PADDY Prendergast was laid to rest yesterday having passed away peacefully on Tuesday. He was 88. His death comes less than three months after his wife Maura died.

Known as ‘Long Paddy’, he hailed from a very famous Irish racing family. His father P.J. (‘Darkie’) was champion trainer in both Ireland and England on numerous occasions and had 17 Irish classic winners and four in Britain.

The deceased’s brother, Kevin Prendergast, is still training successfully on the Curragh, aged 91.

Educated at Newbridge and Rockwell College, Paddy was a talented schools rugby player and had a trial for Munster before being sent to work in the oil business in Canada. From there he moved to the US where he became assistant trainer to the famed ‘Sunny’ Jim Fitzsimmons.

Paddy began training in his own name in Florida in 1962 before returning to Ireland. He met Maura at Naas Racecourse in 1964 and they were married in 1966. Delivering the eulogy at yesterday’s funeral Mass, his daughter Niamh said: “They adored each other and never put enjoyment on hold.”

Best winners

The family were based at Melitta Lodge on the Curragh. Paddy’s first good racehorse was Arctic Melody, winner of the Musidora and Athasi Stakes in 1965. Assertive won the Ballymoss Stakes (now the Tattersalls Gold Cup) for him in 1972 and Evening M’Lord won the same race in 1983. He won the 1976 Anglesey Stakes with Readjust.

Arguably the best he trained was Cooliney Prince, winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1980, on the same day that Darkie Prendergast died. Although he did not train a classic winner, he saddled Flair Path to be placed in two classics and he trained Irish Oaks winner Blue Wind as a juvenile.

His best horse over jumps was The Proclamation, winner of the Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in 1990, a race he had won previously with Tie Anchor in 1981.

His son Patrick took over the licence in 2002 and had Group 1 success with Skitter Scatter in 2018 before deciding to leave the profession a year later.

A doting father and grandfather, Paddy was an accomplished golfer and snooker player and also a very good singer.

In his retirement he took great pleasure in seeing his brother Kevin continue to train big winners and he was immensely proud of his son’s Patrick success.

His health began to deteriorate 10 years ago though, cared for by Maura, he often surprised his family by bouncing back to relative good health. His condition disimproved significantly in the past nine months and Maura’s passing was “the final straw”, Niamh said. “He couldn’t bear to be without her. We take great comfort that they are back together. Dad, for us you always were and will be a true legend.”

A copy of The Irish Field and a Mars bar, two items he enjoyed together on a Saturday morning, were among the items brought to the altar in his memory, along with his binoculars and racing colours.

Paddy Prendergast is survived by his son Patrick and three daughters – Lorraine, Orla and Niamh.

His remains were buried in St Peter’s Cemetery, Two Mile House, Newbridge, Co Kildare, yesterday.