Kieran O’Connell, Europe’s Top Horse Racing Tipster is, with the support of The Irish Daily Star, donating €22,205 to the Irish Jockeys Accident Fund as a result of predicting a record breaking 4041 winners during 2009.
Accidents and injuries are the daily hazards jockeys hope to avoid however it’s always in the back of their mind as two ambulances and doctor follow them around the track. Aware of these factors, Kieran O’Connell decided in January 2008 it was only right and fitting that, if his employer The Irish Daily Star was capable of selecting more winners than any other national newspaper in Europe, it was common sense to support The Irish Jockeys’ Accident Fund.
Kieran O’Connell was the first racing correspondent to nominate 2,000 winners in 1999 and has continued to better and break his European record every year since, proving that The Star is the No. 1 Irish paper for horse racing fans.
In breaking the European record for the eleventh consecutive on the trot in 2009, Kieran has raised €22,205 for the Irish Jockeys’ Accident Fund and a cheque for that amount will be presented by O’Connell on Hennessy Gold Cup day at Leopardstown this Sunday 7th February in the parade ring at approx 2:50pm before The Star’s Kieran O’Connell Europe’s Top Tipster Handicap Hurdle Race. Over the past four years, through his efforts Kieran has raised €89,205.
“Having been betting on horses before going to school and later being expelled for non-attendance as a result of a similar habit, you can safely say that racing is my life,” explained O’Connell.
In January 2006 Kieran decided to personally donate €2 for each winner he selected during the year to the Irish Jockeys’ Accident Fund as he set about defending his title of Europe’s Top Tipster, The Irish Daily Star immediately agreed to match this contribution and were quickly joined by Lady Chryss O’Reilly & Paddy Power Bookmakers.
In 2009, when every aspect of the Irish Bloodstock Industry showed significant reduction in figures, an extra effort was required to smash the existing record of 3,579. The outcome was 4,041 winners – a phenomenal increase of 462 more winners than the previous year.
When asked why he embarked on the challenge of being best in Europe, O’Connell decided on revealing the secret. “A few tragedies too many in Irish racing highlighted the need to support the people that put their necks on the line every time they race and are followed by two ambulances, hence the reason to row in behind the Irish Jockeys’ Accident Fund, whose members provided me with a canvas on which to paint my dreams.”
As regarding the dawning of a new decade, O’Connell remains dedicated and will continue with his record breaking feat for 2010.