The Racing Life of Dominic Ruane
- Jo O'Neill
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
‘I always had an involvement in racing,’ says Dominic Ruane. ‘Growing up in the Cotswolds meant if you could ride, you’d end up on the back of a racehorse at some point.’
However, initially ‘Dom’ was a successful eventer. Having studied A-Levels, he was a working pupil for Clayton and Lucinda Fredericks in Wiltshire before riding full-time. ‘I never made it to uni,’ Dom laughs ruefully. In 2005, he competed in his first big event, Blenheim Horse Trails. ‘I ended up taking my Pony Club horse all the way up to Badminton in 2007.’
In a switching of equestrian priorities, Dom is assistant trainer to Harriet Dickin, whom he also married last June. They work closely together daily, with Dom riding out, going racing, driving the lorry and tractor… Yet, their love story wouldn’t have even begun if they had both never been eventers, meeting for the first time at Ballendenisk Horse Trials in County Cork.
Living moments away from the yard, their beloved Upper Twinhoe Farm, near Bath, Harriet and Dom own a small dog called Jinx and, bizarrely, a pet deer. ‘I drove over her with the topper on the day she was probably born, giving her a bang on the head,’ explains Dom. ‘I picked her up, carried her home, disappeared on my stag do and when I came home, Harriet had kept her alive, so we have a tame deer, called Bambi, running around the garden.’
Between 1st and 7th June, Dom underwent an epic cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund. With retired trainer and father-in-law Robin Dickin driving the support vehicle, he battled all weathers and busy roads, calling into a few racecourses on the way past. ‘931 miles, seven days and one very sore arse,’ Harriet lovingly summed up, before emphasizing Dominic’s biggest achievement of raising over £4000.
Did you have a horsey childhood? Yes, very horsey. I learnt a bit in a riding school for a while, before getting my first pony when I was about six. I loved Pony Club; some of my Pony Club friends are still my mates now.
How did you get into racing? In 2008, when I was still eventing at the top level, I rode out for the late Sarah Stafford. She pushed me into having a few rides for her in point-to-points: it was all her doing and her encouraging… That was my first little adventure into the racing world.
How do you reflect on your career as a jockey? I never managed to fall off and to win one, so I think that was OK.
My winner was the ex-Richard Phillips trained Brooking, in a maiden at Paxford. Being a local point-to-point, all my friends came along, asked if they should back him and I said no – they didn’t let me off the hook for him winning!
Favourite racehorses: Those legendary chasers that I grew up watching round Cheltenham. I definitely saw Kauto Star win at least one of his Gold Cups. Now, I look back and it’s cool to say I was there.
Favourite racecourse: Growing up, the only racecourse I went to was Cheltenham and it’ll always be my favourite.
Racing hero: When I was a teenager, on the jockey front, there was only ever AP McCoy.
Favourite racing celebration: Back in the day, when Imperial Commander won the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Cotswolds went mad. He was a local legend and we all celebrated, whether directly connected to the horse or not.
How did your big cycle ride come about? Last year, I was chatting when friends who I occasionally go cycling with, and we talked about doing Land’s End to John O’Groats. I said I’d do it next year for charity. I said, ‘If you lot want to come along then great but if not, I’m still going to do it.’ That was the first discussion and when I signed myself up to it, so to speak. It’s obviously our quiet time in racing, whereas it’s other people’s busy time at work so it didn’t work out for anyone joining me for the whole cycle. So, I ended up doing it alone.
Chepstow was one of the Racecourses that Dom stopped at on his way northwards
And why did you choose to support the IJF? Everyone working in the racing industry knows what the IJF do – and they still don’t get enough credit – but the general public don’t see or hear enough about it.
How do you reflect on your cycle? The first three days were pretty horrible. The weather was disgusting and it was very hard cycling. Then, once I got to Scotland, it all became more enjoyable – less traffic, great scenery and the Friday was even dry. Plus, I think, the body gets used to doing what you’re asking it to do – the first day, I was fine, day two and three everything hurt and towards the end of the week, it was Ok again.
Any comments on your support team? 3A's Leisure, who sponsor Ffos Las Racecourse, kindly provided us with a camper van for Robin to drive. We set up Google Maps to be able to track me, and it will always be entertaining that Robin had to speak to Harriet at least five times throughout the week to be reminded how to follow my progress.
Yet, Robin was always there at the end of each day at the chosen campsite along the route.
And the finish line? Harriet, Claire, Robin, Harriet’s two cousins and my parents were all up there. Even if I was too knackered to celebrate, it was lovely to have a few people at the finish for me.
Favourite meal: Spaghetti carbonara in Rome.
Favourite drink: Red wine.
Favourite holiday destination: We will be in Thailand this week, so I’m hoping it’s going to be there. I have been to the Maldives twice and that was amazing. The sea is incredibly blue and there’s so much sea life; it’s like swimming in a huge tropical fish tank.
Favourite music: Whilst cycling through Scotland, I put on Paolo Nutini, purely because he’s Scottish, and he was great listening. An old favourite is Kings of Loen.
Favourite film: Gladiator.
Favourite book: I only read on holidays, and I choose easy reading books, like the Jack Reacher series.
Other hobbies: When I have the time, I take my metal detector into the countryside. I have found a few interesting coins and a ring that is going through the treasure process and will end up in a museum.
Harriet, Robin and Dom
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