Generation Next: James Harrison

Cover image courtesy of Newgate Farm

While Harrison’s parents didn’t have an interest in racing his, uncle, James Keogh is a Kentucky-based bloodstock agent. Keogh operates Grovendale Sales with Chance Timm.

And it was Harrison’s stay with Keogh in his formative years which proved the catalyst for everything that has transpired since.

“When I came back home to Ireland around the age of six or seven after staying with my uncle in Kentucky all I wanted was a pony, which I managed to get for Christmas,” Harrison told TDN AusNZ.

“From there, I would torture my parents to take me showjumping and hunting and it just grew from that.”

From a young age it was clear to Harrison that he wanted to pursue a career in racing, which led to him riding out point-to-pointers for Kildare-based trainers Martin and John Brassil in his early teens.

He showed a great interest and passion for the bloodstock scene and would constantly read up on pedigrees while picking the brain of his uncle where he could.

“I always had a massive interest in pedigrees and was always reading sales catalogues, reading about lineage and loved that side of things,” Harrison said.

“My uncle has been a massive supporter of mine from the start in guiding me as to how I should go about getting the best experience and knowledge.”

Coolmore calls

After finishing secondary school Harrison enrolled in a foundation equine degree at college, which he began in 2015 and completed over two dual-year stints.

While studying he rode-out for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle operation and was fortunate enough to ride Group 1 winner turned Coolmore stallion Magna Grecia (Ire) in his work as a juvenile.

After weight got the better of him Harrison quickly realised being a jockey was not his calling, which led to him focusing on bloodstock as he felt it provided an opportunity to grow as a person and learn from people all around the world.

“Working for Aidan (O’Brien) was an unforgettable experience, I never envisaged that I would be able to be a part of such a high-profile team and Aidan taught me a lot,” Harrison said.

“He is an absolute genius, it’s the only way you can possibly describe him.

“He gives everyone time and attention, he knows everybody by their name and is a real top-class man.”

In 2016, Harrison opted to take a ‘gap year’ and during this period he completed a summer at Coolmore America.

“I really, really enjoyed America, it was a real young and vibrant team over there and it was great to be around people of a similar age to myself,” Harrison said.

“I got to travel, go to the sales, race meetings and really pushed myself while I was out there to see as much as possible and to learn as much as possible.

“I did a little bit of everything, on my days off I’d go to Keeneland to watch horses work and go with my uncle to look at yearlings and inspect stock.”

Coolmore America’s General Manager Dermot Ryan among others had a profound impact on Harrison’s progression.

“I learned a lot from Dermot Ryan along with a lot of other people in America; I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for them,” Harrison said.

“Dermot always gives everyone the time of day and loves to see people progress, and it was great to work with people of that profile.”

While in America it became clear to Harrison that a career in racing was his calling.

And after this realisation he made a conscious effort to surround himself with the best there is in the industry.

Harrison then made his way to Coolmore Australia for a short stint where he would complete a breeding season and attend the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“I really, really enjoyed that experience and always wanted to come back to Australia to pursue a career as it was such a vibrant industry,” Harrison said.

“I was quite young when I first came out here, I was only 20 years of age, still only a child, and didn’t really take in as much as I would’ve liked.”

On returning to Ireland in 2017 Harrison completed an honors degree in equine management - a hands-on education in all facets of the thoroughbred industry.

He then went on to work at Ballylinch Stud in Kilkenny for a year doing pre-training and working in the stallion shed when required.

New beginnings

With COVID restrictions beginning to lift and Australia in mind, Harrison contacted American-based shareholder Tom Ryan about the prospect of working at Newgate.

This opened the door for him to secure seasonal work within the operation's stallion barn.

“In Australia prizemoney in such a big thing and there’s such a buzz out here with racing, everyone loves to go to the races and it’s fun which is lacking in other parts of the world,” Harrison said.

“And the way in which the business in Australia is booming is why young people like myself are coming out here. Young people get a lot more opportunities to progress out here if they are willing to work hard.”

In less than 12 months at Newgate Harrison has progressed into the senior role of stallion manager, which is a testament to his drive, determination, astute horsemanship and management skills.

“I never envisaged that I would be in this sort of position at the age I am, but it’s all because of hard work and showing people I am committed and willing,” Harrison said.

“If you show that you have a work ethic, will to learn and sheer passion you’ll get the opportunity to grow and develop as a person.”

Harrison’s management style, which he is continuing to develop and improve on each and every day, is focused on trying to get the best out of each and every member of the stallion team while ensuring daily duties are completed to the highest of standards.

He is big on leading by example and passing on his knowledge and skillset to those who may not be as experienced or confident around stallions.

