A RECENT double at Roscommon brought to a milestone 1,000 the number of career winners for Chris Hayes of Shanagolden.
His wins in the west came courtesy of Dermot Weld’s Beyond Dreams and Starford for Joseph O’Brien.
38-year-old Hayes now joins just Declan McDonogh, Colin Keane, Seamie Heffernan, Wayne Lordan, and Shane Foley in the 1,000 club for current Irish riders.
The major achievement arrived almost to the day of his first winner at Bellowstown.
“I remember all of it well,” recalled Hayes of that breakthrough win of 2005 to the Racing Post.
“It was for Gerry Lynch on a horse called Anonymity in a mile-and-six handicap at Bellewstown. Christopher Geoghegan got me the ride and they fancied him; he won nicely.”
In those early years, Hayes was closely associated with the legendary Kevin Prendergast, who only passed away late last month.
“With the timing, it was sad because I would have liked Kevin to have seen it. He was instrumental and I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing but for the leg-up he gave me at the start. He’d have been proud of it but he’d probably ask me how many should I have won on! But it’s a shame and he definitely would have been giving me a call on the way home with the congratulations, and the smart comment.”
He concluded: “I’ll reflect on it at the end of the season but I’ve been spoilt with good horses and that’s the mindset I’m in at the moment, trying to find the next one. My wife (Rachael) and in-laws were my cheerleaders as they were reminding me every time there was five to go, four to go, and so on.”
On the local, Hayes will be in action at Limerick on Saturday (1.30pm onwards).
