Jockey Ruby Walsh has a ballad dedicated to him
Top jockey Ruby Walsh is to have a song released in his honour.
The Irish jockey, who rode a record seven winners at last week’s Cheltenham Festival, is well used to the chant of the Kaiser Chiefs’ “Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby” — but he now has a song dedicated to him.
The Ballad of Ruby Walsh, by Irish folk singer Christy Moore, is to be released tomorrow (Friday 20 March).
Christy is a keen racing fan and claims he has Ruby to thank for his winnings on numerous occasions — most notably at the Galway Festival one year.
“Ruby Walsh saved my bacon below at the Galway. When he crowned my treble in Ballybrit I vowed to sing a song for him,” Christy told local papers.
The song’s lyrcis combine emotive descriptions of the sport with amusing social commentary.
“They’re under starter’s orders
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Ted Walsh is commentating
Ruby’s on the favourite
He’ll surely take some batin
Necks are craned and eyes are strained
There’s fear upon the faces
There’s agony and ecstasy
Below at the Galway Races”
The Ballard of Ruby Walsh is the first single on Christy’s forthcoming album Listen, out on 17 April.
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A graduate of Exeter University, Amy joined our news team from Redpin Publishing in 2008 as news writer. She was promoted to deputy news editor in May 2013 and became news editor in April 2015. She left Horse & Hound in March 2016 to take up an editorial position in Dubai.