Ruby Walsh: JT McNamara's passing a tragedy for racing, but much more so for his devoted family

I, like everyone else in racing, was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of John Thomas McNamara.

I knew John Thomas since I started riding. I rode with him as an amateur and, sporadically, against him as a professional. I also worked with him at Enda Bolger’s, so knew him very well. He was a very tough, but fair man. Hard, but gentle. And extremely honest.

What happened to him three and a half years ago in Cheltenham was a disaster for him, for Caroline, and for his entire family.