Grand National winner as jockey and trainer
Born: September 15, 1941;
Died: July 12, 2017
TOMMY Carberry, who has died aged 75, was an Irish jump racing legend and as the head of one of Ireland's leading racing dynasties, achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Grand National both as a rider and a trainer.
He guided L'Escargot to victory over Red Rum in 1975 and saddled Bobbyjo to land the world's greatest steeplechase in 1999, ridden by his son Paul.
Born in County Meath, Carberry soon made his mark as a jockey and was a multiple champion National Hunt rider in Ireland in the 1970s.
He enjoyed great success on L'Escargot, not only winning the National, but the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971.
Carberry also won the blue riband of jump racing on Ten Up, but was denied a fourth success when Tied Cottage, who was first past the post in 1980 was later disqualified on a technicality.
He also won the Irish Grand National on Brown Lad in 1975 and 1976.
He retired from the saddle in 1982 to take up training and sent out Bobbyjo to win the latter race in 1998, the year before he went on to glory at Aintree.
Four of Carberry's children - Paul, Philip, Peter and Nina - have carved successful careers in racing.
Carberry was born in Garristown, Co Dublin, and learned to ride as a schoolboy. As a teenager, he rode in races for trainer Jimmy Lenehan and was champion apprentice on the flat in Ireland in 1958 and 59 before returning to the jumps.
Trainer Noel Meade described Carberry as a genius and a legend. "He rode the first winner I had in Galway on Larks Venture. He was a genius in the saddle, and Paul was very like him. He was nearly a carbon copy of him.
"Tommy could ride a horse to win from the front one day, and hold him and win the next day. He was a fabulous tactician and judge of pace, and just had that natural talent that is so hard to come by - it is bred in him."
Frank Berry, who rode alongside Carberry and was a long-standing friend, said: "We had some great days together and I shared the jockeys' championship with him in 1975. It was a huge day for me and a privilege to be able to do it.
"He was a good trainer for the ammunition he had and I was lucky enough to ride a few winners for him."
Tommy Carberry is survived by his wife Pamela and six children.
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