Curragh CEO Brian Kavanagh, for 20 years chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, answers the questions
After 20 years as chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, Brian Kavanagh (pictured below) has returned to the place where he first made his name to become CEO of Ireland’s flagship racecourse, the Curragh.
Kavanagh, 57, was manager of the Curragh between 1995 and 1999 before he became Ireland’s top administrator. He also in January oversaw his final meeting as chair of the European Pattern Committee after 16 years in the role.
Which racing figure past or present do you most admire?
On a personal note it would be the late Cahir O’Sullivan, who died just before Christmas, and was the CEO of the Irish Turf Club between 1977 and 1999. I succeeded him in that role, but I worked for him in my formative years in racing. I found him inspirational. He was a man of great integrity and wisdom.
The figure who first got me interested and passionate about racing was Vincent O’Brien. He would be the one on a broader level that I would admire the most, in terms of what he did, moving from National Hunt to flat, and the success he had with a small string, both in Ireland and internationally. More than anyone he showed that Ireland could compete at the top level of horseracing internationally and could be successful worldwide from a base in rural Ireland.
Which is your favourite venue and race anywhere in the world?
My favourite venue is without doubt the Curragh racecourse. In terms of races, the two occasions I really love are the Arc and the Breeders’ Cup. For me, early morning on the Curragh with the horses training on the gallops and the new stand on the horizon is magical. I love the Arc for the sheer quality and consistency of the race. It’s the culmination of the European flat racing season. The Breeders’ Cup has, particularly in recent years, got back to where it was before as the world’s racing championships and is one I look forward to at the end of each season.
Who is your favourite racehorse and why?
Sea The Stars, because of his sheer quality. He was conceived, born, reared, trained and stands at stud now, all within about 15 miles of the Curragh. He only left County Kildare seven times to race, and they were to race in his Group 1 races as a 3-year-old and he had one outing at Leopardstown as a 2-year-old.
He was just majestic. His win in the Arc and Jim McGrath’s commentary is something I will never forget. I loved him. He was beautiful to look at and it was beautiful to watch him race (see video below).
What is your fondest memory in racing?
I have a huge amount of really good memories. I had one day at Leopardstown at one of the Irish Champions Days where I had the good fortune to be in a room and be introduced to Vincent O’Brien and Sir Peter O’Sullevan together. Indeed I got my photo taken with them. They were two of the greatest heroes I had in racing, all through my younger years. To then go to work in racing and to meet them was just wonderful.
What is the biggest challenge racing faces today?
The biggest challenge we face is to make sure racing remains relevant in a digital age and that we can explain the nuances and beauty of our sport to a new generation of followers who are consuming sport, entertainment and all those activities in a completely different fashion. They consume things in a way that our generation and the generation before us didn’t. It’s a global challenge.