
He came close in January, finishing second, third and fourth in one meeting before partnering with Collins’ five-year-old for a slice of racing history.
Though O’Regan, whose favourite winning ride was Cape Tribulation in the 2013 Cotswold Steeple Chase at Cheltenham, hopes this really is it, having already believed he had made it a full house more than two years ago.
“I thought I had done it in July 2020 at Bellewstown, which was the last track I had to do in Ireland,” recalled O’Regan.
“But someone rang my wife, Louise, to tell her that Hereford was still outstanding.
“So obviously I had to get back in my box and make a plan.
“It’s a great personal achievement but I don’t know if anyone else would care to be honest. I’m not sure any of the lads would swap a Jockey’s Championship or the Gold Cup for it.
“To be honest, I've never considered myself a Ruby Walsh or a Tony McCoy. I never considered myself at any level really.
“I dreamt of great things and of Cheltenham winners but I never thought I was going to take over the world, so I just chipped away and learned as I went along.
“I think people will be relieved to see the back of me.
“It’s a huge achievement for myself, it took a lot of hard work and years riding in different places and doing different jobs.
“A lot of people have supported me to help me get it, the likes of Gordon Elliot and Cian.
“Today was a lucky day, I had a good feeling about it and I’m delighted.”
And O’Regan, who hails from Youghal, says he hopes his two young boys, Thomas and Charles, aspire to be like their father – a hard worker.
“I wanted to do it quietly to be honest,” added O’Regan.
“I'm not one for talking too much about these things. I think people only got hold of it on a quiet day for racing.
“For a while, I probably undersold it to myself a little bit.
"I never set out to do it all those years ago, it just happened by accident.
“I suppose the only thing you would say is that when my boys grow up, they'll understand that their father was a worker.
“Thomas is gradually getting to the age where he can probably watch a bit now, he goes racing quite a bit. So he’ll have some interest later on, if it’s not too much for him already!”
O’Regan secured his place in the record books after winning onboard Fiveonefive for Navan trainer Cian Collins at Hereford, completing the set on both sides of the Irish Sea.
The 41-year-old has waited more than three years to conquer the last frontier, and paid homage to those who have stood by him during the long and winding road to history.
“It’s lovely, it’s a personal achievement,” he said. “I’m not sure if anyone else has ever done it, but to be honest, it doesn’t matter.
“It just matters to me and I’m only back from injury yesterday after 14 weeks, so I have a couple of thank yous to say to my physios. They all helped me get back, so that was brilliant.
“My boys and my wife are watching at home too which is great.”
🙌 History made in Hereford! 🙌@DenisFORegan completes the final frontier with a win onboard Fiveonefive 💚
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 6, 2023
He becomes the first jockey to win at every active racecourse in Britain and Ireland - congratulations, Denis! 👏pic.twitter.com/aQjfw9ao5N
Hereford has not exactly played fair for O’Regan, having closed for the last four years of his time based in the UK before reopening almost as soon as he relocated to Ireland.
He came close in January, finishing second, third and fourth in one meeting before partnering with Collins’ five-year-old for a slice of racing history.
Though O’Regan, whose favourite winning ride was Cape Tribulation in the 2013 Cotswold Steeple Chase at Cheltenham, hopes this really is it, having already believed he had made it a full house more than two years ago.
“I thought I had done it in July 2020 at Bellewstown, which was the last track I had to do in Ireland,” recalled O’Regan.
“But someone rang my wife, Louise, to tell her that Hereford was still outstanding.
“So obviously I had to get back in my box and make a plan.
“It’s a great personal achievement but I don’t know if anyone else would care to be honest. I’m not sure any of the lads would swap a Jockey’s Championship or the Gold Cup for it.
“To be honest, I've never considered myself a Ruby Walsh or a Tony McCoy. I never considered myself at any level really.
“I dreamt of great things and of Cheltenham winners but I never thought I was going to take over the world, so I just chipped away and learned as I went along.
“I think people will be relieved to see the back of me.
Denis determined to make history 👊@DenisFORegan is back in Hereford later today on board favourite Fiveonefive...
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 6, 2023
Win, and he'll become the first jockey to win at every active jumps racecourse in Britain and Ireland 🙌
Good luck, Denis! pic.twitter.com/GQmeZbrM1h
“It’s a huge achievement for myself, it took a lot of hard work and years riding in different places and doing different jobs.
“A lot of people have supported me to help me get it, the likes of Gordon Elliot and Cian.
“Today was a lucky day, I had a good feeling about it and I’m delighted.”
And O’Regan, who hails from Youghal, says he hopes his two young boys, Thomas and Charles, aspire to be like their father – a hard worker.
“I wanted to do it quietly to be honest,” added O’Regan.
“I'm not one for talking too much about these things. I think people only got hold of it on a quiet day for racing.
“For a while, I probably undersold it to myself a little bit.
"I never set out to do it all those years ago, it just happened by accident.
“I suppose the only thing you would say is that when my boys grow up, they'll understand that their father was a worker.
“Thomas is gradually getting to the age where he can probably watch a bit now, he goes racing quite a bit. So he’ll have some interest later on, if it’s not too much for him already!”