HELEN McDonogh (née Bryce-Smith) passed away peacefully on Thursday at home in Moynalty, Co Meath, surrounded by her family. She was 82.

Married to trainer Des and mother to three children including leading flat jockey Declan, Helen was a pioneering and record-setting jockey who rode from the 1960s until 1980.

She rode 109 winners in point-to-points, a record which was only surpassed recently by Liz Lalor. Using a special 3st saddle, Helen won 32 races on a horse named Still William, which was trained by her father Cyril Bryce-Smith, a prominent trainer of that time. She also rode 10 winners on the track including Monksfield, trained by her husband, in an amateur riders’ hurdle at Down Royal on April 26th, 1980. That win came just two months after she gave birth to Declan.

Helen was with her husband when they bought dual Champion Hurdle winner Monksfield for less than £1,000 at Ballsbridge Sales.

Along with Rosemary Rooney and Ann Ferris, Helen was a trailblazer for female jockeys. She won the first series of flat races restricted to lady riders in 1972 and never allowed her gender to hold her back.

In a recent interview with the Meath Chronicle, she recalled a humorous incident.

“I remember, after I got married, I was riding in a point-to-point and was described on the racecard as Mrs D McDonogh,” she said. “I was going out of the parade ring and I heard this man asking a colleague - ‘who is this Mrs D McDonogh, never heard of her, she’s hardly any good.’

“His colleague was a bit more knowledgeable and told him that it was Helen Bryce-Smith. I didn’t hear any more of the conversation as I was on the way down to the start, but he found out whether I was any good or not when I came back into the winner’s enclosure.”

Liz Lalor, who surpassed Helen’s point-to-point record last year, said: “I am sure things were a lot harder for female riders in Helen’s time, so what she achieved was brilliant.”

Ted Walsh, who rode against Helen, said: “Helen was well established when I started riding and I was in awe of her and her prolific winner, Still William. Women were not allowed to ride on the track at that time but Helen kept campaigning for a change in the rules and she went on to organise the first race for lady riders at the Curragh. That set the trend for all those who came after her.

“Helen was a great horsewoman and a great assistant trainer to her husband. She was everything you could ask for in a woman, mother and partner.”

Helen McDonogh is survived by her husband Des, daughters Shona Geraghty, (Billywood, Moynalty), Ashling Byrne (Kilcullen, Kildare) and son Declan, (Fontstown, Kildare). House private. Arriving to Mullagh Parish Church (Church of Ireland) A82XT32 on Sunday for funeral service at noon, followed by interment at Cherrymount, Moynalty.