Peter O’Reilly brought his riding career to a memorable close at Newmarket on Saturday, completing a long-held ambition when Alibey carried the 65-year-old to victory in the historic Newmarket Town Plate.
Newmarket Town Plate results were headlined by O’Reilly’s first career victory in the saddle.
The success came after years of riding in charity events, point-to-points and amateur races without a winner to his name. That long wait ended in the 355th running of the historic contest, which dates back to 1666 and was instituted during the reign of King Charles II.
This year’s race was reduced to two miles because of the dry conditions, but the shortened distance did little to diminish the occasion. The contest also began with an early setback when Honneur De Sivola failed to start with the rest of the field.
O’Reilly, riding Alibey for the first time only two days earlier, made no such mistake. He sent the mount into the lead from the outset and maintained control throughout the race.
The field remained within striking distance turning for home, leaving several runners with a chance of mounting a challenge. Alibey, however, continued to find enough in the closing stages and pulled clear to finish three lengths ahead of Jet Of Magic, with Ian Holt in second.
The victory was particularly significant for O’Reilly, who also serves as chief executive of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. Having spent much of his career around horses, he was finally able to register a victory on the racecourse in what he intends to be his final competitive ride.
O’Reilly had been supported at Newmarket by his wife Tish and children Frankie and Martina, making the occasion a family moment as well as a personal milestone.
The rider had only his first opportunity to sit on Alibey on Friday after arriving in Newmarket following a visit to York. His limited preparation made the result all the more notable, particularly given the demanding nature of the Town Plate and its traditionally long distance.
Alibey had most recently won a maiden hurdle at Fakenham in May and showed plenty of resilience under pressure on Saturday. O’Reilly allowed the mount to maintain the advantage before committing fully in the final stages, and the partnership held together strongly all the way to the finish.
The Newmarket Town Plate results also marked the culmination of a charity effort for O’Reilly. More than £6,000 had already been raised before the race, with funds being divided between the Pat Smullen Fund and the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
O’Reilly plans to step away from race riding but hopes to remain involved with horses by continuing to ride out. His long association with the sport will therefore continue away from the competitive arena.
For someone who had waited 65 years for a winner, the timing could hardly have been more fitting. The Newmarket Town Plate results will be remembered not simply for the result itself, but for the story behind O’Reilly’s long-awaited first success and his decision to end his riding career at the same meeting.
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