Granny Biddy and Barry John Foley winning at Tramore© Photo Healy Racing
Conditional jockey Barry John Foley made the most of a recent suspension when travelling to America to ride two winners last week, steering a winner on Viriginia Gold Cup day for American trainer Richard Valentine.
Foley received a four days whip suspension at Galway last month but made use of his free time to travel to America and, with no Irish jumps racing last weekend, partnered two winners Stateside for trainers Valentine, in a USD45,000 allowance hurdle race, and for David Bourke.
Foley, who freelances and rides out for trainers Michael Winters, Robert Tyner and Eoin Doyle, today said “I was suspended here for four days but on days when there was no jumps racing in Ireland, I was able to ride in America. My main contacts in Virginia are David Bourke and Doug Fout and I had five rides during the week, with two winners and two more placed rides. There’s only one meeting left in their season now but I do have the option of going back over in the spring if the opportunity arises.
“My initial contact in America was in March 2016 when I was still an amateur but I turned professional over there and when I came back to Ireland that November, things started going from there and I’ve ridden 15 winners since.
“I’m down to a 5lbs claim and have 17 left on that 5lbs claim and Gary Cribbin is my agent.”
