ONE of Irish racing’s most successful and popular trainers, Kevin Prendergast passed away on Friday, just two weeks short of his 93rd birthday.

From a famous Irish racing family, he trained for over 60 years and never retired, having had a runner as recently as last weekend.

He won eight Irish classics and one British classic. His best horses included Nebbiolo, Pidget, Artique Royale, Northern Treasure, Oscar Schindler, Conor Pass, La Collina, Kingsfort, Termagant, Mores Wells, Miss Beatrix, Mustameet, Rebelline, Verglas, Oscar Schindler, Earl Of Barking, Bradawn Breever, Termagant and Awtaad.

Prendergast was born in Australia in 1932. His father Paddy ‘Darkie’ Prendergast returned to Ireland in 1933 and became the outstanding racehorse trainer of his era. Based on the Curragh, Paddy Snr was twice champion trainer in Britain.

Kevin was educated in Newbridge College and Rockwell College, where he played rugby at a high level, but he returned to Australia aged 17 to begin his racing career before moving back to Ireland four years later to assist his father at Rossmore Lodge. He was a very successful amateur rider before taking out his own trainer’s licence in 1963. He achieved immediate success.

His first classic winner was Pidget in the Irish 1000 Guineas in 1972 and his final classic winner was Awtaad in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2016.

By 1966, his ever-expanding client base included the President of Ireland, Eamon de Valera.

Just as his famous father had done, Kevin excelled with two-year-olds, carrying off the first such contest each season on seven occasions.

In the process of turning out progressive totals of winners, Kevin was beginning to make his name as a mentor of apprentice jockeys. The more successful graduates included Pat Black, Gabriel Curran, Declan Gillespie, Robert Eddery, multiple champion jockeys Kieren Fallon, Charlie Swan and latterly Chris Hayes. Declan McDonogh was his only champion jockey.

Like his father, Kevin also supported Australian jockeys including Garnet Bougoure and Ron Quinton.

In 1976 he legged up Gabriel ‘Squibs’ Curran to win the Gimcrack Stakes at York and the same partnership captured the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket the following spring.

He was honoured in 2010 for reaching 2000 career winners.

He never trained more than 70 horses on his 300-acre Erindale holding, which was sold recently, though he continued to train a small number of horses from the property.

By an uncanny coincidence he died on the 45th anniversary of his father’s death. Kevin’s brother Paddy, also a trainer, died in September 2023.

His wife, Lesley Daly from Co Cork, passed away in early 2020. They are survived by their seven daughters - Andrea, Penny, Louise, Anne, Norma, Amanda and Natasha.

Kevin Prendergast 1932-2025

First winner: Zara, Phoenix Park, May, 1963

Best horses (selected): Nebbiolo, Pidget, Artique Royale, Northern Treasure, Oscar Schindler, Conor Pass, La Collina, Kingsfort, Termagant, Mores Wells, Miss Beatrix, Mustameet, Rebelline, Verglas, Oscar Schindler, Earl Of Barking, Bradawn Breever, Termagant, Awtaad

Classics won: 2000 Guineas (Nebbiolo), (Irish 2000 Guineas (Northern Treasure, Awtaad), Irish 1000 Guineas (Pidget, Artique Royale), Irish St Leger (Pidget, Conor Pass, Oscar Schindler)