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GLORIA O’Donoghue, mother of racing official Michael O’Donoghue and an avid fan of the sport all her life, passed away on Irish Derby day. She was in her 100th year and her funeral was private.
Her son Michael said: “Our mother loved her racing. She was a regular at Baldoyle, Phoenix Park and Leopardstown. Kilbeggan was the first racecourse she attended and it was the scene of her final day at the races three years ago.
“The Irish Derby was always a big event in her calendar and it was poignant that she died on that day.
“On behalf of myself, Declan and Yasmin, I would like to thank everyone who has sympathised with us.”
Former trainer Michael Halford and racing official Brendan Sheridan also lost their mothers this week. Marjorie Halford (née Nolan) passed away peacefully on Wednesday. Her funeral Mass takes place on Saturday at 11am in St Conleth’s Parish Church in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Mary Sheridan (née Buggle) died on Tuesday following a short illness and was laid to rest on Friday in Naas.
M.V. MAGNIER has been elected as a director of the Breeders’ Cup for a four-year term. Also elected was Craig Fravel (Brown Advisory), who will serve a three-year term.
Fravel served as President & CEO of Breeders’ Cup Limited from 2011-2019. Bill Farish (Lane’s End Farm) and Eric Gustavson (Spendthrift Farm) were re-elected. Breeders’ Cup chairman Barbara Banke said: “Their combined expertise and vision will be instrumental in driving the success of upcoming company initiatives, particularly the continued global expansion and impact of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.”
COLIN Keane is set to miss the Goodwood Festival after being suspended for 14 days for using his whip over the permitted level at Sandown last week.
The champion jockey has not long been retained by Juddmonte as their first choice jockey and was aboard their colt Windlord when he won the Gala Stakes eight days ago.
Keane used his whip eight times in the closing stages of the contest, a count permissible in Ireland but not in England as the limit in Britain is six strikes in flat contests.
The British Horseracing Authority’s whip review committee has fined him £350 and suspended him from July 22nd to August 4th, a spell that will see him miss a Sussex Stakes ride aboard Field Of Gold – with whom he won both the Irish 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Speaking at Sandown on Saturday, the rider said: “I’m so used to eight (strikes) as it is at home, I just have to abide by the rules here.
“That’s the only way I can put it, I know six is the amount over here but when I was in a ding-dong battle, I suppose it just went out of my head unfortunately. It’s unfortunate but it’s my own fault.”
PURVIEW, who caught the eye when second to subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, will be seen next in the BoyleSports Meld Stakes next Thursday.
“He’s a big, immature colt and we are delighted with the way he’s coming forward. I’ve always said that next year will be his year,” Weld told Racing TV.
“The plan is to look at the Meld, definitely. He’s a likeable colt and I expect him to run a very nice race.”
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