'A horseman and a gentleman' - Nijinsky rider Ward remembered after death at 92

Liam Ward, the six-time champion Flat jockey who rode Nijinsky to win the 1970 Irish Derby and was Vincent O'Brien's retained rider in Ireland, has been remembered as "a fine horseman and a gentleman" following his death on Monday at the age of 92.

A ten-time Irish Classic winner, Ward was a major figure on the Flat scene at a time when O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable was the most dominant in the world.

His six jockeys' titles in Ireland included a four-year sequence between 1956 and 1959, which preceded his tenure with O’Brien, and his career was highlighted by his association with two of Ireland's greatest trainers in O'Brien and Paddy Prendergast.

Most significantly, he rode the brilliant Nijinsky to win three of Ireland's major juvenile races in 1969 and the 1970 Irish Derby. That Curragh triumph amounted to an atonement of sorts for his shock defeat on the 1968 Epsom hero Sir Ivor when Lester Piggott rode 16-1 chance Ribero to a two-length victory for Fulke Johnson Houghton.

Speaking on Tuesday, O'Brien's son Charles recalled Ward’s affiliation with his father. "They were very close and always had a very good relationship," he said. "Liam actually rode Nijinsky to more of his wins than Lester did. He won 11 times and Liam was on him six times.

Charles O'Brien: 'My father would have had enormous respect for his opinion'Credit: Caroline Norris

"My father would have had enormous respect for his opinion and he was an important part of the team as a work-rider, so he would have very much listened to what he had to say."

He added: "Their friendship continued long after their professional relationship had finished. They played golf together and they were both keen fishermen. Liam was a real gentleman; a very dignified sort of man and there were no airs or graces about him."

Ward rode his first winner on Andorra at the Phoenix Park on April 5, 1947. Just four years later, he secured a breakthrough Classic in the 1951 Irish St Leger on the Morny Wing-trained Do Well.

He went on to add nine more to his CV, his famous victory on Nijinsky in the Irish Derby being his last. His final winner came aboard Cambrienne at Leopardstown on October 23, 1971. Ward also partnered Sicilian Prince to win the 1962 Prix Royal-Oak for Curragh trainer Stuart Murless.

Vincent Rossiter, who was a work-rider at Ballydoyle for 38 years, paid a glowing tribute to his old friend and colleague.

"Liam was from Rathkeale, County Limerick, where I grew up, and his father had a tack shop there and I think there was a bar attached to it, one of those old grocery shops you used to get with everything sold in it," Rossiter said.

"He was a very good judge of a horse but, apart from being a fine jockey and horseman with fine hands, he was a very nice man, a real gentlemanly sort of man.

"He was well-reared and very polite. He always dressed well, very spiv, you could say. I remember when he'd come into the weighing room and, whereas most of us would hang our trousers on a hook, he'd have a hanger with him as the trousers would be so well pressed. That was his style.

"He was also the first man I ever saw riding work with a helmet. In those days you didn't have to wear them but he thought it was a great idea and that we should all wear them, which we eventually did."

Vincent Rossiter: 'Liam was a very good judge of a horse but, apart from being a fine jockey and horseman with fine hands, he was a very nice man'

Rossiter partnered Sir Ivor, who was owned by the US ambassador to Ireland Raymond Guest, in most of his work at home.

However, it was Ward who had the honour of riding him in races in Ireland, steering him to victory in the 1967 Probationers' and National Stakes before the defeat to Ribero in the Irish Derby.

"He rode Sir Ivor the first time at the Curragh, in a winners' race," Rossiter recalled. "I rode the second string and finished second, but Sir Ivor was fifth and Liam said pulling up, 'They'll never beat him again'. And how right he was.

"He was very disappointed when he got beaten on him in the Irish Derby. Raymond Guest was throwing a big party at the embassy and he said it was the last place he wanted to be. Vincent was there as well and told him there was nothing he could have done to put him at ease, but he was very disappointed to be beaten – by Lester!"

Ward died at TLC nursing home in Maynooth, County Kildare. He is survived by his wife Veronica and two children, Bill and Nicola, from his marriage to Jackie Ramos. His funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2pm in Newlands Crematorium Chapel. It can be viewed here.