Irish pony racing to stage final seasonal fixture in memory of Jack de Bromhead

The Irish horse and pony racing authorities will stage one more fixture this year, in memory of Jack de Bromhead, after consulting with his parents Henry and Heather.

The meeting will take place at Borris in County Carlow on Sunday, October 2.

Pony racing organisers originally made the decision to suspend the rest of the season following the tragic death of De Bromhead during the Glenbeigh races on Rossbeigh beach last Saturday week.

The Borris fixture is being organised by trainer Shark Hanlon, who is heavily involved in the pony racing circuit with his son Paddy, who won the Dingle Derby last month.

Hanlon hopes they will get a big turnout to remember the "one-of-a-kind" teenager De Bromhead.

He said: "I pulled the plug but Henry wanted to run it, so we're going to have a ten-race card and hopefully we will get the support for it. I can't see why we won't.

"Henry wants the flapping to stay going. He said that the young lad [Jack] enjoyed it so much and that it was such a big part of his life that we'd be wrong to stop it."

Shark Hanlon with son Paddy on board stable star HewickCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Hanlon added: "My own son was in bits. He won the Scottish championship on the day of the tragedy. No Irish jockey has done it before. We were coming back up the road in great form and as soon as we got the news it stopped the whole thing. It stopped the whole racing world really."

When the young riders were asked about staging a raceday in Jack's memory, it did not take long for them to make up their minds according to Hanlon.

He said: "It will be hard for some to go back racing, but we had a chat with the jockeys this week and they all want to go back for Jack.

"We're going to try and keep the pony racing going next year and we'd have no chance of doing that if we didn't have a big day like this. I think it'll keep going strong."

Antoinette Gallagher of the Midlands Horse and Pony Racing Club said it would be a fitting way to remember the promising young talent.

She said: "Jack had such a bond with all the jockeys. They are amazing and talented kids who are so supportive of each other and it's a beautiful tribute. We're delighted we can do this for Jack.

"Next year we'll plan a bigger occasion in his memory, but I think it's a nice way for the kids to be able to cope. We weren't going to continue on this year unless the De Bromheads wanted something. They came back and said that they do so that's the reason we're doing it."