Aidan O'Brien urges racing to spread positive messages

Aidan O’Brien made a plea for the racing community to spread positivity about the sport in the wake of Lambourn becoming the 20th horse to complete the Epsom-Irish Derby double  on Sunday. 

O’Brien broke off from talking about his colt’s courageous victory when Racing TV’s Kevin O’Ryan mentioned some of the criticism of The Curragh in the build-up to the feature. 

The master of Ballydoyle made his feelings plain and said the “unbelievable atmosphere” at the home of Irish Flat racing had added an extra layer of satisfaction to his record-extending 17th success in the race, adding that some of the grumbles had been “absolute nonsense”. 

O’Brien said: “This was a special day. For us to have a track and  facility like The Curragh, and crowd and atmosphere like that in Ireland makes it very special.

"I think it [the criticism] is unfair. Everyone just needs to get it into their head to tell people to come racing, not to be critical, and not to be telling people how bad it is. Tell people how good it is! 

“It’s the greatest nonsense, absolutely negativity at its strongest. Tell people how good it is, and everyone will come, and everyone will have a great time. 

“Everyone in racing needs to change. Tell people how great it is and come and feel it. The more people who come, the better the atmosphere, and the more things will happen, and the more things will be put on. 

“We are all in this world. Enjoy it, get together, and have a great time. Try not to be negative, be positive. If you are positive, all the positive things will happen. If you are negative, all the negative things will come. Everybody, try and be more positive and, believe me, it will all be so much better for everybody.” 

He added: “You can pick holes in every thing in life, and you can look at the negative or positive in everything. So, start looking at the positive and it will change everything for everybody. It was an unbelievable atmosphere here today.”