Family announces death of Irish training great Edward O'Grady
A statement released by his family through Horse Racing Ireland read: 'It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Edward O'Grady, who passed away peacefully yesterday evening at St James's Hospital (in Dublin), surrounded by his family.
'Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation.
'Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world.
'Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian.
'Funeral details will be announced in due course.'
Perhaps the most talented horse to pass through O'Grady's hands was Golden Cygnet, a brilliant winner of the 1978 Supreme Novices' Hurdle but fatally injured in the Scottish Champion Hurdle the following month.
More recent Festival winners for O'Grady include Pizarro, who landed the 2002 Champion Bumper in the hands of top Flat jockey Jamie Spencer, and the 2003 Supreme scorer Back In Front.
Away from Cheltenham, O'Grady saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek at Sandown in 1995 and 1996, while his final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival in 2011.
Other top-class horses he trained include 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner Ned Kelly and his half-brother Nick Dundee, who both carried the colours of Coolmore supremo John Magnier.
O'Grady trained for more than 50 years from his base in County Tipperary, taking over at Killeens after the death of his father, Willie – a former dual Irish champion jockey and later trainer – in January 1972.
His final winner came via Our Soldier in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle at the start of July, while his last runner, Sovereign Banter, finished unplaced in a Cork sprint on Friday night.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
World Rugby rebuffs Joe Schmidt's safety claim over Lions' match-winning try
World Rugby rejects Joe Schmidt's claim that the decision not to punish Jac Morgan's clearout in Australia's defeat by the British and Irish Lions on Saturday contravenes the game's player safety principles. Hugo Keenan touched down with 51 seconds left at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but the match-winning try was only given after the TMO had reviewed Morgan's contact with Carlo Tizzano in the preceding ruck, which was ultimately deemed legal by referee Andrea Piardi. Furious Schmidt, who had seen his Wallabies edged 29-26 to concede the series with one Test to play, insisted it was the wrong call, adding that 'it doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they (World Rugby) are talking about'. Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh backed Schmidt's view that it was a dangerous clearout and the try should have been disallowed. World Rugby has been conducting a review into the incident in conjunction with Australia, the Lions and the match officials, which will be completed in time for Saturday's final Test between the rivals in Sydney. Chief executive Alan Gilpin, speaking at an event revealing ticketing details for the 2027 World Cup, has hit back at Schmidt. 'It's disappointing when the reaction is one of 'this means player welfare isn't taken seriously' because we have worked really hard on that narrative,' said Gilpjn, who revealed Schmidt will not face disciplinary action for his comments. 'Everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda. 'You can see that from what we are doing with the instrumented mouthguards, all the research, the science, the investigations. 'The way the laws of the game have evolved in the last few years is all about 'how do we have this great physical contest, but make it as safe as possible?'. That part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements.' Gilpin insists Piardi and his assistants Ben O'Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli are being supported amid the backlash against the officials in some quarters. And the World Rugby boss invoked Rassie Erasmus' public criticism of Nic Berry during the Lions' tour to South Africa in 2021 and the experiences of retired referee Wayne Barnes, who has spoken of the abuse his family received, to highlight the importance of protecting officials. 'It's just making them realise they're supported and that we are checking in on them. They're a great unit. They've been together on this tour as a team,' Gilpin said. 'You'll recall that in the last Lions series in South Africa, when the match official in the first Test was very heavily criticised…the mental health challenges… 'Wayne Barnes has talked about it. We've got match officials who, when they're criticised publicly, see their families targeted outside the school gates. 'That's not good, that's not fair and that's not right, so we've got to support these guys.' Australia 2027 has released details of its ticketing plan for the next World Cup, with fans able to register to access the presale from Tuesday.
