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Photo courtesy Chris Pitt
Martin O'Halloran was a genial Irishman from Tipperary who, approaching his thirties, knew that he would have to find added funds to supplement his soon-to-disappear earnings as a jockey.He came up with the idea of horse dentistry.
Discovering that it was virtually an untapped profession, he began a two-year, part-time course at Oxford college which he attended between riding engagements.
His wife, Sandra, daughter of the Flat trainer Doug Marks, had played her part when, at the races or watching horses exercise, she would point out those with their head in the air and wonder what was wrong inside their mouths.
Martin also discovered just how many trainers never thought about their horses' teeth and, with his course completed, he sent cards out to each trainer asking if they would like him to look at their horses.
Les Kennard, Nick Henderson, Nick Gaslee & David Elsworth were just a few who responded.
Martin didn't use anaesthetic, preferring to use a machine which clamped their mouths open. Somewhat surprisingly, the horses all remained well behaved during their treatment which consisted mainly of filling and pulling out old, dead teeth.
Such was the demand that Martin found himself treating forty patients a day.
He could easily have done more, but his arms grew so tired that he set 40 as a limit. He felt that he could not have done the job properly had he done a greater number.
Born on 26 May, 1948, Martin left school in Ireland at fourteen and came to England to work for Doug Marks, the trainer who eventually became his father-in-law. Later he switched to the stables of Gavin Hunter before quitting racing on a temporary basis while taking a course in welding.
Then, on impulse, he went to France and America before returning to Lambourn to pick up his career. However, when his retainer with Peter Cundell finished, he found it difficult to get going as a freelance.
He rode 124 winners in all in his brief spell as a jockey.
After retiring from riding, he had a short spell as a trainer in Sussex. During his 12 months with a licence he saddled two winners from around 40 runners. He then became a full-time horse dentist, operating from Henley-on-Thames, in Oxfordshire. This proved an ideal move, as during his last six years as a jockey he had combined race-riding with horse dentistry. His list of clients included Henry Candy, Nicky Henderson, John Jenkins and Les Kennard.
Martin had a passion for squash, playing five times a week.
Major races won:
Mackeson Gold Cup 77 (Bachelors Hall),
Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup 77 (Bachelors Hall),
Bula Hurdle 79 (Celtic Ryde),
King George VI Chase 77 (Bachelors Hall),
Racing Post Chase 77 (Don`t Hesitate),
Imperial Cup 82 (Holemoor Star)
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