Bobbyjo 1990-2001

Bobbyjo ridden by Paul Carberry, won the 1999 Grand National and is remembered specifically because he was the first Irish trained horse to win the National in an astonishing 25 years. Incredible when you think of all the great Irish trained horses over that period of time. The jockeys father, Tommy Carberry, was the last jockey to ride an Irish trained National winner when L'Escargot won the 1975 National. The fact Bobbyjo won the Irish National the previous year in 1998 makes the story of this horse even more fascinating.

Bobbyjo died at the very early age of 11 due to the non-recovery of a broken bone in his knee.

The thing that sticks most in my mind is that back then we had to pay tax before or after the race depending on the result. I suppose I was lucky in one way because I didn't pay tax on the stake, saved me 90p!

T. O'Shea - April 10th 2009 - Ireland