PATSY Corcoran, a well-known and very popular figure on the southern point-to-point and pony racing circuit, passed away on July 28th following a workplace accident. He was 68.

He was from Boherbue in Co Cork and his funeral Mass on August 1st was very well-attended by owners, trainers and jockeys, a testament to the high regard in which he was held.

Patsy was best known for his interest in and great love for pony racing. He enjoyed vast success as a trainer and he never gave up looking for the one that might have slipped by unnoticed by some of the big trainers.

In 1997 he owned and trained the Dingle Derby winner, Fiona’s Choice.

His great friend Michael Winters, when asked to reminisce about Patsy, asked ‘How long do we have?’.

He recalled Patsy riding a horse at Liscarroll point-to-point. Patsy had borrowed the late, great Connie Vaughan’s brown colours and certainly looked the part.

He survived a terrible mistake and ended up doing a full circle on board the horse which commentator Bill Twomey described as miraculous. His luck left him at the next fence and he ended up owning an acre in Liscarroll.

Jockeys who knew Patsy would be encouraged if they were approached by him before a race to ask about their prospects. It was a great omen.

If a race did not go according to plan, Patsy had the ability to advise a rider where things went wrong without insulting them in any way. In Patsy’s head there was always another day, both for man and beast.

His Saturday routine never changed. Up to the shop to buy The Irish Field and study it intensely. A copy of this paper was among the symbols of his life brought to the altar at his funeral Mass.

The racing world was all the better for Patsy’s involvement. But his life was in no way confined to that.

He was sports-made but, more importantly, he was devoted to his family and friends. One of life’s true gents has been taken too soon. Patsy is survived by his devastated wife Mary T and their four children.

This writer met him a few weeks ago in Killarney. The usual question “Anything for flapping?”. He will be sorely missed.

IL/MW