Death of former jockey and tutor Mick Kennedy at the age of 86

The funeral mass for former Irish jockey Mick Kennedy, who died on Wednesday at the age of 86, will take place at 12.30pm on Saturday in St Mary's Priory, Tallaght, County Dublin, followed by burial in Bohernabreena Cemetery.

Kennedy, who rode successfully on the Flat from the early 1950s until the 1970s, went on to become a much respected tutor and coach to apprentice jockeys in Ireland and abroad. He also worked as a starter with the Irish Turf Club and was involved with the Curragh racecourse and gallops.

On his retirement from the saddle, he became a tutor at the Racing Apprentice Centre of Education in Kildare and subsequently spent five years performing a similar role with the Japan Racing Association.

He also wrote a booklet named Winning Ways, which dealt with all aspects of race riding and was aimed at aspiring jockeys.

Kennedy, who died in Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross, Dublin, is survived by his wife Emma, sons John, Michael and Brian, daughter Juanita, his sister Fran and an extended family.

Speaking on Thursday, his son John said: "Dad had been battling with motor neurone disease for the past two years. It was very tough on him in recent times and his passing in the end was a release."

Kennedy served his apprenticeship with Colonel Arthur Blake and rode many winners for him and later for many different trainers including Captain Darby Rogers, Michael Rogers, Sir Hugh Nugent, Vincent O'Brien and Stuart Murless.

His big-race wins included the Phoenix Stakes on Jadeite in 1966, the Gold Flake Stakes on Royal Sword and the Gladness Stakes on Sparrow Hawk, both in 1967, the Ballymoss Stakes on Candy Cane in 1968, the Royal Whip on Manitoulin in 1972 and the 1963 Irish Cambridgeshire and the 1965 Irish Lincolnshire on Red Slipper. He also enjoyed success in India.

Arkle: Mick Kennedy jocked off for TP Burns when the great chaser ran on the FlatCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

In 1961 he won the race which was to become the Irish Champion Stakes on Sail Cheoil, who was owned by the Irish National Stud and carried the colours of the president of Ireland. Later that year Kennedy rode Sail Cheoil in the Washington International at Laurel Park.

John Kennedy said: "One story Dad often told was about riding some horses on the Flat for Tom Dreaper. One day Mr Dreaper told him that he was going to run 'the big horse' on the Flat in a few days' time, but he was going to get TP Burns to ride.

"Dad said that the big horse was a steering job and wouldn't be a problem, but Mr Dreaper was afraid he'd run away with Dad. TP rode the big horse – the great Arkle."

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