IT’S a long road from the shadow of Fitzgerald Stadium on Lewis Road, Killarney to the notorious victory hill on the racetrack at Cheltenham but it is a journey that has been successfully negotiated, time and time again, by Jim Culloty.
The sporting legend, who has just trained a Gold Cup winner to add to his remarkable list of sporting accomplishments, was always destined for the top in the Sport of Kings and his latest success proves yet again what can be achieved through sheer hard work and burning ambition.
When Jim arrived into the world a week before Christmas in 1973, little did accountant Donal and Maureen Culloty know that their son would become a household name in the world of horse racing.
He was educated at St Oliver’s National School in Ballycasheen and St Brendan’s College, Killarney and he always had his heart set on a career in horse racing.
On completing his Leaving Certificate, he spent a year riding point-to-pointers for David Bloomfield in Cornwall and showed his great promise when he finished the season as the champion novice. He went on to spend two years with Jackie Retter and he then moved to Henrietta Knight’s stable where he became champion amateur in his first season in 1996.
This success, which led to him being honoured by the local authority in his home town, led him to turning professional and becoming stable jockey to Knight for 10 remarkably successful years.
The fiercely competitive Culloty rode a total of 394 winners as a professional, including an unprecedented three Gold Cups on Best Mate, an Aintree Grand National on Bindaree, an Irish Grand National and a King George.
On his retirement from the saddle in July 2005, Culloty turned his attention to training and he started that new chapter in his career from his base at Churchtown, Mallow, Co Cork.
His first winner as a trainer was in November 2006 when Braun Star won at Thurles and since then he has spearheaded dozens of triumphs, most notably Lord Windermere’s brilliant success in the Gold Cup.
He is married to Susie Samworth and they have three children, Art, Eliza and Hugh.
