91-year-old Irishman overcome with emotion as he celebrates first winner
The father and son duo of Mick and Aiden had an incredible evening at Dundalk on Friday
A 91-year-old local man was overcome with emotion as he celebrated his first ever winner at Dundalk on Friday evening.
Louth native Mick Hynes was in attendance as he watched Nathan Crosse partner with his son Aiden's horse, Moyassr, for victory in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap on Halloween night.
Speaking to Racing TV after the remarkable win, an overjoyed Mick tried to put into words the magnitude of the achievement.
"A first winner in Dundalk, I can't believe it. I really can't, I'm so chuffed... I'm so emotional," he said as he struggled to fight back the tears of joy.
On the winning trainer, he said "Paul Flynn, I heard so much about him in the last couple of months from Aiden, telling me he was a brilliant man and the whole lot.
"I found out tonight what he was like. We probably left it a little late, but we got there in the end, that was the main thing. I'm really delighted, I really am."
Mick was joined by Aiden in the interview, with the younger Hynes explaining how he bought the horse in the summer to give his father a few good days, and how they had been targeting a win in Dundalk for this victory.
He explained: "I bought the horse just to give my father a day out. He's 91-years of age, God knows how many years we all have left, he's on the wheels there tonight and he jumped out of the wheels when the horse went by.
"It's just phenomenal, and I'm just as emotional to see him now."
Last year, Aiden had a winner at Royal Ascot, and he was asked last night about how the win at Dundalk compares.
He added: "Do you know what, this is the first horse that I have ever owned myself. He has ran in my colours, the Dublin colours and the Kilmacud Crokes colours - my club in Dublin.
"It's just on a different level. Royal Ascot was good, but this is my own."