Lady O’Reilly inducted into Irish breeders’ Hall of Fame

The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association inducted Lady Chryss O’Reilly into its Hall of Fame during the organization’s annual racing and breeding awards ceremony held on Jan. 26 at the Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Killenard, County Laois.

O’Reilly, husband of media and industrial businessman Tony O’Reilly, owns Castlemartin Stud in Ireland and Haras de la Louviere in France. She has bred numerous Group 1 winners in those farms’ names as well as in the names of Petra Bloodstock and Skymarc Farm, including Equiano, Helissio, Highest Honor, Lawman, Chinese White and Silver Frost. She also served as chairperson of the Irish National Stud board for more than ten years until December 2012.

The ITBA voted Coolmore’s prominent international stallion Galileo as champion sire for 2012, and named Group 1 winners Excelebration and Snow Fairy as champion older male and female, respectively. Dawn Approach was named champion 2-year-old colt, and Sky Lantern champion 2-year-old filly.

Steeplechase breeder Jim Mernagh received a special award from the ITBA, and Ballylinch Stud, breeder of Red Rocks and Lawman, among others, received a special recognition award.

The ITBA unveiled its inaugural Wild Geese Award, created to honor contributions of Irish breeders in other countries. Harry Sweeney, owner of Paca Paca Stud in Japan and breeder of last year’s Japanese Derby winner Deep Brillante, received the award.

2013 ITBA award winners:
Hall of Fame: Lady Chryss O'Reilly
Contribution to the industry: Jim Mernagh
Special recognition: Ballylinch Stud
Wild Geese award: Harry Sweeney
Small breeder: Noel Collins
Champion older colt: Excelebration (breeder, Owenstown Stud)
Champion older filly: Snow Fairy (breeder, Windflower Overseas
Holdings)
Champion two-year-old colt: Dawn Approach (breeder, Jim Bolger)
Champion two-year-old filly: Sky Lantern (breeder, Tally-Ho Stud)
Champion sire: Galileo
Steeplechaser: Finian's Rainbow (breeder, James O'Keeffe)
Hurdler: Rock On Ruby (breeder, John O'Dwyer)
Novice chaser: Flemenstar (breeder, Donal Barnwell)
Novice hurdler: Boston Bob (breeder, Burgage Stud)