IRTA In Search Of New Chief After McElligott Joins Amo Racing

The Irish Racehorse Trainers' Association has cast its net out in search of a new chief after Ryan McElligott left his post after two years at the helm. McElligott, who succeeded former trainer Michael Grassick in the position, has joined Kia Joorabchian's Amo Racing organisation. 

McElligott said, “For the last two years my time at the IRTA has been instructive and enjoyable and I would like to thank the association's board for placing their trust in me when they took me on towards the end of 2022.

“On a variety of fronts it was a fascinating time to be involved at the helm of one of Irish racing's key representative bodies and I would like to thank the association's board and wider membership for their efforts in endeavouring to further the cause of trainers on various fronts over the last couple of years.”

McElligott, a well-respected journalist who spent almost two decades working with the Irish Field, added, “I'm thrilled to take up a new role with AMO and I very much look forward to working with the existing team there at what is a very exciting time. Over the last number of seasons the AMO colours have been carried with distinction on both sides of the Atlantic and I hope that I can play a part in maintaining and furthering that level of success over the coming years. It's a very exciting opportunity and one that I am greatly looking forward to.”

Trainer Ado McGuinness was appointed as chairman of the IRTA at the same time that McElligott became chief executive in November 2022. McGuinness revealed that the IRTA would officially begin recruiting for McElligott's successor on Saturday and admitted that the outgoing chief would be very difficult to replace. 

He said, “I don't know how we're going to replace Ryan. I'm going to miss him. He made my life very easy with the job he was doing. He's going to be a huge loss to the Trainers' Association-just a very knowledgeable fella who is a very diplomatic man to deal with and was overall very good for the Association.”

McGuinness added, “Ryan developed very good relationships with whoever we were dealing with, be that HRI, the IHRB or whoever. If there were discussions to be had, Ryan is the type of man who would try and find solutions rather than go into the meeting for an argument. He's a great man to go to with a problem and was very good at finding solutions. As I said, he will be a major loss and I'm very sad to see him go.”