"Dundalk is on Friday, Navan Saturday, there's no racing Sunday, I'll be in Ascot Monday and Tuesday for breeze ups, back for Leopardstown Wednesday, no racing Thursday, Dundalk Friday and hopefully it's Leopardstown again that weekend," explains Gary Halpin of the hectic schedule a professional jockey has to keep.

"Everyone knows it's not easy, but you have to put in the effort and the hard work to be rewarded. It's a privilege to be in that position, working with those sorts of people."

It's a privilege Gary Halpin has worked incredibly hard to attain. Born in Blanchardstown, the 24-year-old jockey's route to the top has scarcely been routine.

Where he came from, where he lived, where he was brought up, like we hadn't got the best of everything, but what we had we made use of

 

"I was after buying a pony in Smithfield, and he had him out on the road just going up and down," Tim Halpin recalls of his young son, "it was the first pony he ever had really."

Bitten by the horse racing bug, Halpin's journey from there to here required a colossal family effort.

"I was like a lunatic ringing round trying to see what yard I could get you into," Susan, Gary's mother, recalls now.

"You never came home after that, only on the weekends with your dirty washing!"

Riding winners as an eager young 17-year-old for Kevin Prendergast, Gary's career has been on a steady incline ever since.

"Where he came from, where he lived, where he was brought up, like we hadn't got the best of everything," Gary's father Tim explains, "but what we had we made use of."

"He's doing well for him, I'm really proud."

You can watch Gary tell his own story below. 

Gary Halpin grew up in Blanchardstown and didn’t come from a racing background.

But, after training with @RACEIreland he became a professional jockey, riding for Ireland’s top trainers and owners.

Here's @garyhalpin20's amazing story pic.twitter.com/z7WCpbp5VC

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) April 6, 2019