THE widely respected racing journalist Tom McCormack died peacefully in Dalkey, Co Dublin on Monday. He was 86. He worked with Independent newspapers for over 40 years and wrote the Evening Herald and the Irish Independent’s racing column.

He wrote initially for the Birmingham Post before returning to Ireland in the 1950s. His love of pedigrees and racing families extended back to early childhood and his professional life in racing journalism allowed him to indulge in his passion. He particularly enjoyed writing the Thursday column in the Evening Herald when it was a broadsheet and over two pages. This was mainly about up and coming trainers or breeders, with Tom delving into families they may have had over generations.

Tom always saw the good in the story and in the people telling it and he wrote respectfully and in a measured way. He raced Columbanus to win the Tetrarch Stakes and finish third in the Irish 2000 Guineas. He was one of the first patrons to a then young and up and coming star in Jim Bolger. He covered the bloodstock sales for many years.

He was above all a gentleman and always felt very blessed to be a small part of the Irish racing community, one he held in the highest regard.

He is survived by his wife Margaret, sons Bernard, Thomas and John and daughters Mary, Yvonne, Vicky, Anne and Lucy. A large crowd attended his funeral service in Dalkey on Wednesday and among the many representatives of the racing, breeding and newspaper worlds were John and Caitriona Oxx, Peter Casey, Christy Grassick, John O’Connor of Ballylinch Stud, David Nagle, Paul Hensey, Jim Kavanagh, Patrick Cooper, Tony O’Hehir, Damien McElroy and Ray Glennon. His burial took place in Knock, Co Mayo.

An appreciation by The Irish Field’s breeding expert Sieglinde McGee will appear next week.

TED CURTIN

Members of the racing world past and present mingled with locals from Naas and surrounds to pay tribute at the funeral mass of Ted Curtin on Thursday. He died in his sleep on Tuesday at the age of 82. A eulogy was delivered by Ted Walsh who summed the man and his career up perfectly.

A notably successful trainer in a career that only spanned two decades, he was especially adept at handling two-year-old fillies and a number of them in his care went on to be champions of the sex as juveniles. They included Marble Arch (Phoenix Stakes), Gentle Thoughts (Cheveley Park Stakes), Gala Event (Moyglare Stud Stakes) and Cake.

Ted Curtin was also responsible for the early career of The Bart, a subsequent racing millionaire in the USA, and won the Ulster Derby and Royal Whip with the colt. He enjoyed success for a number of influential owners including Nelson Bunker Hunt and Franklin Groves and he operated from Bluebell in Naas, a place steeped in memories. A number of years ago he simply sold up and walked away from the place. He was a man who enjoyed the good things in life, yet was happy to divest himself of worldly goods.

Fr John Brickley, Parish Priest in Naas, spoke at his funeral mass and reminded the congregation that Ted had been quietly a most generous man, both with his time and money and he helped many people and causes without seeking any recognition. He ultimately lived a very simple life in retirement.

A former auctioneer and a fluent French speaker, he was known to be quick witted. He engendered great loyalty, in spite of a reputation for having an explosive temperament at times. A man who enjoyed his own company and solitude, he also gathered friends around and was tremendous company. Some would say he was an enigma, but he is fondly remembered by all who knew him.

He was buried yesterday in Mount St Lawrence Cemetery in his native Limerick.