The racing community was in mourning on Sunday following the death of Jack de Bromhead, the 13-year-old son of dual Gold Cup-winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, in a pony racing accident on Saturday.
The teenager sustained fatal injuries in an incident during the fifth race on the first day of the Glenbeigh Festival in County Kerry, Ireland.
Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene at Rossbeigh beach at approximately 5.20pm, where the young rider received treatment but was later pronounced dead. The event was immediately cancelled.
The Mirror reports that Jack is believed to have fallen from his horse as the animals were making a turn near the water's edge.
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardaí and emergency services responded to reports of an incident at Rossbeigh Beach in Co.Kerry. A male in his teens received treatment at the scene following the incident but was later pronounced deceased. His body has since been removed to the Morgue at Kerry University Hospital."
Jack was one of three children of Waterford-based Henry and Heather, with the others being Jack's twin sister Mia and younger sister Georgia. Henry was at a national hunt meeting in Wexford when the tragedy occurred. Jack helped out around his father's racing yard and only last weekend rode a winner in a pony race at Cahersiveen in Kerry.
Henry de Bromhead is one of jump racing's leading trainers, winning the last two Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival with Honeysuckle, and the 2021 and 2022 Gold Cup with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard. He and jockey Rachael Blackmore also combined for a famous victory at the 2021 Grand National as Minella Times won at Aintree.
Suzanne Eade, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, offered her condolences to the De Bromhead family. She said: "Like everybody in the horse racing and pony racing community, I want to offer my deepest condolences to his parents Henry and Heather, his sisters Mia and Georgia and extended family, on the tragic loss of their beloved Jack.
"Jack may have been only 13 but he was already incredibly popular in the racing community. His family and friends, his pony racing colleagues and all those who lives he touched are in our thoughts today during this numbing, devastating tragedy. Horse Racing Ireland's equuip department through the Industry Assistance Programme will assist in offering counselling for Jack's pony racing colleagues and friends. May he rest in peace."
Local councillor Michael Cahill, whose family attended the event, told the BBC it was a "horrific tragedy" and the whole community was in a "state of shock". "The festival has been going for 100 years and this is the first time this has happened," he said. "I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his parents and siblings."
A spokesman on behalf of Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board CEO Darragh O'Loughlin said: "The directors and staff of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board extend their deepest sympathies to the De Bromhead family on the tragic loss of Jack yesterday. May he rest in peace."
The British Horseracing Authority said in a tweet: "The BHA sends its deepest condolences to the family of Henry de Bromhead following the tragic death of his son Jack."
Pony Racing Ireland tweeted: "We pass on our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Jack de Bromhead who tragically died in Glenbeigh on Saturday. It's impossible to put into words the sense of grief and loss that is being felt by everyone involved so please give them time to mourn. RIP Jack."
A pony race was held before the card at York on Sunday, with the young riders involved taking part in a minute's silence beforehand.
York tweeted: "Following the tragic death of Jack de Bromhead following an accident yesterday in Ireland the jockeys riding in the @ponyracinggb pony races today took part in a minute silence as a mark of respect to Jack. Our deepest thoughts and sympathy are with Jack's family and friends."
Rugby legend Ronan O'Gara tweeted: "Thoughts and prayers with the de Bromhead family. A 13-year-old boy taken doing what he loved. The poor family. The heart hurts."
