TOM Lacy, the very popular former trainer and breeder, was laid to rest this week. He was in his 90th year and passed away after a brief illness, surrounded by his family in Rhode, Co Offaly.

He achieved a huge amount in the sport, first as a jockey, then as a trainer and later as a breeder. But he will also be remembered as an invaluable mentor to many people who went on to great heights in racing, notably Pat Smullen. Tom’s son Tony is vice-president of sales at Keeneland.

Tom rode 50 winners on the flat but is best remembered as the jockey of Height O’Fashion, the Paddy Mullins-trained mare who was unlucky enough to bump into both Arkle and Flyingbolt in the 1960s.

As a trainer, Tom had hundreds of winners, including home-bred Ingabelle who won the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Phoenix Park before being sold to John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud.

Tom and his wife Peg helped to get Pat Smullen started as a jockey, assisting the future champion rider to become champion apprentice twice.

When he retired from training, Tom focused on breeding. His son Barry worked alongside him at Ballygeashill Stud.

They bought the Lope De Vega mare Vida Amorosa for very small money in 2017 and her first two foals (both by Mehmas) have been the speedy Gubbass and the dual Group 2 winner and stallion Persian Force.

In 2023, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association honoured Tom with the Small Breeder of the Year Award.

Among those who attended his funeral Mass this week were Derek and Gay Veitch, Olive Gallagher, Tom Taaffe, Tom Malone, Frances Crowley and Paddy Smullen, Bobby O’Ryan, Con Marnane, Noel Meade and Eddie Woods, the recently retired US-based breeze-up consignor.

His daughter Susan and son Tony gave the eulogies. Derek Veitch of nearby Ringfort Stud said: “The first word that comes into my mind when I think of Tom is ‘gentleman’.

“He did a lot of people a lot of good. A very genuine and honest fellow all his life, he gave many young people a start and a leg-up in life.

“He not only taught Pat about race-riding and horsemanship, he guided him on how to conduct himself and who to look up to and respect in racing. He guided Pat down the right road, as he did with so many others.

“There is no doubting Tom’s work ethic, which he passed on to his children. He was still riding out into his 80s. People like Tom and the late Kevin Prendergast will be sorely missed as they held such an amount of experience that they passed on to future generations.”

Pre-deceased by his son Brian, Tom is survived by Peg, his wife of 58 years, and their children Tony, Barry, Susan, Emma and Claire.