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Patrick Harty is looking forward to paying thanks to those who have made a successful season possible at his second-ever trainer open morning, writes James Reid.

Harty and father Eddie will open the doors to Mulgrave Lodge, on the edge of The Curragh, to the public on 19 August with attendees able to take a glimpse inside their well-oiled operation.

The father-and-son duo have now been working together for two years following Eddie’s near two decades in the business individually, and Patrick revealed he can’t wait to welcome everyone into their world.

“We are very much looking forward to it and hopeful the weather will play its part,” he said. “It hasn’t been a great summer so far but we are optimistic.

“The open day is just about saying thank you to our clients and owners that are with us at the moment, and looking to show off our facilities and operation to hopefully some potential clients going forward.

“They employ us to do a job and trust us with their horses, and while we are paid for that, we are grateful of it. it is nice to be able to relax and enjoy the day with them.

“People can look forward to a nice friendly welcome. It’s a chance to see our facilities, talk to us, get a feel for the place and maybe go away learning a thing or two they didn’t know beforehand.

“We did it for the first time last year and it was a great success. It was a lot of fun and we had lots of positive feedback afterwards so we were looking forward to doing it again this year.

“I suppose the most important thing we learned was that people enjoy the social side of it. Just actually getting to talk to myself or Eddie, meet a couple of the jockeys and guys in the yard, that’s what it is all about.

“It can be as fancy as you want with as many frills, but it is just about trying to always keep it personal.”

Attendees will also be treated to an audience with jockey Chris Hayes, who has enjoyed a stellar season.

Hayes has won both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes with Dermot Weld-trained Tahiyra so far in 2023 and will be offering his expertise to those who attend.

“Chris is a great team player, he is a great asset to our team and a big part of what we do here,” Harty added.

“He meets us two or three times a week, whatever we need, if we want ride work or jump some horses out of the stalls, or just as a soundboard, you have got a very experienced and talented man that you can pick up the phone to. It’s very important.”

The open morning will also be a chance for both Patrick and Eddie to reflect on the second year of their partnership, just a month out from the Irish Champions Festival.

Hopes are high amongst the pair of a good showing for Coralillo in the Flying Five Stakes, but Patrick is content with a strong flat season.

“The Harty family have been in racing for a long time, we are steeped in racing history,” he said.

“I came on board two years ago as a joint license holder. We were the first in Ireland to get the joint license and dad was integral in bringing about joint licensing to Irish horse racing.

“I suppose we were history makers in that respect. We have been successful so far and want to keep building it going forward.

“He has been there and done it and proved that he can do it at every level, flat and jump, so I respect that massively and respect his opinion.

“I have learned a lot off him over the years and even when you think you are not learning you are picking up little bits.

“It has been a successful season. We might not have had the number of winners that we have been looking for but the horses have been running well.

“It is fantastic to do what we both love and to do it together. We work well as a team, there are obviously clashes here and there but that is just because we are both passionate about what we do.

“We are pulling in the same direction and it is a fantastic experience to share it with dad.”