Dundalk native Shane Gray enjoyed a homecoming to remember on Friday night as he rode the first Group-race winner of his career aboard Washington Heights in the BAR 1 Betting Mercury Stakes at Dundalk Stadium.
The 31-year-old was roared home by a large gathering of family and friends as Washington Heights, trained by British handler Kevin Ryan, held off stablemate Ain’t Nobody and Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle to land the €70,000 contest.
For Gray, the victory was the culmination of a long journey from leaving his hometown as a teenager to pursue his dream of becoming a professional jockey. With his local sponsor BAR 1 Betting also backing the race, the occasion carried extra significance.
Speaking to BAR 1 Betting ahead of the race, Gray admitted he had been looking forward to the opportunity for months.
“I remember the early stage entries were out, I seen that Kevin Ryan had three entries, I must have asked him about three months ago to keep me in mind, being from here, all my family are still living here, being sponsored by BAR 1 Betting, who are sponsoring the race, I’m really looking forward to it,” said Gray.
Leaving Dundalk to pursue a racing dream
Gray was just a teenager when he left his hometown to pursue a career in the saddle. His journey began in Tipperary before he eventually made the move across the Irish Sea to further his ambitions.
His interest in racing began at a young age, with his older brother Steven and local jockey Bunny Cox playing influential roles.
“I started out with a local lad, Bunny Cox, my brother Steven would have started out there, Bunny was known as a top-class jockey in his era, winning at Cheltenham Festivals, champion jockey numerous times, so I knew from a young age, watching my brother ride winners, probably from the age of ten, that I was going to be a jockey, I had no interest in school whatsoever.”
At 15, Gray moved south to join trainer Fozzy Stack in Tipperary, leaving behind his family and childhood friends in Dundalk.
“I moved down to Fozzy Stacks at 15 in Tipperary, obviously it’s tough leaving your family and childhood friends being so young, not being able to drive, not being able to cook, but there’s stuff you pick up along the way.”
Having experienced the demands of pursuing a racing career from such a young age, Gray would offer a different piece of advice to aspiring jockeys today.
“It depends how independent you are, but I would recommend staying in school for a bit longer.”
Confidence behind a strong year in the saddle
Friday night’s victory was Gray’s 44th winner of the year in Britain and Ireland, his highest annual tally since recording 65 winners in Britain in 2015.
The Louth man believes confidence has played a major role in his improved form during 2026, a year he expects to look back on fondly.
“It’s a year I’ve definitely enjoyed, being a jockey can be stressful, you don’t know when your next winner is going to be, but I’ve enjoyed my riding a lot better this year and I’m pretty sure that has a massive effect on why I’m riding winners, riding with confidence is everything.”
Gray has spent the past 13 years riding for Kevin Ryan, the Group 1-winning trainer who has become a key figure in his career. Asked about their relationship, the jockey was full of praise for his boss.
“I went to Kevin 13 years ago, I don’t think we ever fell out, he’s a straight man, old fashioned, set in his ways, very straight talking, a decent man.”
Gray’s confidence was evident before Friday’s Mercury Stakes. Washington Heights was sent off the 5/2 favourite, with the jockey optimistic about his chances aboard the six-year-old. It was also his only ride on the seven-race programme.
“He’s a very straightforward horse, there’ll be some butterflies seeing everyone, I’ll be like a small child again coming back to my hometown and seeing everyone but I’m really looking forward to it.”
“He’s the class horse in the race and if he shows his best form tonight, he’ll have a really good chance.”
The result proved him right, with Washington Heights delivering the breakthrough Group-race success that had eluded Gray throughout his career.
Dundalk FC, life in England and plans for retirement
Away from the racecourse, Gray remains a passionate Dundalk FC supporter and was delighted to see the Lilywhites secure their League of Ireland Premier Division status for 2027 in recent weeks.
“They hung in there, can’t complain, if you were told they’d stay up this year you’d take it all day.”
Although he loves returning to Dundalk, Gray is unsure whether he would ever settle back in his hometown on a permanent basis. Having spent so much of his adult life in England, he has established a life and circle of friends across the Irish Sea.
“I get asked this question all the time, I love coming home, I do, but I just don’t know if I’d be able to settle, I’d like to think so one day.”
“I’m there such a long time, I’m living there half my life, most of my friends and people I associate with are over there, so who knows.”
With his first Group-race winner now secured, Gray is focused on continuing to ride winners while also preparing for life after racing.
“Keep riding winners, my first goal now is to ride a group winner, I’m quite lucky that I’m surrounded by good people, in Kevin Ryan and good businessmen.”
Racing careers can be relatively short, and Gray admits that leaving school early initially left him feeling at a disadvantage. He credits Ryan with encouraging him to think about his financial future.
“Let’s be honest, racing is a short career, when I mentioned earlier about kids getting educated and staying in school, I hadn’t, it felt like I was on the backfoot coming in, but Kevin has really pushed me to invest in property, so that you can be comfortable when you retire, so I’m working that path now.”
BAR 1 Betting sponsorship has an extra-special meaning
In May, Dundalk-based bookmaker BAR 1 Betting announced Gray as its official sponsored jockey. Friday’s Mercury Stakes victory brought the partnership full circle, with Gray’s local sponsor also backing the race in which he achieved the biggest milestone of his career.
Gray believes the arrangement has benefited both parties, with the sponsorship helping to raise awareness of the BAR 1 Betting brand among racing fans.
“You wouldn’t believe how many people mention it (BAR 1 Betting) to me when they see them on the stalls or sponsoring races, whereas they never noticed them before.”
He recalled travelling from Dublin Airport with Adam Ryan, Kevin’s assistant, when the sponsorship prompted an immediate reaction.
“I was driving from Dublin airport with Adam Ryan, Kevin’s assistant and straight away he copped one of the shops, so I feel we’ve been good for each other.”
For Gray, the partnership means more than simply having a sponsor. With BAR 1 Betting headquartered in his hometown, the connection makes Friday night’s success all the more memorable.
“Being a business from my hometown, it’s a little bit extra special and I get a great kick out of it.”
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