IN ASSOCIATION WITH
with
PADDY GRACE
' The Minstrel '
straight from the horses mouth...
ON TURF-TALK.COM THIS WEEK
VINCENT O’BRIEN
1917-2009
THE world of Horse Racing is mourning the death of Dr Vincent O’Brien, arguably the greatest trainer of all time. He was 92 yrs of age.
Due to failing health, Dr O’Brien returned to his home in Ireland from his winter base in Perth, Australia last week. He passed away on Monday morning with his wife Jacqueline and extended family at his bedside.
As well as being recognised by most as the greatest trainer of all time he was also the brains behind Coolmore Stud which has grown over the past 30 years to become the world’s pre-eminant Stallion station.
Vincent O'Brien at Royal Ascot
Coolmore has developed into a world-wide operation since the early days with stallions now standing in America and Australia. Coolmore is now led by John Magnier, Dr O’Brien’s son-in-law.
A statement from O'Brien's daughter, Sue Magnier, and her husband John and their family read: "Dad's racing career speaks for itself and needs no elaboration.
There was nobody like him.
Coolmore Stud and Ballydoyle are the results of his vision and testament to his success.
"More importantly, he was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather and an extraordinary mentor. His passing is a great loss to me and my family and we will all miss him greatly."
In his early day’s Vincent O’Brien trained National Hunt horses in Churchtown Co Cork winning the Grand National at Liverpool three times in succession, with three different horses - Early Mist in 1953, Royal Tan in 1954, and Quare Times in 1955. Probably the greatest steeplechaser he trained was Cottage Rake, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in succession (1948-1950). He also won the Champion Hurdle three years in succession with Hatton's Grace (1949-1951).
It was from Ballydoyle that he turned his attention to the flat and along came horses like Ballymoss, Larkspur, Sir Ivor, the Minstrel and the great Nijinsky. During his career at Ballydoyle, O’Brien saddled no less than six Derby winners.
When Dr O’Brien decided to retire in 1994, Ballydoyle was taken over by John Magnier who was now heading up the Coolmore operation.
He was followed into Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien who said “It is with great sadness that I learned of the death of Dr Vincent O’Brien. As for so many people in racing, he was my hero growing up," he added. "For Anne Marie and me to come to the training facility he established was an extraordinary privilege.
Vincent, Jacqueline and Aidan O'Brien
Dr O'Brien was tireless in improving the yards and gallops, and we enjoy the benefits of his half-century of hard work and dedication today. We would never have been able to achieve our successes [otherwise].
I feel the sense of history every morning when I walk into the yard that had horses such as Nijinsky, Sir Ivor to Sadlers Wells. His dedication to the sport of racing and to the highest standards knew no bounds. It is humbling to follow in his footsteps."
In 2003 The Racing Post conducted a world-wide poll asking people to vote on the most influencial person in the history of racing. Dr M.V O’Brien won by a considerable margin.
Dr O’Brien’s funeral will take place on Thursday in County Kildare.
PLUS MORE IN TURF-TALK.COM WILLIAM HILL LAUNCH AYR BRONZE CUP AN announcement was made on Thursday at Ayr Racecourse which will be of great interest to Irish and UK based trainers alike and that was that a third Class 2 sprint handicap has been added to the three-day Ayr Gold Cup meeting to mark the launch of Bookmaking Giant, William Hill’s sponsorship of Scotland’s most prestigious flat race. The William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup will be run for the first time on Friday 18th September with £30,000 in prize money on offer for horses balloted out of both the Gold Cup and the Silver Cup. The William Hill Silver Cup will now be run on Saturday 19th September along with the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup. Making the announcement, William Hill CEO, Ralph Topping added, “We wanted to do something really special to mark our sponsorship of the Ayr Gold Cup and by introducing a Bronze Cup I believe we have done that”. “The William Hill Gold Cup is Europe’s richest sprint handicap and a race rich in history. It now not only has one but two little brothers”. The total prize money for the 2009 William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival will top £600,000 with the 27 runners in the Gold Cup chasing a pot of £150,000. The Silver Cup will have a prize fund of £50,000 NEW FLAT SEASON AT AYR RACECOURSE KATHERINE SELF STANDS DOWN AS AYR CLERK OF THE COURSE KATHERINE Self is to leave her post as Clerk of the Course at Ayr Racecourse after almost three years in order to extend her involvement with HM Coastguard. “Meanwhile we will now be looking for someone to act as Raceday Clerk of the Course until next May and we will be in a position to offer the right person within the industry an attractive package. ”The search for the new Raceday Clerk of the Course at Ayr will be UK wide and with the track staging both the Coral Scottish Grand National and William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup meetings the post is certain to appeal to many within the industry. IF YOU FANCY A RACING BREAK IN IRELAND, WHY NOT TRY THE IRISH DERBY MEETING ON 27TH &28TH JUNE AT LESS THAN ONE HOUR FROM DUBLIN AND JUST OVER 2 HOURS FROM BELFAST, THE CURRAGH COULD NOT BE EASIER TO REACH. FOR ALL THE LATEST DEALS LOG ON TO * *
May he rest in peace. 
AYR Racecourse holds its first flat meeting of the 2009 season this afternoon with the Williamhill.com Raceday featuring seven races.
The first race on the card is The Burns Mall, Kilmarnock E.B.F. Maiden Stakes over six furlongs at 2.20 pm and the final race is The Turnberry Holiday Park Handicap over five furlongs at 5.20 pm.
The feature race this afternoon is the Williamhill.com Best Football Odds-Fact! Handicap over six furlongs at 4.50 pm with £9000 in prizemoney.
Bookmaking Giant, William Hill are also taking over the prestigious sponsorship of the three-day Ayr Gold Cup meeting now renamed the William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup Festival.
2009 is destined to be a very important flat season for Ayr with 16 fixtures during the season including the Saints and Sinners Night on June 19 and the William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup in September.
For more information on race days at Ayr or to book advance tickets call 0870-8505666 or go online at www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk . There are discount available for tickets booked seven or more days in advance.
Katherine, 36, will relinquish her duties at Scotland’s premier track at the end of July and the Ayr Executive will seek to appoint a Raceday Clerk of the Course while at the same time put two senior members of staff through training to gain Clerking qualifications.
Speaking on the eve of the new Flat Season at Ayr, Katherine said : “I have greatly enjoyed my time here but having become involved with HM Coastguard over the last year I can’t turn down the opportunity to expand my role within the organisation.
“I leave with some great memories and its been a pleasure to oversee three Ayr Gold Cups and three Scottish Grand Nationals in my time here.”
Alan Macdonald, Chairman of Ayr Racecourse said : “Katherine’s decision to move out of the industry is a loss to Ayr but we wish her all the best in her new challenging role.”
Ayr’s Estates Manager Michael McLaughlin and Maintenance Manager John Bryson will begin training to become Clerks of the Course immediately and Alan explained the thinking behind the move.
He said : “Michael and John are two senior members of our team at Ayr who have enrolled in the Clerk of the Course training programme and we envisage within a year having two fully trained Clerks – one focussing on raceday duties with the other as a back up for the administrative side of things.
