O’Reilly Leaving Canada

Kevin O’Reilly, a regular conditioner on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit, announced that he will be leaving Canada with his family at the end of April.

O’Reilly, who has trained winners of over $5 million in purse earnings, will soon call the country of Denmark home.

“It was a decision that my wife, Tine, and I made basically because of family,” O’Reilly said. “It’s something that has been in the process over the past two years. We don’t have any family here in Canada and once our two children were born, the idea came about and it was either New Zealand, where I’m from, or Denmark, where Tine is from.”

O’Reilly first came to North America in 1995 to work for fellow New Zealander Chris Ryder in New Jersey. O’Reilly spent two years with Ryder before venturing to Italy, where he met Tine, a licensed veterinarian.

O’Reilly then returned to the Ryder stable in New Jersey in 1999 and 2000 before moving to Canada permanently.

The 45-year-old admits that the future of racing in Ontario had an impact on his family’s decision.

“I wouldn’t say that it was the sole affect on us leaving. We did it for the kids because we want them to be around family, but I would say the future of racing in Ontario probably quickened our decision,” said O’Reilly.

Currently a resident of Campbellville, O’Reilly’s top campaigner over the years was Snazzy Millie, who banked over $1.1 million.

And what will O'Reilly miss most of all about his adopted country?

"Canadian winters," laughed O'Reilly, tongue planted firmly in cheek. "The weather is the one thing I think I'll be able to get over quite quickly."

(WEG)