THE racing world lost a unique figure last weekend with the passing of Roger (Roddy) O’Byrne, aged 78, following a brave battle with illness.

The younger brother of well-respected bloodstock figures Demi and John, like that pair, he was also a tremendous judge of a horse, a trait passed on from their father, Larry, who owned a mixed horse and cattle farm at the Lodge Stud, Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, with wife, Tess.

Educated at Rockwell College (where his claim to fame was setting a high jump record, albeit with a reportedly unorthodox technique), Roddy soon made his way in the racing and bloodstock world, initially riding many of his own winners that were trained by brother John.

He sourced numerous quailty horses in the 1970s and 80s (later teaming up with David Kiely), notably the 1994 Grand National winner Minnehoma and 1984 Sandown Gold Cup winner Special Cargo, owned by the Queen Mother. During that time he had horses in training in Britain also, including with Nicky Henderson and Michael Dickinson, while more recently with Donald McCain.

In the early 90s, he embarked on an adventure to the USA, eventually establishing the famous McCarthys Bar in Lexington, Kentucky with his friend and fellow Kilmacthomas man Peter Kiely. However, he continued to have horses in training in Ireland and Britain, with a steady stream of winners since, all celebrated appropriately.

Grand National

But the zenith of his lifelong involvement with horses arrived earlier this year when Nick Rockett (named after a local man), bought by his nephew Timmy from local breeder Kieran D. Cotter and, initially trained by longtime ally Pat Doyle to win a point-to-point, won the Grand National for the Mullins family.

It was the perfect combination of family and friends’ involvement in a horse and it meant a lot to him when owner Stewart Andrew allowed Patrick Mullins to parade the hero in Kilmacthomas.

Roddy was more than a horseman though; he was a horse lover who admired all forms of equine activities and had a passion for country pursuits; he hunted with the Waterford Hunt and was a former master of the Kill Harriers. He was a skilled cattle man too and happily spent time working on the ranch of the late John T.L. Jones.

A notably well-read man, particularly of politics and history, he was a lover of historical novels, both factual and fiction. Tales of the American west particularly enthralled him, notably the Lonesome Dove series and if he could have lived in a different era, it would have been then.

He found technological advancements to be a necessary evil at best and discouraged television and the use of mobile phones in McCarthys. To him, social settings were for people to connect with each other because, above all else, he was a people person, to whom others were drawn, and he frequently held court in McCarthys or whatever hostelry he found himself in from time to time.

Roddy also had a wickedly mischevious sense of humour, spinning tall tales to the unsuspecting but his poker face could only last so long before he exploded with laughter.

He was also caring and helpful to anyone who needed it, especially young people in Kentucky, feeling a bit lost far from home. Generous to friends and family and very loyal, he was, simply, a gentleman of the finest old school.

T.M.