RACEHORSE owner Andrew Heffernan died peacefully last Sunday. Married to Margaret (Dunne), he lived in Dublin and was involved in racing for approximately 50 years.

His pink and purple quartered colours were carried to success by some talented horses, both on the flat and over jumps. He owned Archway, a Group 3 winner trained by Vincent O’Brien in the early 1990s and a successful sire. Over jumps his trainers included Willie Mullins, Ted Walsh and Andrew McNamara.

In more recent times he established the HOS Syndicate so that he could spend more time with his grandchildren. The syndicate has enjoyed phenomenal success. The Willie Mullins-trained Absurde carried their ‘white, pink star’ colours to success in the Ebor and County Hurdle, and has run with credit in three Melbourne Cups.

Those achievements were outdone by stable companion Ethical Diamond, who followed up a Royal Ascot and Ebor success with a thrilling victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year.

Just two weeks ago the syndicate’s Sons And Lovers, trained by Joseph O’Brien, won a $2.5 million race in Saudi Arabia.

Willie Mullins said: “Andrew was a constant in Irish racing for the past 40 or 50 years. He was at York for Ethical Diamond’s Ebor win last year and it was great that he was able to get down to the winner’s enclosure there with his wife and grandchildren. It was lovely and handy, and that’s why they enjoyed it so much.”

Dr Heffernan previously worked as a consultant endocrinologist at the Blackrock Clinic. He passed away “surrounded by his loving family” at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Dublin. His funeral took place on Tuesday.