Robert Costigan Jr.

Born: Sept. 20, 1959 in Tipperary, Ireland
Residence: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Family: wife, Nora; children Carolyn and Robbie ... Carolyn just completed the Darley Flying Start Program
Education: Graduated from boarding school in Ireland with trainer David Carroll, then went to school nights at the Certified General Accounting School of Canada for five years while working in the financial services industry during the days
Professional Background: Worked for Merrill Lynch in Canada after emigrating from Ireland in 1984, and worked in the mutual fund industry from 1990-2002 ... He then decided to focus exclusively on the Thoroughbred racing business
Racing Background: While growing up in Ireland, he followed racing closely and idolized trainer Vincent O'Brien and great turf horses like The Minstrel, Nijinsky, El Gran Senor and his favorite, Northern Dancer, and also followed the careers of their progeny. After deciding to go into the horse business full-time, he was naturally drawn to the storied Windfields Farms ... He had a mare who was injured and could not race so he wanted to breed her and contacted Windfields ... It was there he met Bernard McCormack, the farm manager, and his brother John McCormack, a bloodstock agent, who have been instrumental in his success
Breeding/Racing Operation: On the recommendation of Bernard McCormack, he purchased Inish Glora, who went on to win consecutive Sovereign Awards as Canada's champion turf female in 2003 and 2004 ... It was John McCormack who brought Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf contender Arravale to his attention, and he purchased her out of the 2004 September yearling sale at Keeneland for $190,000 ... Arravale, who won grade 1 stakes at Del Mar and Woodbine last year, earned the 2006 Sovereign Award as Canada's champion turf female and as Canada's Horse of the Year ... "Winning Horse of the Year was very special to me and it is a tremendous honor, especially when you look back on all of the horses who have achieved that," said Costigan. "We're hoping that Arravale can emulate Dance Smartly (the Eclipse Award winner who is a member of the Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and who retired as the leading all-time female money earner) ... He calls Arravale's victory in the E.P. Taylor Stakes his highlight so far ... "I know it sounds strange to say it, but I bought Arravale specifically for that race. And then to have Mac Benson, Windfields Farms' former trainer, be her trainer, winning was extra, extra special for me." ... When Inish Glora won her first Sovereign Award in 2003 after breaking her pelvis that year and then went on to capture the Canadian Handicap, Costigan gave all of the credit to Benson ... Currently has four horses in training with Benson at Woodbine; two yearlings, which include a Gone West colt out of Inish Glora and a filly by War Chant; and a weanling by Exclusive Quality ... Names all of his horses after places in Ireland and Irish lore. Inish Glora is famed in Celtic mythology and means "glorious island." Arravale comes from the Arra River which flows through Tipperary Town and Vale means "valley." Arravale also is the name of a Gaelic football team ... "My philosophy is to aim for the highest, and then try to compete at that level," he said. "In the horse business, you lose much more often than you win, so it is wonderful when you do win at this level." ... Arravale's injury-plagued 2007 has been a source of frustration so he will be very excited to see her race in the Breeders' Cup. Costigan said, "Because of them (injuries) she hasn't had the chance to show what she is capable of. I hope she gets her chance." ... Will attend the Breeders' Cup with his family and plans to fly his father, Robert Sr., over from Ireland to see Arravale run. "He's 83 and he watches all of the races from Woodbine over the internet. I'm hoping he can make the trip."