RIP Vincent O'Brien

I am just after hearing that.

The first race I remember watching on television was the 1972 Derby won by Roberto and after that Vincent was my hero all through childhood.

A fantastic trainer.

RIp
 
For me Royal Acadamy winning the Breeders Cup will be my greatest memory of him. Classic Thoroughbreds never reached the highs of the Sangster/Niarchos/Magnier days and VO'B was on a comeback as was Lester. Pure magic. RIP.
 
Something rather poignant about the timing. I trust Epsom will find some way to mark his achievements on Saturday.
 
God forbid that Aiden withdraws all his horses as a mark of repsect.

Mind you he reached a ripe old age, had a great life, left so many memories and training benchmarks that its one of those lifes you feel more inclined to celebrate than necessarily mourn beyond the obvious finality of it.
 
RIP. Most of the horses he trained had been and gone before I got into racing but still the greatest trainer of racehorses there's ever been IMO.
 
Can't really put into words what Vincent did for horseracing and breeding. I grew up on the West Coast of the US and even there he was a legend. He was my father's hero when I was a child.

At least he had a wonderful life and leaves such a lasting legacy.

Let's hope the management at Epsom do something to show respect.
 
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."

His funeral will take place at noon on Thursday at St Conleth's Church, Newbridge, Co Kildare.
 
Trainer Aidan O'Brien led the tributes to Vincent O'Brien, the founder of Ballydoyle and legendary trainer, who died aged 92.

The current incumbent of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien is no stranger to setting remarkable training feats himself and is responsible for six of the 13 runners left in Saturday's Investec Derby at Epsom.

He said: "It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Dr Vincent O'Brien. 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."

He added: "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."
 
One of those rare occasions when the word 'Legend' is not misused.

I was not around for the height of his success but agree with Cantoris when he talks about Royal Academy winning the mile. The old team pairing up after John Reid was injured in France and the last gasp manner of his win after stumbling early on in the race never fails to move me.
 
Lovely dedications from Mrs Magnier and Aidan O'B - what else is there to say, really? A very long, interesting, and vividly successful life, supported by a lovely wife, revered and respected during and after his career, and then retirement to the warmer climes of Australia. Who could want for anything more?

Not been well for the past couple of years, so no doubt ready enough to go on to sort out Heaven's yard, whose record over 10f has been a little down of late.
 
RIP Vincent O Brien. He was before my time but what a record he has and the legacy which he has left behind will be felt for many decades to come in racing.
 
There's not much to add apart from personal memories of a genuine racing legend.

As a child, being aware of going racing for the first time in the mid 80s, my memories are of M V O'Brien horses at the Phoenix Park and Curragh. First with Eddery and then Asmussen I was fascinated that his horses always seemed to be favourite (often odds on) and had often been running in various countries around the world. This made me explore further and come upon his quite remarkable record.

I missed the real glory days but will remember watching Royal Academy at the Breeders on the TV, and being present for Capricciosa winning the Moyglare and Fatherland lifting the Futurity under a certain L Piggott. RIP.
 
I don’t suppose there will be too many more like him… a dead breed.
The 16-page pull out in today’s Post is worth a read.
 
Copied from the Irish Times:


Vincent O'Brien: Life of a Master

Name: Michael Vincent O’Brien

Born: Good Friday, April 9th, 1917 in Churchtown, Co. Cork.

Married: December 29th, 1951 to Jacqueline.

Family: Five children – David, Charles, Elizabeth, Sue and Jane.

First Winner: Oversway at Limerick Junction on May 20th, 1943.

Final Winner: Mysterious Ways at the Curragh on September 17th, 1994.

Champion Trainer in Ireland (13 times): 1959, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988 1989.

Champion Flat Trainer in Britain (twice): 1966 and 1977.

Champion Jumps Trainer in Britain (twice): 1952-53 and 1953-54.

Major National Hunt Victories: Cheltenham Gold Cup (4) – Cottage Rake (1948-49-50) and Knock Hard (1953). Champion Hurdle (3) – Hatton’s Grace (1949-50-51). Aintree Grand National (3) – Early Mist (1953), Royal Tan (1954) and Quare Times (1955). Irish Grand National (1) – Alberoni (1952).

Irish Classics: 2,000 Guineas (5) – El Toro (1959), Jazzerio (1978), Kings Lake (1981), Sadler’s Wells (1984) and Prince Of Birds (1988). 1,000 Guineas (3) – Valoris (1966), Lady Capulet (1977) and Godetia (1979). Derby (6) – Chamier (1953), Ballymoss (1957), Nijinksy (1970), The Minstrel (1977), El Gran Senor (1984) and Law Society (1985). Oaks (4) – Ancasta (1964), Aurabella (1965), Gaia (1969) and Godetia (1979). St Leger (9) – Barclay (1959), White Gloves (1966), Reindeer (1969), Caucasus (1975), Meneval (1976), Transworld (1977), Gonzales (1980), Leading Counsel (1985) and Dark Lomond (1988).

British Classics: 2,000 Guineas (4) – Sir Ivor 91968), Nijinsky (1970), Lomond (1983) and El Gran Senor (1984). 1,000 Guineas (1) – Glad Rags (1966). Derby (6) – Larkspur (1962), Sir Ivor (1968), Nijinsky (1970), Roberto (1972), The Minstrel (1977) and Golden Fleece (1982). Oaks (2) – Long Look (1965) and Valoris (1966). St Leger (3) – Ballymoss (1957), Nijinsky (1970) and Boucher (1972).

French Classics: Prix Du Jockey Club (1) – Caerleon (1983).

Other Major International Races include: Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3) – Ballymoss (1958) and Alleged (1977-78). Breeders’ Cup Mile (1) – Royal Academy (1990). Washington International (1) – Sir Ivor (1968). King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (3) – Ballymoss (1958), Nijinsky (1970) and The Minstrel (1977). Ascot Gold Cup (1) – Gladness (1958). Eclipse Stakes (5) – Ballymoss (1958), Pieces Of Eight (1966), Artaius (1977), Solford (1983) and Sadler’s Wells (1984). July Cup (5) – Thatch (1973), Saritamer (1974), Solinus (1978), Thatching (1979) and Royal Academy (1990). Sussex Stakes (4) – Thatch (1973), Artaius (1977), Jazzerio (1978) and Kings Lake (1981). Benson and Hedges Gold Cup (2) – Roberto (1972) and Caerleon (1983). Dewhurst Stakes (7) – Nijinksy (1969), Cellini (1973), The Minstrel (1976), Monteverdi (1979), Storm Bird (1980) and El Gran Senor (1983).

Career total winners in Ireland (Flat and NH) – 1,529.

Royal Ascot winner tally – 25 including including seven winners from eight runners in 1975.

Cheltenham Festival tally – 23 including 10 Gloucestershire Hurdles.

Honorary doctorates: from National University of Ireland and Ulster University.
 
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