Niall M. O'Callaghan
Encyclopedia
Niall M. O'Callaghan is an American Thoroughbred
horse trainer
.
O'Callaghan became involved in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing as an apprentice jockey
in his native Ireland. In 1982 he emigrated to the United States where he studied at Miami Dade Community College in Florida
. In 1988, he went to work as an assistant to trainer Thomas J. Skiffington, Jr. In 1990, O'Callaghan set up his own public stable, handling fifteen horses from prominent owner, Frank Stronach
. With John Gunther's colt, Wall Street Dancer, O'Callaghan won his first Graded stakes race
, the 1992 Pan American Handicap
at Gulfstream Park Racetrack
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horse trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
.
O'Callaghan became involved in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing as an apprentice jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
in his native Ireland. In 1982 he emigrated to the United States where he studied at Miami Dade Community College in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 1988, he went to work as an assistant to trainer Thomas J. Skiffington, Jr. In 1990, O'Callaghan set up his own public stable, handling fifteen horses from prominent owner, Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
. With John Gunther's colt, Wall Street Dancer, O'Callaghan won his first Graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
, the 1992 Pan American Handicap
Pan American Handicap
The Pan American Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
at Gulfstream Park Racetrack
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
.