Meet the Team
Fairyhouse Members On Tour 2023🤩
— FairyhouseRacecourse (@Fairyhouse) September 15, 2023
🐎A wonderful members trip had by all to the Premier County with an evening @ClonmelR followed by an overnight stay at the wonderful @hotelminella
Visiting @MinellaRacing the following morning meeting Cristal Clere and future Minella stars! pic.twitter.com/AFrRWz9X4D


Cristal Clere makes it a double win within a week for Minella Racing ..Easter 2023
🗣️"I knew my lad would stay galloping all day."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 16, 2022
Sean Bowen talks us through the success of Cristal Clere @DundalkStadium pic.twitter.com/PTBH43OVak


Minella Racing supporting Jockey Sean Bowen's latest win.
Hugely popular local success @tipperaryraces
Realtin Fantasy trained by Willie Browne partnered by young Seam Bowen Sean a son of Eliz Bowen and nephew of John Nallen.
John Nallen proved to be a popular winner of the Point-to-Point Award as the winners were announced at the 2021 19th annual HRI Awards.
John was awarded the Point-to-Point Award at the annual celebration, after two horses which started with him at that level went on to big wins earlier this year.
Minella Indo won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, while Minella Times was first past the post at the Aintree Grand National.
John Nallen - The Maestro of Minella Racing |


Jack Nallen with Celine Byrne during her concert appearance at Hotel Minella Clonmel. The concert came about as a consequence of Jack's love of her musical talent.
In a recent interview, John shared how wonderful it is to be part of the Rachael Blackmore story as she steered both Minella Indo and Minella Times to victory for Henry De Bromhead in Cheltenham and Aintree respectively. Racheal hails from the nearby village of Killenaule and ironically her parents were married at Hotel Minella on July 6th, 1985. John has been buying all his horse feed from Racheal's father Charles for years and the families go back a long way.
Horse Racing is John's passion, it's in his blood and he has been involved in horses all his life. He has a unique talent for spotting a rough diamond and turning it into a star. Of course one needs luck however, John's proven track record shows there's a lot more than luck involved in the success of Minella Racing. He recently commented that his success is down to "good stock, good feed, plenty of time and patience" the reality is there is so much more to it than that and John is the maestro that consistently turns out champion after champion under the Minella prefix for owners and racing fans to enjoy annually.
James 'Corky' Carroll - Assistant Trainer |
Corky plays a big role behind the scenes at Minella Racing. He hails from the home of steeplechase racing in Ireland, neighbouring Co. Cork hence the name 'Corky'. In his capacity of Assistant Trainer, he co-ordinates the day to day operations in the yard so that John can focus on what's best for each of the horses. Corky rode for John for years at point-to-points and the season before he retired he enjoyed a career-best of almost 200 winners and he was awarded the Racing Post Point-to-Point Senior Championship of Ireland title for the first time.
Team Minella Racing |
We all know there is no 'I' in team and although John and Corky do a fantastic job they couldn't even dream of the success they've enjoyed in recent times if it wasn't for the team at Minella Racing. Heather Walsh, Johnny Barry and John's nephews Conor and Seanie Bowen to mention but a few. This team works extremely hard, they are passionate and dedicated and each one of them deserves all the success the Minella prefix has bestowed on them and more to come their way in the not too distant future.
Teenage Irish jockey Sean Bowen Hugely enjoys success @tipperaryraces May 31, 2022
Corky Carroll who runs the operation at @MinellaRacing along with a promising future star Sean Bowen @GoffsUK @hotelminella @d_g_hogan @ruaidhritierney @DundalkStadium 🎬 full interview 👉 https://t.co/SzVCSxIuyr pic.twitter.com/MhxjML8AUr
— Racing's InsideTrack (@RInsideTracktv) February 25, 2022
Sean Bowen rode his first ever winner at Dundalk on just his fifth attempt when Ajax Tavern won the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race in fine style.
Bowen hails from a famous racing family, The 16-year-old rider’s mother, Eliz, manages the famous Hotel Minella in County Tipperary.
“I just got my licence at the end of September and that’s my fifth ride so far,” Bowen said after partnering Denis Hogan’s 14-1 shot to victory.
Join our Team |
We are always on the lookout for talented, hard-working and upbeat racing professionals who would like to be part of our team. If you are passionate about all things racing and would like to work in an exciting racing yard riding out and tending to the young horses we rear here at Minella Racing, then send us your details today!
Current Vacancies:
Full-Time Work Rider Required
- Must be a competent rider.
- Yard work also required.
- Accommodation available.
How to apply;
- Send your CV to recruitment@hotelminella.ie
- Telephone John on 086 205 2072