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Trainer and Pro Gambler Barney Curley Passes at 81

Former trainer and professional punter Barney Curley has passed away at the age of 81. The Irishman, known for his famous bets, carried off arguably the greatest betting coup of all time when Yellow Sam won at Bellewstown for Curley in June of 1975. Born in Northern Ireland on Oct. 5, 1939, Curley found much success beating the bookies as a racehorse owner and also trained from 1984 to 2012.

In 1996, Curley launched the Direct Aid for Africa charity (DAFA), which aims to improve the education and healthcare of the underprivileged people of Zambia.

Curley's former assistant John Butler said of the retired trainer who was battling cancer, “He died very peacefully on the stud [in Newmarket] on Sunday. It was pretty sudden, he got poorly very quickly.

“I came over to England [from Ireland] 18 to 20 years ago and worked for him for seven or eight years. It's a sad day. You could spend all night talking about him. He was very good to me, he was just one of those people.”

Curley also assisted prominent jockeys Frankie Dettori and Jamie Spencer early in their careers among many others.

Butler continued, “He was good to Spencer and [Tom] Queally and Shane Kelly, Frankie–I think Frankie went to see him every day for the last two or three weeks.”

“Very sad to hear that Barney Curley has passed away,” retired champion jump jockey Sir AP McCoy tweeted. “Feel lucky to have enjoyed his company, a man with well-founded legendary status as a trainer/gambler, but one who also raised lots for the charity Direct Aid for Africa. RIP.”

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Amateur Rider Lorna Brooke Passes Away

Amateur rider Lorna Brooke passed away on Sunday after falling at Taunton earlier this month, the Injured Jockeys Fund announced on Monday morning. Brooke, 37, fell from Orchestrated (Ire) (Mahler {GB}), owned and trained by her mother, Lady Susan Brooke.

“It is with deep sadness that we have to share the tragic news that Lorna Brooke passed away yesterday,” the IJF statement said. “Her family thank everyone for their kindness in the last few weeks, particularly the staff at Southmead Hospital who were so professional. They will be having a private funeral and will hold a celebration of Lorna's life once Covid restrictions allow.”

Brooke's biggest win as a rider was aboard Moonlone Lane (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) at 25-1 in the Ladies Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse for trainer Paul Stafford in 2015.Overall, she celebrated 17 winners in Great Britain and Ireland since 2001/2002.

“We are deeply saddened to learn the tragic news of Lorna Brooke's passing,” the British Horseracing Authority said in a statement. “The entire racing community is in mourning today and our thoughts are with Lorna's family and friends.

“We ask for the privacy of Lorna's family to be respected at this time and we await the opportunity to celebrate her young life when restrictions allow.”

The Chief Executive of the BHA, Julie Harrington, said, “Everybody at the BHA is devastated by this news. Lorna was a much-loved member of our sport, in which she and her family are steeped.

“Lorna demonstrated many of the qualities that make British racing so special. She was a proud competitor and somebody who was driven by an abundance of love not only for the sport but for the horses she competed with.

“My thoughts, along with everybody else who loves racing, are with Lorna's family, friends and colleagues at this dreadful time.”

The Racecourse Association said in a statement, “The Racecourse Association is deeply saddened by the tragic news of Lorna Brooke's death as a result of injuries sustained following a fall whilst race-riding at Taunton Racecourse on Thursday, Apr. 8.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with Lorna's family and friends during this time. The RCA is in contact with Taunton Racecourse and relevant authorities, offering our support as required. All racecourses racing today will observe a period of silence and display black armbands as a mark of respect to Lorna's memory.”

The Professional Jockeys Association added in a statement, “This is a devastating reminder of the dangers our brave men and women face and our thoughts and prayers are with Lorna's family, friends and colleagues. Lorna was an incredibly hard working, popular member of the weighing room and whilst her licence was as an amateur jockey, she was a professional in every other sense. We have lost one of our own and she will be sorely missed.”

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Sir Michael Oswald Passes at 86

Sir Michael Oswald, who fulfilled various roles in horseracing for the royal family, has died, the Racing Post reported. He was 86. A manager of the Royal Studs for 28 years after beginning in 1970, Oswald also served as racing manager to the Queen Mother. He later became a jumps adviser to The Queen. Oswald is survived by his wife Lady Angela, who also served the royal family as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother.

“He always said he had the most wonderful job anybody could ever have had and that for all his working life he was simply doing what he would have done had he been a rich man who didn't have to work,” Lady Angela told Racing Post.

John Warren, racing adviser to The Queen added, “Sir Michael did a magnificent job managing the Royal Studs for so long. He was deeply committed to the studs, the Queen and the Queen Mother. He was extraordinarily enthusiastic and got such a buzz out of all the royal winners.”

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California Trainer Neil French Passes Away

Neil French, a licensed trainer since 1971 who was based in Southern California, passed away from heart failure Saturday, Apr. 10, at Arcadia Methodist Hospital near Santa Anita. He was 68.

French grew up with a father who was a farrier at Los Alamitos before switching to training, first Quarter Horses and eventually Thoroughbreds. French rode his father's horses in the mornings and then became a trainer on his own as a teenager. Among French's top horses were SW Pencil Point (Ire) (Sharpen Up), SW & GSP June's Reward (Hail Bold King), and GSP Chocolate Coated (Candy Ride {Arg}). He won a total of 257 races from 2,080 starters, with his runners earning $6,436,620.

Plagued with rheumatoid arthritis for the last decade, French continued training and relied on a golf cart to take him from the backside to the grandstand apron for training.

“The horses were his life,” said his sister, Joy. “The arthritis was very, very hard on him and this time, he had to go to the hospital and his heart gave out. He never got married or had kids; the horses were his life.”

French is survived by his mother, Loretta; three sisters: Joy, Joan, and Sundee; plus a number of nieces and nephews. Services are pending.

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