Wedding bells

BEST wishes to Tracy Piggott and Eamonn Leigh who will be married this weekend in Burtown House and Gardens in Athy. Eamonn has been head man at the Jessica Harrington yard for many years and that is where he met Tracy, who rides out there regularly and memorably was the exercise rider of Irish Grand National winner Our Duke.

Award winner

CONGRATULATIONS to Barry Geraghty, whose book True Colours was named Pinsent Masons International Autobiography of the Year at the Daily Telegraph Sports Books Awards this week.

Farewell to ‘Harry the Hat’

RACEGOERS who recall seeing Harry Moane’s mobile hat shop at Irish racecourses will be saddened to hear that ‘Harry the Hat’ passed away recently, aged 85. His funeral service took place in Doncaster yesterday.

Alan Redmond of Redmond Fine Art said: “When I hear Harry’s name, I smile. Not many Englishmen could come over here and sell to the Irish but Harry could. He was an expert at his job – he had a hat for every head. He had the banter and was very popular with the Irish public.

“Harry stayed in my wife’s bed and breakfast when he was attending the metropolitan meetings here and we would often go for a pint after racing to discuss our day’s takings. Sadly, Harry was predeceased by his son a year or two ago and I’m told he was never the same afterwards.”