Dreams became reality for all involved with the champion racehorse Flooring Porter after he retained his Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle title for the second year in a row on St Patricks Day.
Flooring Porter is truly a horse of the people. The wild celebrations in the winners enclosure on Thursday was one of the highlights of the entire festival.
It was especially memorable for me because my father Edward Hogarty is an owner of the horse, along with Alan Sweeney, Tommy Sweeney and Kerrill Creaven.
Over the past year and a half, the horse has changed our lives, and brought so much joy to people of Roscommon and Galway.
The syndicate finally got to celebrate the victory from the winners enclosure in Cheltenham after being denied the opportunity to attend the racecourse last year due to the pandemic.
There were fears that Porter's wild streak would kick in before a crowd of over 70,000 spectators after winning at an empty racecourse last year. Porter went off second favourite to Klassical Dream, who had beat him at Leopardstown in December.
However, the nerves and apprehension were put to ease from the start of the race. Danny Mullins - in black and white - made no mistakes and the pair cruised into victory with two- and three-quarter lengths to spare, followed by Thyme Hill and Paisley Park.
The boys made sure to celebrate in style, with a group of over 30 supporters wearing black and white Flooring Porter scarves joining them in the parade ring. Danny Mullins was carried around on their shoulders while the chant ‘There’s only one Danny Mullins’ overpowered the Cheltenham roar.
17 March 2022; Members of the Flooring Porter Syndicate celebrate after winning the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle with Flooring Porter and Jockey Danny Mullins on day three of the Cheltenham Racing Festival at Prestbury Park in Cheltenham, England. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Paddy Power himself even admitted that the celebration was amazing. He told my Dad that he "hadn’t seen a celebration like it in Cheltenham in years!"
Here’s how to celebrate when your horse, Flooring Porter, that cost you €6K four years ago wins a Grade One race at Cheltenham for the second time. #cheltenham #Cheltenham2022. #Flooringporter pic.twitter.com/UtwajYshyK
— Ronan McGreevy (@RMcGreevy1301) March 17, 2022
I watched the race at home surrounded by my friends and family. Myself and my younger brother Ned, who is one of Flooring Porters’ biggest fans, shared tears of joy when Porter crossed the finish line after an impeccable front running ride by Danny Mullins. That winning feeling was incredible. We made enough noise for the whole parish to hear while dancing around the kitchen.
The 2021 Stayers Hurdle Cup takes prized position on our mantelpiece alongside a framed painting of Flooring Porter with Danny Mullins after last year's race.
Bring it home 🐎🏁 #FlooringPorter pic.twitter.com/7xzcdJ4yJ2
— Leah Hogarty (@leahhogartyy) March 17, 2022
It was very surreal to watch Dad stand beside the trainer Gavin Cromwell and an ITV racing reporter to speak about the win on the television. I facetimed Dad shortly after the race and he was ecstatic.
"The horse was due it, we were due it, the parish was due it, the country was due it"
Ned Hogarty speaking for all fans of Flooring Porter, and indeed all fans of porter yesterday at Cheltenhampic.twitter.com/hhb0GUqIqs— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 18, 2022
The Flooring Porter party arrived home to Ballinasloe on Friday afternoon. They were met with a warm welcome from more of their supporters and the party continued into the night. Winning at Cheltenham is like the All-Ireland Final of the racing world. It was like the syndicate had just brought the Liam MacCarthy over the River Shannon.
Not only did this win mean so much to the syndicate, their families, friends and many supporters but also to our entire community. Flooring Porter has certainly brought plenty of joy and happiness to our town in times of uncertainty. Everyone benefits from the success of Flooring Porter.
Flooring Porter will go down in history books for being one of the only horses to win the Stayers Hurdle twice in a row. Porter plans on returning to the Stayers Hurdle next year to make it three in a row!
SEE ALSO: How Flooring Porter Became An Unexpected Hero In The West Of Ireland
