Sam Coen

I'm from Fethard, Co Tipperary, and my two sisters, Leah and Megan, were really into eventing and hunting.

My sisters were very good to me and when they grew out of their eventing pony, I got a hand me down from them. I had my first pony since I could walk.

Annette Connolly taught me nearly everything. Becky Tandy taught me a lot as well and I went through the eventing ranks with her. She was my coach. I also did a lot of hunting. I'll be honest, I didn't enjoy the eventing because it just wasn't for me. I loved hunting, though.

My first cousins Ben and Jake Coen are a big part of my career as well. I went off pony racing with them on Sundays. I picked up that bug and always wanted to get out racing.

Eventually, I picked up a couple of rides pony racing and it all took off from there. I had Dingle winners and I was successful enough pony racing. I loved it and it was a big grounding for me. I had about 40 winners doing that for four years. I rode against Jake, but Ben had gone on to the track by that stage.

My mother and father have been very good to me. Whether the pony racing was in Donegal or in Kerry, I was always brought there. They have been a big help.

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Transitioning to Pony Racing and Beyond

I always wanted to progress from pony racing and get on to the track, and try to achieve some of the things that Ben and Jake have achieved.

I was great friends with Sean Bowen (champion apprentice in Britain in 2024) and I rode out in John Nallen's (Sean's uncle) with the likes of Eoin McDonagh and Sean. They taught me a lot in terms of schooling horses in John's.

I wanted to get going on the Flat and John didn't have any Flat horses at the time, so I went up with Ben and Jake and Andrew Slattery to Andy Slattery's yard.

I took my licence out when I was 16, signed on to Andy, and have never looked back since. They have been very good to me, I've been riding work in there from early on.

In there, you learn a lot off all the lads in the yard, they are a great help to me. You would always watch what Ben, Jake and Andrew are doing and try to do the same as them.

First Winner On The Flat

I had my first winner on Rock Etoile in Gowran Park in September last year. It was a dream come true, I had been waiting for that day since I was up on ponies.

It is mad when it happens, it is just class. Riding winners is nearly like a drug, it just gives you that kick that nothing else gives you.

Ado McGuinness has been great to me since last winter in Dundalk. I got a connection with Ado and had my first winner for him on a horse called Clonmacash (in January). I'm after winning three on him now. Hopefully, things keep going with him and I keep progressing.

Jockey Championship Title Race

If someone had told me I would be on the apprentice title race table (finished sixth), I would have probably laughed at them at the start of the season. I thought if I had three or four winners during the season, it would have been great.

To get 18 winners in my first proper season was amazing. I was actually only three winners behind at one stage and then I got a suspension in Dundalk, and that just put me out for the last couple of meetings of the season. I got back for the last day of the season (in the Curragh).

I can't thank all the trainers and owners enough for giving me those opportunities. You are always trying to get your name out there to try and build up more contacts.

Getting spare rides is a big help. I had two winners for Tom McCourt in the season just finished, they are winners that I thought I never would have had as they were spare rides.

Next Steps

I'm trying to ride work for other people and keep progressing. I'm in Andy's riding out six days a week. Work mornings would be Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. There's plenty of horses in, so it is good experience in there.

I got a good kick out of riding a double in the Curragh about a month ago. One of them was for Andy (Highbury See See) and the other was for Tom (Smoke Them Out).

I was second in the Irish Cesarewitch this year (on Chally Chute at Curragh in September) and I was a bit unlucky. Being placed in that gave me a good kick. I was on a big outsider at 66/1. Those are the races you want to be riding in. All those professionals won't give you an inch and that's how you just keep learning.

Everything is going well so far. I'm going to stay around for the winter (in Dundalk) and try and get my name out there as much as I can and just keep picking up outside rides.

Plans For 2026

Next year I'm going to try and give the apprentice title a good kick, and try and get competitive with the boys. It is not going to be easy, but we'll give it a try anyway.

I'm not the lightest in the world so when my claim goes, it will be a big help. I know you struggle for a while your claim goes, but it would be great to ride out my claim in the next three to four years.

I couldn't knock the Irish racing industry, I absolutely love it. I love going off racing every day and meeting the other jockeys and trainers. Getting out there riding is a good buzz. You would have good craic with the lads in the weigh room. They are all a good bunch of lads and that is what you want.

Sam was in conversation with Michael Graham

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About Michael Graham

Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

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