Michael O'Sullivan will be laid to rest on Wednesday afternoon. Horse racing photographer Pat Healy pays tribute to the late 24-year-old jockey.
Sunday morning and I draw the curtains. Jesus what a horrible sight!
It's grey, dark and the sky looks to be on the ground. The scene mirrors the way I feel after yesterday evenings result in the football with The Dubs beating us in our own backyard by a point.
I have to face them at Punchestown today, putting on a smiley face and let their banter roll off me. Oh the thoughts of it! Problem is I’m used to it now sure they have us where they want us for the past decade and a half.
Pick up the phone check whats happening in the world, is Trump giving us a laugh today?
Wallop! Noooo! Aw Holy God!
Like a heavy weight boxer's punch into the stomach the IHRB let us know that Mikey has left us. Punchestown and The Point To Points called off.
Be no trace of any Dubs today! Oh how I’m wishing now that there was, that way wouldn’t Mikey still be with us.
Tramore New Years Day 47 nights ago. Mikey steers Embassy Gardens home to win the feature event on the card for trainer Willie Mullins. I photograph him and his mount in a happy kinda celebration shot on the track before they head for the winners enclosure.
“Well done Mikey boy, good on you kid”
“Thanks Pat, I needed that,” the relief washing over him.
“Mikey, this game is about the long road, stay on the road,” I tell him.
“Don’t worry Pat when I get my chance I will turn it into a motorway,” he says and a big hearty laugh out of him!!
I know Mikey, not well but I know him. Sure we are both part of the same community. The racing community.
We move from town to town like a circus. Same clowns different towns.
As I get older I appreciate the younger generations. They make me smile and I learn from them. Little life lessons like new slang words, phone and computer shortcuts, that type of stuff. Sure they know it all!
Mikey is a step above the youngest generation I interact with. There is a group of 16-17 year olds riding. Mikey is 24. I love capturing their 1st success on the track and then watching them achieve their goals and dreams.
Cheltenham is every jump jockey’s dream and in March 2023 we saw Mikey grab his dream twice in the one day. Glorious, Great and Gracious, Mikey stole the show in the biggest circus.
If you hadn’t seen the results you wouldn’t have known it. His cap still fitted his head, his walk didn’t alter and his tongue didn’t let him down. Pure humble hi.
The last few days everything I have read and heard spoken about him is true. It makes me wish I knew him better. Makes me wish I spent time in his company socially. Makes me wish……
Mikey you are a credit to your family and friends.
May God speed you on that motorway and wrap his loving arms around you X
12 September 2023; Muhalhel, with Michael O'Sullivan up, goes to post before the Buckets Of Value At Tote Claiming Race at the Laytown Strand Races in Laytown, Meath. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
