Moyross man seeks racing glory in US

ANOTHER young man is emerging from Moyross to join Keith Earls on the international sports scene.

Alan Ryan has been making a name for himself as a jockey in Kentucky, home to the most famous horse racing derby in the world.

The 18-year-old from Pineview Gardens visited his old school St Nessans where, he told students to have a dream and keep it alive: “You have to be polite with everyone, have a good attitude and have a lot of motivation and determination.”

On a visit home over recent days, Alan has been working with children at his old Corpus Christi primary school, who are taking part in an equine programme in conjunction with the Irish Horse Welfare Trust.

In Kentucky, Alan lives with former top Irish flat jockey, Joe Deegan, who is his mentor.

Alan pointed out that nothing comes easy: “Despite the glamorous side of racing, I am up at 5am each day cleaning out stables and grooming horses. The message is: hard work pays off. Many people are comfortable with old problems than with new solutions. You have to constantly push yourself and leave old worries behind and get back on the horse.”