32-year-old Graham Watters, a native of Ireland and equestrian pro, is hoping to cross the finish line of the Radnor Hunt Races with a victory under his belt, writes Eileen Smith Dallabrida for Main Line Today.

Watters’ interest in riding started at a young age in Ireland with ponies, but it soon developed into horse racing over the years as he traveled around the UK and surrounding areas.

Five years ago, he came to the United States and immediately fell in love with the differences in the sport compared to his time in the UK. He noted how jockeys were treated better with more time off between events and horse owners picking up the travel tabs instead of coming out of his own pockets.

“I tell the jockeys back home how wonderful it is here,” he said, including how his wife also adores it. “Both Rosie and I fell in love with it. If you work hard in America, you get rewarded, which is not always the case in Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.”

As a disciplined professional, Watters is aware of the dangers of the sport that he loves, but that hasn’t stopped him from winning two NSA championships.

His current ride is a Kentucky-bred bay gelding called Snap Decision who has been instrumental in helping Watters secure his star status. Now all that’s left is wait for May to come to get back on the racetrack.

“Radnor is a nice, sharp track that suits a frontrunner,” he said. “And I love the timbers.”

Read more about Graham Watters’ career and watch him in action at the Radnor Hunt Races in Main Line Today.

______