Latest news with #KevinPrendergast
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Legendary Classic-winning trainer Kevin Prendergast has died aged 92
LEGENDARY flat trainer Kevin Prendergast, who won multiple Classics in Britain and Ireland, has died aged 92. He took out his licence in 1963 and saddled his final runner at Cork last week, when Glory To Be finished second. 1 Tributes have poured in for Prendergast, who spent his career in County Kildare and died two weeks short of his 93rd birthday. Among them was top Irish jockey Chris Hayes, who was stable jockey to Prendergast and rode most of his big winners in recent years including Awtaad, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2016. He said: "La Collina was my first Group 1 winner for Kevin, but Awtaad was the first horse that was mine - I inherited La Collina from Declan McDonogh. "Obviously there were also some great days with Madhmoon who came after Awtaad. But Awtaad's Guineas was phenomenal. "It was the old Curragh and the cheer we got on the way in, I haven't heard one like it since. "I've been around a while and I never heard a cheer like that before that either and that cheer was all for Kevin and solely Kevin. People say it was for us, but it wasn't, it was for Kevin. "He's a legend around Kildare and a legend in the racing game and people were 10 deep around the winner's enclosure desperate to congratulate him. "When I got the news this morning I couldn't help but look back through some pictures from that day in the car. We had some phenomenal times together and today is a sad day." Another legendary trainer Dermot Weld, who was great friends with Prendergast, said: "He was a wonderful trainer. His horses were always turned out in supreme condition - you could always identify one of his by the way they were turned out and, even in the early days, they always won the best-turned-out award. "He was an exceptional trainer of a two-year-old and had great longevity - and he trained a much smaller team of horses than is fashionable nowadays. "He was a very, very talented trainer and naturally my sympathy goes out to his family." Born in Australia on July 5, 1932, Prendergast was educated in Ireland but kicked off his racing career back in the southern hemisphere, where he was head lad to top trainer Frank Dalton. He held that position for three years before returning home to establish himself as a leading amateur rider while serving as assistant trainer to his father. After five years, Prendergast decided to strike out on his own in 1963 - and he did not have to wait long for his inaugural success, saddling Zara to win at Phoenix Park in May that year. Pidget was the first to claim Classic gold for him in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas, before going on to add the Irish St Leger to her tally later on that year. After that Prendergast sent out the likes of Conor Pass (1973) and Oscar Schindler (1996 and 1997) to win two more Irish Legers, while Arctique Royal gave him another 1,000 win and Northern Treasure gave him a first Irish 2,000 Guineas in 1976. Add into the mix top-drawer juveniles La Collina, Miss Beatrix, Termagant and Kingsfort and you get a feel for the kind of longevity Prendergast enjoyed. One of the most consistent trainers in the Irish ranks, Prendergast sent out his 2,000th career winner in 2010. As well as Hayes, the likes of Gary Halpin and Declan McDonogh also rode for Prendergast, demonstrating that he was not just an exceptional instructor of horses. The great Kieren Fallon began his riding career with Prendergast, serving as apprentice from 1982 to 1987 before moving on and eventually becoming a six-times champion jockey. Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Wales Online
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
ITV halt live Royal Ascot coverage to announce tragic news
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info ITV's live coverage of Royal Ascot was paused this afternoon as the death of "a legend of the sport" was announced. Just minutes into the broadcast from the fourth day of the meet, presenter Ed Chamberlin informed viewers that legendary racehorse trainer Kevin Prendergast had died at the age of 92. The Irishman trained over 2,000 winners over the course of his glittering career - which spanned six decades - but he sadly passed away just a few weeks short of his 93rd birthday. He was the son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast and started out as an amateur jockey before taking out a trainer's licence in 1963. Prendergast would go on to win nine Classics in his career, with eight of those victories coming in Ireland. His sole English Classic win came when Nebbiolo triumphed at the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas in 1977. Meanwhile, his last winner in any race came last August, when Copie Conforme, ridden by Chris Hayes, won at Bellewstown. Announcing the news moments into Friday afternoon's coverage, Chamberlin told viewers: "There was some sad news earlier today, the news that the Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast has died at the age of 92. "A trainer that had over 2,000 winners, he won four races here at Royal Ascot and nine Classics in total, including Nebbiolo in the 1977 2000 Guineas. "He really was a great trainer and an even better man." Chamberlin then handed over to former jockey Ruby Walsh to give his thoughts on the tragic news, asking him: "Ruby, would it be fair to describe him as a trailblazer in the training ranks?" "Oh, he most certainly was, Ed," replied Walsh. "He followed in the footsteps of his father Darkie and he trained for long enough to compete against the great Vincent O'Brien and Aidan O'Brien. "So he was a trailblazer, his horses always looked impeccable, he was a brilliant racehorse trainer, he was a legend of the sport, but he was a massive character and he will be sadly missed." A statement from ITV Racing read: "Everyone at ITV Racing is sad to hear the passing of legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast aged 92. "Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this time."
