Fran Berry

Pic of the day goes to @laura_berry1

In 1983 a Mexican pilot on a transatlantic flight from Newark to Munich, running dangerously low on fuel made an emergernecy landing on Mallow Racecourse in Cork. Captain Rubén Ocaña was flying a Gulfstream II executive jet on April 18, 1983 when his instruments showed it was running dangerously low on fuel. His plan had been to refuel at Shannon, but thick fog made that impossible. With air traffic control guiding him, Ocaña scanned the countryside for a flat enough stretch of land. He located Mallow Racecourse against the odds, set down the plane on the grass. The immediate danger was over but now the multimillion dollar Gulfstream jet was stuck. The ground was too soft to take off again, not just during the current weather but like ever again. There was even talk the jet might have to be dismantled and carted away piece by piece. Captain Ocaña was accompanied by three crew members and four passengers, posh businessmen including Emilio Azcarraga-Milmo, who was the high-profile owner of Televisa, Mexico’s largest television network. Them four were whisked away to complete their journey shortly after the landing. Captain Ocaña and his crew had to await orders. Wealthy insurers quickly did the maths and found it was cheaper to build a temporary runway than to take the yoke apart. Local men and women were hired, machinery was brought in, and a 3,000-foot tarmac strip began to take shape beside the racecourse ( oh and the local sugar factory). It took around six weeks. During that time, the charismatic Mexican Captain Ocaña and his crew became honorary Corkonians and were treated with the great hospitality of the Rebel County. They were put up at the Central Hotel, Captain Ocaña was a regular at hurling matches, and even served as a judge for the “Rakes of Mallow” Beauty Contest (that Rakes polka festival is a fascinating rabbithole in itself btw). By the time the makeshift runway was ready 39 days later, the jet had become a local landmark. Kids cycled out to see it and tourists came to take photographs, postcards were even printed. When the day finally came for takeoff, around two thousand people gathered to see Captain Rubén Ocaña and his crew off. Before stepping aboard, he offered a few words as Gaeilge them they lifted safely into the air, and circled twice above the town in salute before vanishing into the clouds. The legendary event inspired the 2010 film The Runway, Captain Ocañas adventure was commemorated forty years later with Ocaña Fest in April 2023 which featured an air show, Mexican mariachi music, and a screening of original footage captured by local enthusiast Alan Wilson. The weekend reached a poignant conclusion when Ocaña’s four daughters fulfilled their father's final wish by scattering his ashes at the racecourse, marking a permanent return to the town that had welcomed him with such extraordinary hospitality decades earlier. Buy the Dublin Time Machine a pint and support the DTM Book ko-fi.com/buchanandublin…

We're hiring for a Senior MCR Engineer to provide engineering support for our broadcast facility and production teams. Find out more and please share with anyone who might be interested 🙏

✅ "One would think she could keep improving over even further in time, but this was a lovely educational debut run." 🔍 A lightly-raced, Johnny Murtagh-trained three-year-old feautres among @Franmberry's latest eyecatchers in Ireland: sportinglife.com/racing/news/ho…

La Bucca Ratoath’s fundraising evening raises €4770.00 for the Irish Injured Jockey’s Fund. Michael Higgins of the IIJ was present on the night along with fellow board member Barry Geraghty and other figures from Ireland’s horse racing world. Read more⬇️ irishinjuredjockeys.com/ratoaths-fundr…

🚨🚨 exciting opportunity to join the catering team at Gowran Park 🚨🚨 get your CV to escally@gowranpark.ie and join the winning team at Good Enuf To Eat Catering in Gowran Park !!

Latest horses to follow column is up with some interesting prospects to consider going forward. Enjoy!🏇🏇🤓🤓

Happy days @Franmberry 🍦

Confucius before his 2nd start in Naas @Franmberry you'll be interested to know he costs the exact same as 683.333 Ice Creams at Naas Racecourse. Let's hope he can repay some of that today!

Bookmakers Terry Rogers and Liam Flood (well know for bringing Texas Hold’em to Europe and creating the Irish Poker Open), betting on the pigs in Naas.

Ireland now the most expensive country in the EU for electricity buff.ly/4IHsfNU

A pair of winners for @JosephOBrien2 at @corkracecourse saw @Franmberry catch up with the in-form trainer to hear more about plans, including for Home By The Lee, who heads next to the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil

The perfect comeback from an unwanted spell on the sidelines for @DylanBrowneMcM at @corkracecourse today👏

Christy Roche back left 💪

SARATOGA is the CHAMPION 4⃣-year-old ⚡️ Mark Walsh lands the final Grade 1 of the season in Ireland 🟩🟨⬜️

A second Irish jumps jockey title for @jackkennedy15 🏆 Well deserved and a huge congratulations from the entire team 👏🏻

Punchestown Day 5🕺😎🏇

"There's so much going in the world that we can't control - but backing Irish horse racing is something we can control - this industry is worth billions." Great to welcome Tánaiste Simon Harris to @punchestownrace along with at least one familar racing face!

A selection for Punchestown on @SportingLife. sportinglife.com/racing/news/pu…

"Racing needs to be supported and that's why we're here today" Different political parties, but united in appreciation and enjoyment of horse racing 🤝 A cross-party Oireachtas gathering were at @punchestownrace today and Racing TV's @irishkor caught up with them

Pre race cool down🍦🍦😅