'A legend of his lifetime' - trainer Kevin Prendergast dies at the age of 92

One of the great training dynasties has come to an end with the death of multiple Classic and Group 1-winner Kevin Prendergast just two weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. 

Described by fellow Curragh stalwart Dermot Weld as "a legend of his lifetime", he was a son of the revered Paddy 'Darkie' Prendergast, who was champion Flat trainer in Britain on three successive occasions in the 1960s. Kevin Prendergast continued the legacy of his father by saddling his first winner, Zara, at the now defunct Phoenix Park in May 1963. His death on Friday morning, June 20, comes exactly 45 years after that of his father.

In a career spanning more than 60 years, he went on to scale many of racing's most exalted peaks, with the grey filly Pidget becoming his first Classic winner in 1972 by landing the Irish 1,000 Guineas at 20-1, ridden by Wally Swinburn. Bill Williamson was then aboard when she won the Pretty Polly Stakes and she crowned a memorable season by beating the colts in the Irish St Leger, with TP Burns in the saddle. 

• Obituary: an era in Irish racing ends with the death of Curragh legend Kevin Prendergast 

Prendergast won another Irish St Leger with Conor Pass in 1973 and in 1977 won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with Nebbiolo, beating The Minstrel into third.

At the time, Prendergast was just the third Irish trainer after his father and Vincent O'Brien to win the Newmarket Classic. 

In the mid-1990s, he enjoyed a tremendous run of success with Oscar Schindler, who won back-to-back Irish St Legers in 1996 and 1997, before the likes of Rebelline, Miss Beatrix, Kingsfort, La Collina and Termagant flew the Friarstown Stables flag with aplomb in Group 1s. His final Classic winner came in the 2016 Irish 2,000 Guineas with Awtaad, whose subsequent stallion career now includes Friday's Royal Ascot winner Ethical Diamond.

Prendergast saddled more than 2,000 winners, although in recent years he had scaled right back and sold his Friarstown base on the Curragh. His last winner was Copie Conforme, ridden by his great ally Chris Hayes, at Bellewstown last August.

The old guard: Kevin Prendergast (left), Dermot Weld (centre) and Jim BolgerCredit: Patrick McCann

Weld led the tributes to his great friend and colleague, and said: "He was a legend of his lifetime. Not only was he an outstanding trainer, but every single one of his horses was always turned out beautifully. He was a wonderful horseman and will be sadly missed on the Curragh. I would like to send my sympathies to Kevin's family. He was a great man."

Champion trainer Aidan O'Brien echoed those sentiments, saying: "It's desperately sad news and he'll be missed by everyone. He was brilliant to me when we were starting out and was always great for advice. If you wanted to sound him out about anything, he was always great to bounce things off. The best way to describe him is special; he was a special man."  

The late Hamdan Al Maktoum's Shadwell operation was a longstanding supporter of Prendergast's, with Awtaad and the 2019 Derby runner-up Madhmoon among the those who excelled under the trainer's care. 

Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold said: "Before I started with Sheikh Hamdan, Kevin was already training for him. Sheikh Hamdan loved him, and they had a great relationship. 

"He was a wonderful horseman and his horses always looked immaculate. He was a huge character, full of stories for every occasion – some printable, but most not!

"He was just a marvellous man who knew his horses backwards. He used to walk out with them every day on the gallops and walk back with them. I struggled to keep up with him even when he was 88, 89. He was a good age and lived a great life.

"I went to see him about six weeks ago and he was still asking questions, full of the whole thing and as enthusiastic as ever. We'll miss him enormously." 

Prendergast, who was predeceased by wife Lesley and daughter Karen, is survived by daughters Andrea, Penny, Louise, Anne, Norma, Amanda and Natasha. Funeral details are yet to be confirmed. 

Kevin Prendergast 1932-2025:

'He's a legend and still absolutely loves the game' - Kevin Prendergast at 90 

Kevin Prendergast CV

Born Australia, July 5, 1932

Father Paddy Prendergast (champion trainer in Ireland & Britain)

Biggest winner as amateur rider Rising Spring (1959 Galway Corinthian Stakes)

Assistant to Paddy Prendergast 1956-62

Stables Erindale, Friarstown, Co. Kildare

First winner as trainer Zara (ridden by himself) Phoenix Park, March 23, 1963

First winner in Britain Hul A Hul, Chester, May 6, 1964

First big-race winner Perhaps So (1964 Rockingham Handicap)

Top-rated horse Ardross (rated 131 in Racehorses of 1980); won Jockey Club Cup, runner-up to Le Moss in Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup & Doncaster Cup

British Classic winner Nebbiolo (1977 2,000 Guineas)

Irish 2,000 Guineas winners Northern Treasure (1976), Awtaad (2016)

Irish 1,000 Guineas winners Pidget (1972), Arctique Royale (1981)

Irish St Leger winners Pidget (1972), Conor Pass (1973), Oscar Schindler (1996, 1997)

Other Classic winner Alabama Jacks (1999 Premio Parioli)

Scalp Hurdle/Irish Champion Hurdle winner Prominent King (1976, 1978)

Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Rebelline (2002)

Pretty Polly Stakes winners Pidget (1972), Lady Singer (1976), Polaire (1999), Rebelline (2001)

Matron Stakes winner La Collina (2013)

Phoenix Stakes winners Areola (1970), Sweet Emma (1982), Bradawn Breever (1991), La Collina (2011)

National Stakes winner Kingsfort (2009)

Moyglare Stud Stakes winners Milly Whiteway (1973), Arctique Royale (1980), Miss Beatrix (2006), Termagant (2009)

Hardwicke Stakes winner Oscar Schindler (1996)

Sun Chariot Stakes winner Snow (1980)

Diadem Stakes winner Haatef (2007)

Other notable Flat winners Nebbiolo (1976 Gimcrack Stakes), Northern Treasure (1976 Blandford Stakes), Ore (1981 Queen's Vase), Oscar Schindler (1996 Ormonde Stakes), Verglas (1996 Coventry Stakes), Quws (1997 Blandford Stakes, 1998 Gallinule Stakes), Mustameet (2006 Curragh International, Royal Whip), Miss Beatrix (2006 Goffs Million), Decado (2007 Curragh International), Awtaad (2016 Boomerang Stakes), Madhmoon (2018 Champions Juvenile Stakes, 2019 Desmond Stakes)

Other notable NH winners Talgo Abbess (1965 Gallaher Trophy Novice Hurdle), Warkey (1966 Galway Hurdle), Our Bid (1999 Champion Flat Race, Punchestown), Katie T (2014 Limerick Mares Novice Hurdle, 2015 BoyleSports Hurdle)

Derby runner-up Madhmoon (2019, to Anthony Van Dyck)

Irish Derby runner-up Ragapan (1973, to Weavers' Hall)

Placed in Champion Hurdle Talgo Abbess (3rd in 1967, to Saucy Kit)

2,000th winner Tell The Wind, Dundalk, September 24, 2010

Classic wins 10 (Ireland 8, Britain 1, Italy 1)

Leading trainer in Ireland (races won) 1970, Flat/NH combined

Compiled by John Randall