Champion jockey Barry Geraghty’s autobiography leads off The Great Pynck Christmas Reads series

by Kim Mullahey · December 11, 2020

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CHAMPION Irish jockey Barry Geraghty reached dizzying heights in a career spanning 23 years, becoming the first to win the four big races at Cheltenham and the English Grand National – he has also plummeted to stupendous lows – breaking every limb including his back three times and through it all he got right back on the horse and in the race.

Image credit: Gill Books publisher

Retiring in July of this year as Ireland’s foremost jockey, Barry Geraghty has penned his memoires in ‘True Colours’, an autobiography about resilience, self-belief and passion for the sport, a fitting tribute to lead off the weekly Great Pynck Irish Read series culminating with the New Year. Something for everyone is promised in the series of selected Irish authors, some of them based on legends and local lore and some, like Barry’s book just recently shortlisted Irish postal service book awards.

“There are days when the ground comes back at you like bullets, flicking off the top of the sod as the horse in front gallops through,” said Barry Geraghty in his prologue. “There are days when it comes sod and all, two fists full like a punch in the face. You drop your eyes, tuck in your chin and try and take it on your shoulders instead.”

Breeches worn by Irish racing great Barry Geraghty at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival were auctioned to an anonymous donor

Broken and battered the previous year, Barry Geraghty concluded his racing career by going on to win five races at the Cheltenham Festival including the Champion hurdle. Written with The42.ie Deputy Editor Niall Kelly, ‘True Colours’ captures the irreplaceable buzz and adrenaline of life as a jockey in charting Barry’s constant search for balance between chasing the highs and managing the lows and life as a husband and father.

“Above all I am grateful,” said Barry Geraghty at the conclusion of his memoirs. “Grateful that I have had such a good career, grateful that I have been able to enjoy so much success for good people who placed their trust in me, grateful that I have been able to share it with the people I love most.”