'Great feeling': Donegal jockey Jamie Orr toasts first victory at Dundalk

There’s another Donegal man making inroads in horse racing: Jamie Orr bagged his first winner on the track at Dundalk on Friday night.

Orr, a cousin of renowned jockeys Oisin and Conor Orr, was in the winners’ enclosure.

Watched on by proud parents, Michael and Teresa, Orr took the Bill Durkan-owned-and-trained Cherry Pink to victory in the apprentice handicap.

The 11/1 shot nosed in a head in front of Sarmiento Power, with Nicola Burns on board.

Orr’s fellow Donegal jockey Patrick McGettigan was sixth on Marians Gal (11/2), but it was Orr’s night to savour after the one mile and two furlongs race.

“It’s a great feeling to get your head in front and cross the line,” Orr said afterwards. “Hopefully there’ll be plenty more through the season.”

On his eighth mount, Orr was toasting success and he pointed to his cousins. Oisin Orr was the champion apprentice jockey in 2017 and 2019, sharing the crown in ’19 with Andrew Slattery.

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Jamie Orr said:  “They made a good job of being jockeys and I got started from there, watching them ride. They tought me a lot and told me what to do and what to improve on. 

“This is my first so hopefully there’ll be many more.”