World-renowned vet Stan Cosgrove fondly remembered after death at 91

Many tributes have been paid to world-renowned veterinary surgeon Stan Cosgrove, a much respected stalwart of the Irish thoroughbred industry, who died peacefully at his home in Monasterevin, County Kildare on Thursday at the age of 91.

Cosgrove will forever be associated with the Haefner family's Moyglare Stud Farm, which he joined as a vet in 1962 before becoming manager of the stud in 1971, a role he filled until retiring from the position in 2013.

During his time as manager, Moyglare became a major breeding centre, producing many big-race winners including Assert, winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and the Irish Derby in 1982, the 1983 Japan Cup heroine Stanerra and Refuse To Bend, who won the 2003 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket in Moyglare's colours.

Other international successes for Moyglare-bred horses include the Melbourne Cup win of Media Puzzle and another pioneering victory in the stud's colours, with long-time ally Dermot Weld, through Go And Go in the 1990 Belmont Stakes.

Paying tribute to Cosgrove, Weld said: "Few people have made such an important contribution to the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry as Stan.

"We had a long association because of his Moyglare involvement and enjoyed great success together, internationally and domestically.

"Go And Go winning the Belmont Stakes, Additional Risk winning the Hong Kong Bowl and Refuse To Bend winning the 2,000 Guineas were among the many highlights, and we also had Classic success at home and at Royal Ascot and on the continent.

"I visited him and spoke to him at his home on Thursday only hours before he passed away. He was a wonderful man."

Refuse To Bend: won the 2,000 Guineas in 2003 in the Moyglare coloursCredit: Edward Whitaker

Two former Irish champion jockeys, Mick Kinane and Pat Smullen, both enjoyed major successes on Moyglare horses and on Friday the pair spoke fondly of their long association and friendship with Cosgrove.

Smullen said: "Great can be an overused word but in the case of Stan Cosgrove such a description is fully deserved.

"He was a great and world-renowned veterinary surgeon who was a pioneer in his field. He was an amazing horseman with a wonderful knowledge of horses, breeding and all aspects of racing.

"He did so much for the development and success of Moyglare Stud during his long association with the farm.

"He was very influential in my career as a jockey and was a huge supporter. In my early days as a rider when things were tough, both he and Walter Haefner stood by me and it was through them I got the opportunity to join Dermot Weld, their principal trainer.

"We became very good friends and I loved spending time with him. He was a very intelligent man who led a full and very active life. He had a good innings and will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

Kinane said: "Stan was a fantastic man – an iconic figure. He was a father figure to me and we had so many great days with the Moyglare horses. I had his full support when I was a young jockey coming through the ranks and that meant a lot."

Mick Kinane: 'I had his full support as a younger and that meant a lot'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, said: "I was really sorry to hear of Stan's passing. He was a legend of Irish racing and, by common consent, one of the world's most gifted equine veterinarians. He was wonderful company and a great storyteller who was much loved and widely respected within the industry. He will be greatly missed."

In the 1970s he established the Troytown Veterinary Hospital in Kildare. Having begun modestly with an operating theatre and a couple of recovery boxes at the back of the house on a ten-acre site, it soon developed into an internationally renowned facility specialising in bone repair and the treatment of colic.

Cosgrove's other roles in the industry were many and included being a co-founder of the Racing Apprentice Centre of Education in Kildare and a founding member of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, which he served as president and also as chairman.

A member of the Turf Club (now the IHRB), he spent 40 years on the board of Robert J Goff and Co, the parent company of Goffs.

He leaves behind ten children – Mary, James, Catherine, Veronica, Michael, Paul, Nicola, Emma, Johnny and Sara – as well as grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Cosgrove will be lying in repose at home in Barrow House, Monasterevin. The house will be open on Saturday from 4pm to 8pm and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm but otherwise it is strictly private.

The rosary is on Sunday at 5pm with funeral mass at 11am on Monday, September 2 in St Peter and Paul's Church, Monasterevin, followed by burial in St Evin's Cemetery. Family flowers only.

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