Brian O'Connortalks to the Kildare-born rider about a career that has taken him to Singapore via Britain, Macau, Malaysia and India
IF THERE'S a racecourse in drizzly old Invercargill on the bottom tip of New Zealand, then it should gear itself up for a visit from Mark Gallagher sometime, because the Kildare-born jockey still hopes to traverse his way across the racing world.
However, at 39, Gallagher finds himself in Singapore as one of the leading overseas riders based at the spectacular Kranji racetrack. He has been based in the hugely exciting city for the last 18 months and has been granted another coveted licence to ride there for the next year. The only other European jockey with such a document is the Frenchman Eric Legrix.
Not surprisingly, the racing and betting industries are huge in Singapore, and riders are in the public eye to an extent that maybe only those who've witnessed racing's fanatical appeal in Hong Kong will understand.
The result is a lifestyle for Gallagher, his English-born wife, Tracey, and their daughter, Shannon, that even the likes of Mick Kinane, John Murtagh and Ruby Walsh might look enviously at.
"It does tend to get very humid here, but if that's your only complaint then you've no complaint!" laughs a man who has ridden almost a thousand winners in a career that has taken him to Singapore via Britain, Macau, Malaysia and India. And the travelling bug hasn't gone away either.
"I love it here but I also love travelling. There are a lot of Australian and New Zealand jockeys riding here and the idea of going to Australia and New Zealand to ride at some stage appeals to me. There are so many opportunities in racing that I would like to look at as many as I can," Gallagher adds.
It was precisely the lack of opportunities in Ireland in the late 1980s that first provoked Gallagher's travels.
Born and brought up in Kildare town, his family are steeped in racing. His father, Robbie, is head man for the Curragh trainer Michael Halford, while his uncle Tom Gallagher works for Dermot Weld. The Champion Hurdle-winning rider Dean Gallagher, a top jump jockey in France, is his cousin.
Gallagher left school, in Kildare CBS and St Joseph's Academy, after second year determined to do what he had wanted since he began to ride at age five. Tailing his father through yards like that of the legendary Darkie Prendergast had ignited a passion that was then fuelled by pony racing alongside his cousin. But his ambition was matched by some subsequently famous names.
A year with Kevin Prendergast coincided with apprenticeships there, too, for Kieren Fallon and Charlie Swan. Another year with John Murphy was followed by 18 months with Jim Bolger, whose apprentice list famously includes Tony McCoy, Kevin Manning and many others.
But patience was not young Gallagher's strongest suit and he left for England. Inside 10 days of arrival he had ridden a winner. His main employer, Rod Simpson, endured a spell of illness in his yard, however, and his jockey was offered the chance of a month riding in Macau, less than 40 miles from Hong Kong. He went for that month - and stayed for five years. It was there he met his wife. Together they decided to try their luck in India.
It paid off in style. He landed 37 Group races or classics, including six regional Derbys. A pair of champion jockey titles in Bangalore, even though foreigners could ride in only 50 per cent of the races, added even more to his profile.
Racing is a popular sport on the sub-continent and it was good to its permanently-based Irishman.
But Gallagher's itchy feet came into play again after almost 10 years, and a three-month invitation to Singapore was snapped up.
He hasn't regretted his decision. From next year there will be racing twice a week at Kranji, where the horses are also housed and worked.
Riding work is important, but there is also time to enjoy life.
"Singapore is a very vibrant and beautiful city. It's a very secure place to raise a family. We're also very close to places like Malaysia and Thailand for vacations, so it's got pretty much everything," Gallagher enthuses.
"For racing, the opportunities here over the next few years will be unlimited. The standard of horse is rising all the time and the stake money must be as good as anywhere in the world," he adds.
Some of the top jockeys in Australia and New Zealand have been tempted to Singapore and most of the horses also come from Down Under.
Their standard is rising, and Gallagher says: "Our best sprinter was only a length-and-a-half off Takeover Target in last year's International Sprint here, and Takeover Target is a Royal Ascot winner."
Determined to work in Singapore for as long as he can, Gallagher hasn't cut off ties with this part of the world either. He rode a 100 to 1 shot, Leander, in last year's Epsom Derby and beat three home while Frankie Dettori was busy celebrating a maiden Derby victory on Authorized.
"I think about going home sometimes when there are bad days. But I don't know about returning to Ireland. I still love to travel, while at the same time I would also like to settle down somewhere eventually. Maybe even after I finish my riding career there might be an offer for something here in Singapore. But I still think I've got something to offer," he says.
