THERE was a great outpouring of sadness in the racing community this week following news that Nick O’Toole had died following a brief illness. He was just 68 and, with just days to live, he married his partner, Michelle.

From Naas in Co Kildare, Nick was best known in racing as prolific collector of racing memorabilia. His passion began in 1966 when his father took him to Leopardstown to see Arkle win his final start before his third Cheltenham Gold Cup. “I kept the racecard from that day and I still have it,” he told The Irish Field in an interview published in 2018.

A few years later, aged 13, Nick found himself at the Curragh to witness Nijinsky’s Irish Derby victory. “He would go down as my favourite horse of all time. There hasn’t been another Triple Crown winner since he did it in 1970 and people forget that he also won the Irish Derby and King George in that season.”

Over the following 50-plus years, Nick managed to collect some incredibly rare and unique items. He described it as “a hopeless obsession” but stressed that he was a collector, not a hoarder. He was only interested in genuine collectors’ items.

Unsurprisingly, Arkle held a special place in Nick’s heart. Arguably nobody did more in recent times to keep Arkle’s name in the news and Nick was deeply involved in helping put together two television documentaries about ‘Himself’.

Word of Nick’s collection spread through Irish racing over the years and it was only natural that the Curragh should knock on Nick’s door when they wanted to put on an exhibition in 2009 to honour Vincent O’Brien. “Vincent was the greatest trainer of all time, in my opinion, so it was very moving for me to be asked to put together the exhibition.”

A year later the Curragh put on a similar exhibition to mark the retirement of jockey Michael Kinane, while in 2016 it was the turn of Lester Piggott. Nick was thrilled to be involved with both.

“Mick Kinane’s exhibition coincided with the retirement of Sea The Stars, one of my favourite horses of all time. The Irish Injured Jockeys auctioned a racing plate worn by the great horse in the Irish Champion Stakes, which I bought, and it remains one of my most treasured possessions.”

Lester himself provided many treasures for the public to see at the Curragh.

It was Nick’s wish that Irish racing would get the top-class museum it deserves.

A number of Nick’s friends contacted The Irish Field this week with their memories of Nick and many more posted warm messages on RIP.ie.

He is survived by his wife Michelle, brother Mick, and sisters Anne and Eileen.

Tributes to Nick O’Toole

“Whenever I met him at the races, Nick had such stories to tell about how each item was obtained and what he had had to do to get them. Often the next race was over before I noticed but the story was always so amusing that I never cared.

“He had an encylopedic knowledge of the history of Irish racing. Above all Nick was the funniest and most entertaining person I’ve met while going racing. He is gone far too soon.” – Gerry Gaffney

“Nick was a legend in racing. He always had a smile and was full of information. We worked closely with Nick on many of his video projects. Our conversations always included Arkle.” – Rory O’Doherty

“Nick was a great character and one of the most popular people you’d meet on the racecourse. He was a truly knowledgeable man who happily regaled those he met with his entertaining stories. He will be sorely missed.” – James Mescall

“Nick played a huge part in making the Arkle – The Legend Lives On documentary for TG4 and Channel 4, and it was a great joy to work with him on that. He always had a broad smile and an infectious laugh. Nick will be greatly missed but fondly remembered.” – Denis Kirwan

“A bright light has gone out. Nick would always put a smile on your face when you met him and he always had a project in mind. Nothing but happy memories of working with him on various exhibitions which he presented here at the Curragh – the very definition of a labour of love with a wonderful attention to detail. Nick will be sadly missed by all his friends in racing.” – Brian Kavanagh