Racing legend O'Brien dies aged 92

Vincent O’Brien, perhaps the greatest trainer of all time, died earlier today, aged 92, at his home in Straffan, Co Kildare.

O’Brien secured 16 English and 27 Irish Classic victories, 25 Royal Ascot wins and 23 Cheltenham Festival successes during an amazing career which spanned 51 years.

He retired from training in October 1994 and had been spending his winters in Perth, Australia.

O'Brien began training in 1943 and quickly graduated from winning moderate races to sending out the likes of Cottage Rake to win the Irish Cesarewitch, the Leopardstown Chase, the King George VI Chase and three Cheltenham Gold Cups.

The trainer also masterminded the career of triple Champion Hurdle winner Hatton’s Grace before buying the Ballydoyle yard in 1951 from where he sent out Early Mist, Royal Tan and Quare Times to win consecutive Grand Nationals.

However, O’Brien eventually switched his attention to the Flat and handled the likes of Nijinsky, Sir Ivor, Alleged, Sadler’s Wells, Golden Fleece, The Minstrel, El Gran Senor, Ballymoss and Roberto during his stellar career.

O’Brien was also the original purchaser of Coolmore Stud and he set the wheels in motion for their worldwide breeding operation when he recruited John Magnier to run the farm.

The later recruitment of owner-investor Robert Sangster sealed Coolmore’s place as one of the world’s most important stallion stations.

O’Brien is survived by wife Jacqueline and five children including David, who trained the Derby winner Secreto and now lives in Perth, and Charles, who trains in Ireland.

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.”

The current incumbent of Ballydoyle is Aidan O'Brien, a man himself setting remarkable training feats and responsible for six of the 13 runners left in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom.

He added his tribute as he said: “It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Dr Vincent O’Brien today.

“As for so many people in racing, he was my hero growing up. For Anne Marie (wife) and me to come to Ballydoyle, to the training facility he established, was an extraordinary privilege.

“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 without the facility and gallops he built.

“There is nothing that compares to it anywhere in the world.

“I feel the sense of history every morning when I walk into the yard that had horses such as Nijinsky, Sir Ivor to Sadler’s Wells.

“His dedication to the sport of racing and to the highest standards knew no bounds.

“It is humbling to follow in his footsteps.”