'The start of an exciting chapter' - Limerick jockey on UK opportunity

Rathkeale native Calum Hogan will be heading for pastures in the United kingdom later this month where he will team up with renowned trainer Harry Derham as a stable conditional jockey for the new national hunt season.

Calum explains how the opportunity came about, following an impressive display in Tramore, riding Kaspar Hauser.

“It was an enjoyable day in Tramore, it was nice to win on him (Kaspar Hauser) again. It was his first run over fences and he jumps like a horse who had been jumping fences his whole life. It was a good day and nice to ride a few winners for Kevin Coleman too.

“That win kind of helped. I had been in touch with Harry a little bit and it was a help that Harry happened to be watching the race, it all worked out.”

The west Limerick man explains what’s involved in a role as a stable conditional jockey.

“I’ll be slotting into his yard with a five-pound claim and hopefully he’ll use me as much as possible to claim off of horses which is obviously an advantage to the horse if you’re able to take five pounds off their back, making them five pounds lighter.

“It’s an advantage for Harry to have someone who can take five pounds off of a horses back and it’ll be good for me as well because hopefully he’ll be looking to use my claim, which will make me busier as well.

“I can’t wait to make the move. I’ll be heading over after Listowel, probably the following day. I was over there two weeks ago and the facilities, gallops and everything over there was unreal so I’m really looking forward to it and hopefully it’s the start of an exciting chapter.

“I’m looking forward to Listowel. It’s been a lucky and an unlucky ground for me. I’d a good year two years ago and last year was horrific but that’s racing really.”

Calum isn’t the only one looking forward to the move, with Harry Derham also commenting on the switch for the young Limerick jockey.

“I’m really excited to welcome Calum Hogan to the team as our new conditional jockey. Calum joins us from Ireland and is a young rider we’re really looking forward to working with.

“He has plenty of enthusiasm and is keen to learn, and I’m sure he’ll settle into the team really well. I hope his five-pound claim will come in very useful, and hopefully this is the start of a very successful partnership as we help him develop and progress during his time with us.”

It’s the beginning of a new chapter for Calum, where becoming a jump jockey was ‘all he ever wanted to do.’

“It’s all I ever wanted to do to be honest with you, to become a jump jockey. My father would have brought me to work with him when I was younger so from the age of five or six onwards, I’ve always had the bug for it.

“Watching other people do it always made me want to start and when I hit the age of ten or eleven, I was left ride out at Eric McNamara’s who has been very good to me down through the years.

“That’s where I started and it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. That’s how it all started off, thanks to my father and I haven’t looked back since,” he concluded.