TOMMY CARBERRY, A name synonymous with National Hunt racing, has died at the age of 75.
The Meath native became one of the sport’s leading figures — winning back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups on board L’Escargot (1970 and 1971), before denying Red Rum a third consecutive victory in the Aintree Grand National in 1975.
A two-time champion Irish jockey and five-time national hunt jockey, Carberry retired from the saddle in the early 1980s.
As a trainer, he was instrumental as Bobbyjo — ridden by his son Paul — triumphed in the 1998 Grand National and the Aintree equivalent a year later.
With Paul’s siblings Nina, Philip and Peter also going on to follow in their father’s footsteps by becoming jockeys, the Carberrys are known as an Irish sporting dynasty.
After news emerged of his passing this afternoon, the racing world has been quick to pay tribute to Tommy and his family.
“On behalf of Horse Racing Ireland, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Carberry family on the passing of Tommy,” said Horse Racing Ireland’s Brian Kavanagh in a brief statement.
“Multiple Irish Champion National Hunt jockey, a supreme stylist in his days in the saddle, Tommy was Champion Apprentice and in 1979 rode Fordham to success for Vincent O’Brien in the race which would evolve into the Irish Champion Stakes.
“He will be forever remembered for riding top jumpers like L’Escargot and Tied Cottage, for his father-in-law Dan Moore, and the Dreapers’ Ten Up and landing successes in iconic races such as the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Aintree Grand National.
The Aintree feature also provided the highlight of Tommy’s training career when in 1999, Bobbyjo followed up on his Irish Grand National success of the previous year under his son Paul.
“Indeed the biggest jumps race of the year in Ireland, which is run at Fairyhouse only a matter of miles from the family home, has a deep connection with the Carberrys with Tommy himself having won the race on Brown Lad and both his son Philip (Point Barrow) and daughter Nina, on her uncle Arthur Moore’s Organisedconfusion, adding to Paul’s victory on Bobbyjo.”
Watch the 1975 Aintree Grand National below:
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