“A lot of it is down to having a level head, you don’t want to feel like you are pushing anybody, but as stallion manager I expect a high standard and if things aren’t done we stay back until they are done properly as we can’t take any half measures,” Harrison said.

“I want the people I’m working with to respect me and the way you gain that is to make people know and feel that you are the same as them and not to come across that you are more important or the boss.

“The way I see it is that I’m there to oversee it all and make sure things are going smoothly and to the Newgate standard.”

The responsibility of managing such valuable and high-profile stallions isn’t lost on Harrison.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, it’s a dream to come into the barn each and every day and see those plaques on the door,” Harrison said.

“I think to myself, ‘Am I really working with these horses?’, it’s a dream to be honest and I am very grateful for the opportunity I have been afforded by Henry (Field) and the team.”

While Harrison is content in his current role, he is always wanting to be better and develop as an individual.

“I’d love to progress, grow my role and develop within the Newgate organisation, but for the minute I’m really happy with the position I am in,” Harrison said.

“Down the line I would like to grow into stud management, so, for me, I feel as though starting off with stallions is a good stepping stone.

“Although I’d like to get a good grounding and deeper knowledge of the broodmare and yearling side of things, as one day I hope I could have my own small farm or a stud management role.”

The success of Newgate comes as no surprise to Harrison, with Field’s vision and work ethic felt throughout the entire organisation.

“Henry is unbelievable, he never stops thinking and is always striving to push and be one better than everybody else,” Harrison said.

“And I feel I’m like that, I’m always wanting to be better and am always wanting to improve and develop our team.

“I’m hungry and keen, and I feel I do that pretty well and am able to execute in my role as I’m always trying to motivate and push our team forward.”

The next generation

Harrison’s advice to the next generation of passionate industry participants is to show initiative, create your own opportunities and work hard.

“One of the biggest things is that people need to ask more questions and be willing to put themselves out there,” Harrison said.

“People hold back and don’t think they are good enough, but why don’t they just put themselves out there and ask to shadow people and to look at horses at the sales?

“There’s loads of people in this industry who are more than willing to help young people and want to see them do well, and the big thing I feel is that if you’re willing to work and show interest most people in the industry will give you a chance.”

While Harrison feels as though the industry can always do more to attract participants he is of the belief that Newgate is doing a great job in ensuring youth can thrive and prosper.

“There have been some positive things, at Newgate there are a lot of young people here and Henry, (Stud Manager) Jim (Carey) and the team all support young people if they are willing to learn,” Harrison said.

“We have a great, vibrant young team and everyone that works here wants to be the next Henry Field in a sense.”

Star stallions

The depth and class of the Newgate stallion roster is something to behold, and it is no surprise that the brilliant Extreme Choice holds a special place in not only Harrison’s but the entire farm's heart.

“It’s hard to pick just one as they all have unique attributes that you like but a farm favourite would have to be Extreme Choice,” Harrison said.

“He breaks your heart but he’s a lovable character.”

Extreme Choice’s G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning son Stay Inside is letting down beautifully while his Group 2 hero Tiger Of Malay is Harrison’s personal pick of the bunch.

“Stay Inside has let down beautifully, he’s a typical Australian 2-year-old type with great substance, a lovely action and a beautiful head,” Harrison said. “He reminds me a lot of Not A Single Doubt.

“And Tiger Of Malay is just a beautiful physical of a horse, medium-sized with a great hip and has a beautiful pedigree being out of a great producing More Than Ready mare.

“If I had a mare that I could send to any stallion on the roster it would be Tiger Of Malay.”

Profiteer, a precocious and fast first-crop son of Newgate resident Capitalist, has all the right credentials to make it as a stallion, according to Harrison.

Gallery: Some of the stallions standing at Newgate Farm for 2022, images courtesy of Newgate Farm

The Group 1-winning son of Snitzel in Wild Ruler is another recently retired galloper who is destined to get better with age.

“Profiteer has a great hip and lovely neat head, he’s going to let down into a lovely stallion and in another year he’s going to furnish into a lovely horse,” Harrison said.

“Give Wild Ruler another year and he will be an outstanding specimen, as those really hardened horses who have trained on it takes them a little longer to let down, but he’s a beautiful horse, has a nice head on him, great length and scope - a beautiful-bodied horse.

“He’s (Wild Ruler) set to cover a really big book of mares and has been booked out from the start, so there is a lot of hope for this lad.”

North Pacific, who was narrowly denied by Ole Kirk in the G1 Golden Rose, has hit the mark already with his first foals.

“He’s beautiful and his first crop of foals are all the talk at the moment. We've got a couple on the farm and they are beautiful foals,” Harrison said.

“They’re nice and compact and everything you could want to make a 2-year-old type.”