Tommy Carberry
National Hunt jockey and trainer BORN SEPTEMBER 15, 1941 - DIED JULY 12, 2017, AGED 75
TOMMY Carberry, one of the great jump jockeys of his era, will be remembered for achieving that rare feat of both riding and training Grand National winners.
He won successive Cheltenham Gold Cups on L’Escargot in 1970 and 1971 and led the same horse to victory over Red Rum in the 1975 National.
Following his retirement from the saddle in 1982, Carberry embarked on a training career.
He enjoyed his biggest success when Bobbyjo, ridden by his son Paul, landed the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree in 1999. This came a year after he won the Irish equivalent at Fairyhouse.
Carberry remains one of only five men in the 20th century to ride and train a Grand National winner, joining the ranks of Aubrey Hastings, Fred Winter, Algy Anthony and Fulke Walwyn.
Born in County Meath, Ireland, Carberry rode his first winner in 1958 during his apprenticeship with Dan Moore – the man who would go on to become his father-in-law – before becoming champion apprentice on the Flat in Ireland in 1959.
Difficulty keeping his weight down prompted him to return to the jumps with Moore but he continued to ride with frequent success on the Flat.
Most of his wins came in the 1970s when he was Ireland’s champion jump jockey four times, won the 1975 Gold Cup on Ten Up and rode 16 Cheltenham Festival winners.
He was denied the blue riband of jump racing in 1980 when Tied Cottage, who was first past the post, was later disqualified when tiny traces of a banned substance were found in the horse’s blood.
As well as Paul, three other children – Philip, Peter and Nina – have carved out successful careers in racing as jockeys.
They, along with their mother, Pamela and two other siblings, Thomas and Mark, survive him.