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Legendary Irish trainer Kevin Prendergast dies aged 92
The horse racing world is in mourning following the death of legendary trainer Kevin Prendergast at the age of 92. The Classic and Group 1-winning trainer has passed away just two weeks short of his 93rd birthday. He trained over 2,000 winners, winning nine Classics and celebrating four Royal Ascot victories. His last winner came at Bellewstown last August when Chris Hayes steered Copie Conforme to victory. Pidget was his first Classic winner, landing the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas at odds of 20-1 when partnered by Wally Swinburn. The filly went on to win the Irish St Leger later that year when TP Burns took the ride. Prendergast also won the Irish St Leger with Conor Pass in 1973, while he landed the English 2,000 Guineas with Nebbiolo in 1977. Oscar Schindler then won back-to-back Irish St Legers in 1996 and 1997, while Awtaad was the trainer's last Classic winner in the 2016 when landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh. Prendergast followed the legacy of his father Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast, who was crowned champion Flat trainer in the UK in three successive years in the 1960s. His first winner came at the Phoenix Park in 1963, with his training career spanning more than six decades. His death on Friday came exactly 45 years after the passing of his father.
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Flat trainer Kevin Prendergast dies aged 92
The death has been announced of renowned trainer Kevin Prendergast at the age of 92. Prendergast, son of the legendary Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast, was a leading amateur jockey before taking out a trainer's licence in 1963. Starting with Pidget's victory in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Curragh handler would go on to win eight Classics at home, the last of which was Awtaad's victory in the 2,000 Guineas in 2016. His sole English Classic success came when Nebbiolo triumphed at the 1977 Newmarket 2,000 Guineas.
Irish Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Kevin Prendergast, influential trainer, dies aged 92
The death has taken place of the classic winning trainer Kevin Prendergast. He was 92. He enjoyed a more than 60-year career as a trainer based on the Curragh during which time he won eight Irish classics and became the doyen of his profession. Prendergast also won the 1977 English 2000 Guineas with Nebbiolo. Part of one of Irish racing's most famous racing families, Prendergast was a son of Paddy Prendergast, a figure that helped transform flat racing in Ireland during the last century and was champion trainer in both Ireland and Britain in the 1960s. Prendergast's eldest son, Kevin, was born in Australia on July 5th, 1932, but grew up in Ireland and became one of the country's leading amateur riders while assisting his father. READ MORE He trained his first winner in 1963 and put well over 2,000 winners through his hands during a lengthy career that continued up to his death. His last runner was in Cork last Friday. The Irish Derby was the sole Curragh classic Prendergast failed to win but one of the best horses in his later career was Awtaad who landed the 2000 Guineas in 2016. He also saddled Madhmoon to finish runner up in the 2019 Epsom Derby. Prendergast was also instrumental in developing the careers of a long list of top jockeys over the decades including Charlie Swan, Kieren Fallon and in more recent years, Chris Hayes.
