Bodyshop owner and successful motor racer, Frank Byrnes, who is also no stranger to charity fund raising, is this summer taking on a new challenge. He will be back on track later this month but swapping one kind of horse power at Mondello Park for a totally different kind in the field of horse racing. Frank, who is MD of Oranmore based Frank Byrnes Autobody Repairs, is raising funds for the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.

Frank will be competing in the 2018 Corinthian Challenge Horse Racing Series at many famous tracks and in order to do this he has had to secure a jockeys licence from The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (I.H.R.B). This meant a thorough examination of all aspects of horsemanship and equine care at the Irish Racing Academy and Centre of Education, plus much intense preparation both through riding out at the facilities of Ranch Racing in Kilcolgan under their trainer Stephen Mahon and physically enduring road running combined with intensive gym sessions.

The Irish Injured Jockeys provides support through financial means, assistance in recovery and, if necessary, retraining in a prompt and sympathetic manner to those jockeys past or present who are injured, unable to ride or generally in need..

Frank will ride in 3 horse races on Irelands top racetracks over the summer. The first will be at the Curragh on the 22nd July "Kilboy Estate Stakes” day. The second leg will take place in Navan on the 23rd September, their first National Hunt card of the season and the final race will see Frank ride at the famous Leopardstown track on the 27th October on "Tote Handicap Day”.

The Corinthian Challenge Series is the latest charity project which Frank has undertaken. To date Frank and his company have raised €100,000 for a variety of charities, both local and national, through various initiatives. 

If you would like to support Frank’s ride for charity please visit Everydayhero.ie/frankbyrnes