Legendary horse trainer Edward O'Grady dies aged 75 as tributes paid to Cheltenham Festival icon

Cheltenham Festival training legend Edward O’Grady has died at the age of 75. O’Grady was Ireland’s most successful trainer at the Cheltenham Festival until the emergence of Willie Mullins.

He sent out 18 winners at the famous meeting, the first of which was Mr Midland who won the 1974 National Hunt Chase and the last was Sky’s The Limit in the 2006 Coral Cup. O’Grady was also a key ally of JP McManus, winning one of three Galway Plates in 1978 with Shining Flame for the now dominant jumps owner.

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The most talented horse he trained was the ill-fated Golden Cygnet who won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 1978 but suffered a fatal fall the following month in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

Other stars of his stable were Whitbread Gold Cup winner Drumlargan, winner Sound Man, who won two Tingle Creeks, Pizarro, winner of the Champion Bumper under Jamie Spencer, as well as Ned Kelly and Nick Dundee.

He sent out his final runner on Friday at Cork where Sovereign Banter finished down the field in a sprint handicap.

News of O’Grady’s death was announced by Horse Racing Ireland who released a statement on behalf of his family.

“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, surrounded by his family,” the statement said.

“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.”