Death of leading racing figure Michael Osborne
A former managing director of the Irish National Stud, he was chosen by Sheikh Mohammed to build up the sheikh’s stud farm operations in Ireland and then to establish international racing in Dubai.
Osborne, as chief executive of the Emirates Racing Association, supervised the construction of the first Nad Al Sheba grandstand and managed the successful launch of the world’s richest race, the Dubai World Cup.
A native of Naas, Co Kildare, Osborne also played a pivotal role in many of the major developments in Irish racing over the past twenty years. A former director of the Irish Horseracing Authority and Horseracing Ireland as well as a past chairman of Punchestown Racecourse, at the time of his death he was chairman of the Curragh Racecourse and Training Grounds.
A qualified vet who worked in private practice for 12 years before joining the National Stud in 1970, Osborne was a past president of the Irish Veterinary Association and was a great supporter of the Association's Benevolent Fund.
He had the distinction of being the first Irishman to be made an honorary member of the Jockey Club. Earlier this year, he was conferred with an honorary science doctorate by the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, while he was also a Freeman of Naas.
Paying tribute yesterday, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Michael was a wonderful man. My thoughts and sympathy are with his family. We had some marvellous times together and I will always remember the great work that he did. He was a hugely influential figure in world racing. Michael established the Dubai World Cup as a great international race.
“Michael always had enormous enthusiasm - for horses, for Ireland and for Dubai. Nearly 20 years ago, he was the one who bought Kildangan Stud for me. He really loved the farm and it is fitting that he is going to be laid to rest in the graveyard at Kildangan.”
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horseracing Ireland said: “Michael Osborne was Ireland’s foremost international racing figure of recent times. Over four decades he occupied every significant role in the Irish racing and breeding industries and set new standards of excellence in every position he filled.
“To his wife Ann, sons John and Joe, daughters Meta, Liz and Jennifer and his extended family we extend deepest sympathies.”