North Wales Chronicle
7 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Davy Crockett collects on hurdling bow at Galway
The Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old is a son of dual Derby hero Camelot out of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power, making him a half-brother to dual Grade One victor Mystical Power, who landed this Galway Festival curtain-raiser two years ago. Easy winner of a Punchestown bumper on his debut in early June, the 1-2 favourite to make a successful transition to the jumping game raised brief concerns for his supporters two out, but knuckled down well for Mark Walsh in the straight to beat Mick Collins by two and a half lengths. Mullins said: 'I was very happy with how efficient his jumping was except, for the mistake at the second-last. For a horse having his first run over hurdles and just the second run of his career, I was very pleased with him. 'We'll just keep going down the novice hurdle route and hopefully he might make into a Royal Bond horse. He could go to Listowel before then.' Mullins also paid tribute to training great Edward O'Grady, who died on Sunday at the age of 75. He added: 'Edward was someone that back in the day we looked up to. He was the foremost trainer going to Cheltenham – when no one (from Ireland) was having runners or winners in Cheltenham, he was having one or two of them every year. 'People forget how difficult it was for Irish trainers to bring horses across and win and Edward had fantastic horses. He had a great Galway connection of course with Golden Cygnet, owned by Ray Rooney who was chairman here in Galway. 'He'll be sorely missed in Irish racing.' Davy Crockett is owned by JP McManus, who also paid tribute to O'Grady, with whom he had a long association. McManus said: 'No doubt he was an amazing trainer. I went to him in '78. 'I remember Jack Of Trumps won in Punchestown as a five-year-old carrying 12st in the Jameson Gold Cup which was a handicap then. 'We went on to win the Galway Plate that year in '78 (with Shining Flame). 'We had many great days with the likes of Bit Of A Skite, Mucklemeg and Time For A Run. 'Edward was always very good to his staff and very kind to everybody. 'When Edward fancied a horse you didn't need to have money, all you needed to have was credit because they nearly always delivered. His record was second to none at that time. 'He was a great judge of a horse and he will be missed.' Elsewhere, Constitution River confirmed the promise of his debut run to land the Eventus Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden with real authority. Contrary To Law attempted to keep tabs on Aidan O'Brien's runner up front, but he was shrugged off with some ease, as were the rest, as the imposing Wootton Bassett colt powered to a three-and-three-quarter-length triumph under Wayne Lordan, as odds of 1-5 suggested he would. A €400,000 purchase as a yearling, the winner – who is out of a sister to the top-class racemare Wonderful Tonight – just missed out to the Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm at the Newmarket July meeting, when the pair were nicely clear of the third. O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong said: 'He had a very good run in a nice maiden in Newmarket and with normal improvement coming here you'd think he'd put up a good display. 'He was very green and Wayne said he was looking at the camera on his inside, but he went to the line with plenty still left in him. The experience around here will do him the world of good. 'He's a colt with a touch of class and is one to look forward to going into the second half of the season. I suppose he puts himself into the Futurity mix with the rest of them and the lads will divide them up and see where they go.'
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
From I'm A Celebrity winner to Olympic hero & Loose Woman panellist – Celebrity Gladiators line-up revealed
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MODEL Vogue Williams tops the bill of super-fit stars taking part in this year's Celebrity Gladiators. The Irish presenter, 39, will be joined on the show by fitness guru Joe Wicks, 39, former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, 42, and gym-obsessed I'm a Celebrity winner Sam Thompson, 32. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Vogue Williams is taking part in this year's Celebrity Gladiators Credit: JOHN DARDIS 5 Fitness guru Joe Wicks is among the celebs taking part Credit: David Cummings - Commissioned by The Sun 5 Gym-obsessed I'm A Celebrity winner Sam Thompson will also be a contender Credit: Instagram Today, the four stars will film the episode — a spin-off of the original Gladiators contest — with the finished show set to air later this year. A TV insider said: 'Last year, producers of the debut celebrity version played it for laughs with three comedians taking part — with hilarious results for viewers. 'But this year they've assembled four celebrities who can give the Gladiators a serious run for their money, and serve up a clash to savour.' In the previous BBC One special, comedians Rob Beckett, 39, Joel Dommett, 40, and Ellie Taylor, 41, and news host Louise Minchin, 56, competed against the elite athletes. Now Vogue, who won the first series of Bear Grylls: Mission Survive, will be among those to face the Gladiators. She has three children with her husband, reality star Spencer Matthews, who broke the record for completing 30 marathons in 30 days last year. Meanwhile Body Coach Joe Wicks, who is married to former Page Three model Rosie Jones, will be cheered on by their three children. During the Covid pandemic, he led online fitness classes. Strictly star Nicola, who won gold at the London and Rio Olympics before retiring, promises to pack a punch. And Sam, crowned King of the Jungle in 2023, has been throwing himself into his fitness regime since his split with ex-girlfriend, former Love Islander Zara McDermott. Two new Gladiators revealed as British rowing champ and super strong weightlifter He has previously run the London Marathon. Filming of the regular Gladiators, now on its third series since its reboot on BBC One, takes place over the next week at Sheffield Arena. It will be out early next year with Bradley Walsh and son Barney returning to host. The second edition of Celebrity Gladiators will air just before. 5 Former Olympic boxer Nicola Adams is also part of the line-up Credit: Getty
