Ireland: US jockey Declan Carroll’s trip to Ireland to catch up with family and visit racing stables has received an unexpected bonus in the shape of a ride at Dundalk on Friday.
Carroll, 22, will partner the Gerard O’Leary-trained Lifeinthefastlane in a 14-runner maiden – his first ride in Europe, and a race that will also feature his cousin Gary Carroll. Declan's father David grew up in a racing family in Ireland before emigrating to the US, where he train
ed for 26 years and now works as assistant to Mark Casse.
“It’s been about four years since I’ve been back when I spent a summer with Michael Halford,” says Declan. “Now I am going into a bunch of different yards, seeing new things.
“I decided to come over for a couple of weeks to get some experience and kind of sharpen the tool box, as well as see family.”
By the time he flies home on St Patrick’s Day next week, Carroll will have ridden out for Jessica Harrington, Ger Lyons, Gavin Cromwell, Johnny Murtagh and Joseph O’Brien.
Carroll began his apprenticeship in 2018, riding nine winners in his first year. He made his Breeders’ Cup debut in 2020, finishing fourth in the Sprint on Empire Of Gold, and last year rode 50 winners, his best score so far, out of a career tally of 145. Many of his wins have been for Casse, Eddie Kenneally and Al Stall, for whom he won the $100,000 Colonel Power Stakes on Pyron last month.
However, despite his Irish pedigree – grandfather and uncle were also jockeys – Carroll has no plans to leave the US. “Home is home and that’s where I plan on riding throughout my career,” he says.
“I would love to ride the big races in Europe given the opportunity but right now my future is in America. I’m happy with the way things are going in America but you always want to do better. I’ll be resuming at Fair Grounds and then heading towards Kentucky. I’m hoping we can have a big year.”
Gary Carroll and Shane Foley have helped Declan get around Ireland to experience so many different stables “Lots of trainers do different things here, from the gallops, in the deep sand or the turf, going clockwise as well as counter-clockwise,” he says.
“It’s very good to learn those new types of ways as in America we are always on a racetrack, always on the flat.
“Over here some yards have fast days, some take their time, some take their horses through the water or indoor arenas. There are many different bits and pieces I can take back with me.
“In America you are not in a yard with many other jockeys but here, each yard I have been into, there have been quite a few jockeys. It’s a big learning experience.”
Having a ride was never part of Carroll’s plans but Lifeinthefastlane, a three-year-old gelded son of Camacho, is one of only four runners with previous experience in the Dundalk contest.
“It was a case of being in the right place at the right time,” he says. “Fair play to Gerard O’Leary. I sat on the horse the other morning and he went very well. I am looking forward to the opportunity.”
• Visit the Dundalk website
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