Posted online: Jun 4th, 2009

By Andrew Jennings
Sports Editor

VINCENT O’Brien, horse racing’s greatest trainer during a career that spanned more than a half century, died on Monday in Straffan, aged 92.
In a glittering career O’Brien secured 16 English and 27 Irish Classic victories, 25 Royal Ascot wins and 23 Cheltenham Festival successes.
Leading Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who is based on the Curragh, was a friend of Vincent and led the tributes this week.
“He was amazing, a man way ahead of his time. Actually I’d say in everything he did he was 50 years ahead of his time,” revealed Weld to Kildare Post.
“When Ireland was going through a rough time economically in the 1950’s and 60’s, Vincent was a shining light for what Irish people can be. He was a man for all seasons, that is, he won all the big jump races and also the big flat races. His personal achievement was amazing and I just want to send out my sympathy to his family. He will be missed,” added Weld.
O’Brien’s daughter, Sue Magnier said: “Dad’s racing career speaks for itself and needs no elaboration. There was nobody like him. 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.”
Born on April 9, 1917, in Churchtown, County Cork, Michael Vincent O’Brien was the fifth son of a sporting farmer who was heavily involved in horse trading.
Over four decades O’Brien fundamentally altered the face of both the racing and the breeding industry, before retiring from training in 1994.
He married Jacqueline Wittenoom, from Perth, Australia, in 1951 and had five children. He spent much of his later years in the sunnier climbs Down under in Perth.
He 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 Straffan.
His funeral will take place at noon on Thursday at St Conleth’s Church, Newbridge, Co Kildare.