It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of a true giant in the world of horse racing, Edward O’Grady. One of the greats of Irish National Hunt racing, Edward O’Grady died on Sunday evening at the age of 75, peacefully surrounded by his family at St James’s Hospital in Dublin.

A cherished husband, father, and grandfather, Edward O’Grady was also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation. His extraordinary career spanned more than five decades, during which he trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force not only at Cheltenham but also across the wider racing world.

A Cheltenham Legend

Edward O’Grady was particularly renowned for his prowess at the Cheltenham Festival. For a long time, he stood as the leading Irish trainer at Cheltenham, saddling 18 winners. His first victory there was with Mr Midland in the 1974 National Hunt Chase. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he was recognized as the leading Irish trainer at Cheltenham by number of winners, second only to Vincent O’Brien. As his neighbour and friend, former jockey and trainer Andy Slattery noted, “Up until Willie Mullins came along, he was the leading Irish trainer in Cheltenham”. Slattery also highlighted O’Grady’s unique ability to “tune” horses specifically for that week, making them “different horses” who gained “that bit of edge” for Cheltenham.

A Trainer of Champions

O’Grady trained a host of top-class horses throughout his illustrious career. His major racing wins as a trainer in British National Hunt Grade Ones include:
Tingle Creek  (2003)
Victor Chandler Chase (1991)

Some of the significant horses he trained include:
Gay Future
Golden Cygnet – considered perhaps the most talented horse to pass through O’Grady’s hands, a brilliant winner of the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before being fatally injured the following month [9].
Shining Flame
Hind Hope
Rugged Lucy
Hard Tarquin
Drumlargan

More recent Festival winners include Pizarro, who won the 2002 Champion Bumper, and Back In Front, the 2003 Supreme scorer. Away from Cheltenham, he notably saddled Sound Man to win successive runnings of the Tingle Creek in 1995 and 1996. His final Grade One winner was Cash And Go in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2011. Other top-class horses he trained include Ned Kelly, the 2002 Irish Champion Hurdle winner, and his half-brother Nick Dundee.

A Man of Determination and Community Impact

Beyond his remarkable achievements on the track, Edward O’Grady was described as a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends across continents and a story for every occasion, coupled with a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field, and everything equestrian .

O’Grady’s roots were firmly planted in his native Ballynonty, Tipperary, where he ran his stud farm at Killeens. He took over at Killeens after the death of his father, Willie – himself a former dual Irish champion jockey and later trainer – in January 1972 [8]. Edward O’Grady significantly impacted his local community by providing considerable employment through his stud farm. Andy Slattery recalled that O’Grady employed 30 to 40 people when he was there, bringing much-needed jobs to the area during times when building work was scarce. Slattery also described O’Grady as down-to-earth but very driven, highlighting his “determination” as the secret to his success. He was “always looking for the next good horse” and had the owners to acquire top talent, including buying Sound Man from Paddy Mullins and several top bumper horses from Willie Mullins when he was starting out. O’Grady was “very determined and wanted to win” and “pulled off some great days for JP McManus,” with whom he started.

Edward O’Grady’s final winner came via Our Soldier in a Bellewstown handicap hurdle at the start of July, and his last runner, Sovereign Banter, finished unplaced in a Cork sprint on Friday night.

Edward O’Grady’s legacy as a brilliant trainer, a shrewd businessman, and a community pillar will forever be remembered in the annals of Irish racing. He leaves behind an indelible mark on the sport he loved and the countless lives he touched. Funeral details will be announced in due course.