WILLIE Mullins’ mother has died as it emerged her final bet was a winning one on grandson Charlie in a bumper at Thurles.
The death of the matriarch of the famous Irish racing family at the age of 94 was revealed yesterday morning.
Wife of multiple champion trainer Paddy Mullins, who died in 2010, Maureen was the mother of trainer Willie, fellow Grade One-winning handlers Tony and Tom, renowned horse transporter George and daughter Sandra – all of who were victorious in the saddle.
She was also a winning rider herself, steering Razzo Forte to glory in a female riders’ event at Gowran Park in 1982, a race which her daughter also rode in.
Her grandchildren include record-breaking amateur rider Patrick, multiple Grade Onewinner Danny, and David, who rode Rule The World to win the 2016 Grand National.
Grandsons Charlie and Emmet have also ridden winners while the latter trained a Grand National victor in 2022 Aintree hero Noble Yeats, underlining the family’s incredible influence on National Hunt racing.
And it was Charlie who provided Maureen with her final winning bet after she placed € 20 on his mount Coco Masterpiece in the last race at Thurles on Tuesday, with the 4/5 favourite winning the race by half a length.
Her son Tony told the Racing Post: “She continued her massive interest in racing right up to the very last day.
“Would you believe, she had €20 win on Charlie in the bumper yesterday – that was her last bet.
“She was interested right up to the very end.
“Charlie winning the bumper at Thurles was one of the last things she was aware of, and she said to me before, ‘If I can’t ever go racing again, what’s the point?’.”