While his influence was felt on racecourses across Ireland and Britain, O’Grady held a deep and lasting connection with Galway, leaving an indelible mark on the summer spectacle at Ballybrit. Honoured with a minute's silence before the first race commenced on Monday, Ballybrit paid homage to one of the greatest names in Irish racing.
O’Grady’s name is woven through Galway Races history. In 1978, he teamed up with a then-rising JP McManus to win the Galway Plate with Shining Flame, a victory that signalled the start of a powerful partnership and a golden run of success in the west. He went on to win three Galway Plates in four years, adding Hindhope in 1979 and Rugged Lucy in 1981. Not content with that, O’Grady also trained Hard Tarquin to win the Galway Hurdle in 1979, making him one of the rare few to land both of Ballybrit’s premier prizes in the same year.
Known for his sharp eye for talent and bold handling of his horses, O’Grady’s impact at Galway reflected his national success. He was Ireland’s champion jumps trainer for four consecutive years from 1977 to 1980, and before the rise of names like Mullins and Elliott, he was the country’s most successful trainer at Cheltenham, notching up 18 festival winners.
While his base remained in Ballynonty, County Tipperary, O’Grady always had time for Galway, a meeting he once described as “a week like no other.” He understood both the pressure and the pageantry of Ballybrit, often fielding quality horses that thrived on the hill and under the unique Galway buzz.
A formidable force
For racing fans, O’Grady’s name evokes memories of top-class racing, thrilling finishes, and a trainer who knew how to bring the best out of his horses when it mattered most. His legacy will live on, especially here in Galway, where his achievements are part of the race week’s proud history.
Following his passing, the O'Grady family released a statement, paying homage to a cherished family man who was one of the greatest names of Irish racing.
"Edward was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also one of the most respected and successful racehorse trainers of his generation. Over the course of an extraordinary career that spanned more than five decades, Edward trained just shy of 1,700 winners under rules. His name became synonymous with Irish National Hunt racing, and he was a formidable force at Cheltenham and across the racing world.
"Beyond the winners and the headlines, Edward was a man of deep intelligence, sharp wit, and remarkable warmth. He had friends on every continent, a story for every occasion, and a lifelong passion for the sport, the hunting field and everything equestrian."
As the crowds gather once again this year, many will raise a glass to Edward O’Grady, a true master of Ballybrit and a towering figure of Irish racing.
