Curragh pay homage to O'Brien

An exhibition of the life and times of Vincent O’Brien will be on display at the Curragh this weekend.

The legendary trainer, who died earlier this year, is honoured by the renaming of the Ladbrokes.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

Many of his closest associates including Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Peter O’Sullevan are hoping to attend.

Memorabilia in the exhibition include trophies won by some of his star horses as well as paintings, photographs, old race footage and the saddles used by Piggott when he won the 2000 Guineas on Nijinsky and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Alleged.

O’Brien’s wife, Jacqueline, said: “Vincent enjoyed some of his greatest successes at the Curragh.

“The National Stakes was always a race held in high esteem by him as a target for his top two-year-olds.

“The family are delighted that the racecourse will honour his memory in this way and I know Vincent would have been very proud to have his name associated with this race.”