Two days after his beloved Patricia was buried, Eddie joined her as he did in the nursing home when her dementia reached a stage where she needed full time care.
Eddie was some character , full of wit and mischief though he was never fond of an iffy story or non parliamentary language.
When riding he boasted he was the only jump jockey not to swear, "Bucking Hell !" being his favourite phrase.
On our first meeting back in 2007 he was selling shares in 3 fillies, a job lot to establish son Edward jr as trainer.
One, Camira was plain but ended up by far the best.
Mountain Flower was small and smart , ran promisingly at 2 and was placed first time out at 3 before disappointing after.
The third, Creola, named after the horse his father bought off my uncle years earlier was an impressive looking filly who at rest crossed her hind legs, resting one.
" Reminds me of Highland Wedding " Eddie said in his best salesman voice.
" We had one did just that at home years ago " I replied " the f8888r was useless "
I never saw the slap coming but it knocked me sideways ; I was not to spoil his sales pitch, nor swear in his company.
A man of strong faith, Paddy and I called to see him and Pat a few times in the last six months; the visits were always memorable , full of fun, stories and nuggets of wisdom.
An end of era, this gentleman spoke of Fred (Winter and Rimell) , Bryan (Marshall) Terry (Biddlecombe) and others, had his Olympic near miss (team mates went on the town the night before the final event ) his Cowboy days and the day he bamboozled the stewards in Ayr having pulled up a circuit early, recalling how the horse felt, how he felt before the stewards pulled themselves up early and sent him off with a warning .
When the RACE apprentice school was opened , managed by a non racing man Eddie and other Curragh based trainers were not fully amused but supported it by taking on students for work experience. One student was unable to jump onto his mount so Eddie told him his school should have a "kangaroo wood " mounting board to assist mounting..
Next day the director phoned inquiring about the mounting board.
" I had one but John Oxx borrowed it ",.
Eddie then rang John Oxx, told him of the ruse and continue it !
Ni bheidh a leitheid ann aris.
www.racingpost.com
Great trainer though.
