'A great man, friend and horseman' - Irish racing in shock at death of John Fleming

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Trainer Joe Murphy has paid tribute to a "great man, friend and horseman" in John Fleming, who died in a tragic accident at Dublin Airport in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Fleming, 62, was steeped in the racing industry. He was a well-known and hugely respected figure in the bloodstock world, a racehorse owner and a long-time publisher of the Irish Racing Yearbook. He was a prominent owner with trainers Murphy and Michael O'Callaghan over the last decade, and was part of the ownership of Cercene, who was one of the stories of the Flat campaign last season in her memorable victory for Murphy in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Earlier this month, the O'Callaghan-trained Navassa Island carried Fleming's red silks to victory in the Listed Cork Stakes under Colin Keane. He was a long-standing and key patron of O'Callaghan's Curragh yard.

Fleming owned an Irish accountancy firm, which specialised in services within the racing industry, and was the publisher of the Irish Racing Yearbook for more than 20 years. He was also a prominent figure in breeze-up circles, illustrated by Navassa Island, who was a Craven breeze-up graduate.

John Fleming (second from left) and connections of Navassa Island after she won the Cork Stakes earlier this monthCredit: David Keane (racingpost.com/photos)

While walking on Corballis Road after midnight on Thursday, Fleming was struck by a bus at Dublin Airport and pronounced dead at the scene.

Murphy paid tribute to a "great man, friend and horseman" and said Fleming was also an enormous help for trainers when it came to financial advice through his firm, Fleming Accountancy and Business Solutions in County Kilkenny.

"My heart goes out to his family, it's such a huge shock," said Murphy. "He's a huge loss. A great man, friend and horseman. He was with me for the last 20 years and was involved in Cercene from the start. 

"We're all in shock. No matter who he was speaking to, whether they were a client or not, he always gave them his full attention. That's the measure of the man he was – he had time for absolutely everyone and wanted to help everyone.

"If it was a small trainer who had a problem with VAT or tax or anything, he'd do everything in his power to help. You went into his office with a problem and when you came out, you always felt it was solved. Whether it was or not, he'd make you feel better about it. That's what he was, a problem-solver and always wanted to help. 

"He was a very kind, good-natured man, a great friend and also a wonderful owner – we never had a row in 20 years. He just loved the game and the people in it."

Daragh O'Conchuir, editor of the Irish Racing Yearbook, also paid tribute to a colleague and friend.

"Above all, John was a lovely, kind man," he said. "It was a privilege of a lifetime to be asked to edit the Irish Racing Yearbook and it was a labour of love for John because he just loved every element of horseracing as a sport and industry.

“He was so proud of the book, but he had the lightest touch as a publisher. There was never any pressure. None. You would always be far harder on yourself than he was on you.

“For John, you had to find the enjoyment in life and he loved a bit of roguery. The smile was never far away, win, lose or draw. It has been hard to take in. 

"It's a massive shock, but my thoughts are with Marion, his family and his friends, of which there were many. His many work and business colleagues, Chris and the team in his office in Kilkenny, the crew at EBN, the trainers Michael O’Callaghan and Joe Murphy that he had so much time for and relished being involved with.

"He was always helping people and the reaction in the past 24 hours is a testament to him. We were lucky to know him.” 

Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: "Like everyone connected to Irish racing, I am very saddened to learn of the sudden passing of John Fleming.

"He was a very talented and hugely respected man with a genuine passion for the sport. 

"John had more than 30 years' experience as an accountant and advisor to many in the bloodstock industry. He published the Irish Racing Yearbook for more than two decades out of sheer enthusiasm for racing. He was also a very proud racehorse owner and was on hand to greet his mare Navassa Island after she won the Listed Irish EBF Cork Stakes on Easter Sunday.

"On behalf of HRI, I wish to offer our sincere sympathies to John's family and his many friends and associates. May he rest in peace."

Fleming is survived by his wife Marian, children Danny, Fintan and Orlaith, their mother Paula, brothers Patrick, Fergus and Paul and sisters Mary, Anne and Mairead, along with their spouses Megan, Cathy, Laura, Cormac, Tom and Ciaran. He's predeceased by his parents Richie and Margaret Fleming.

Reposing at his home on the Castle Road (R95 P92H) will be this Sunday from 3pm concluding with prayers at 7pm. Requiem Mass will take place on Monday at 12 noon in St. Patrick's Church, College Road, Kilkenny.