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Irish Racing Community Mourns Death of Jack de Bromhead

The 13-year-old died in a fall Sept. 3 at the County Kerry horse and pony races.

Henry de Bromhead

Henry de Bromhead

Patrick McCann/Racing Post

The Irish racing community is in mourning following the tragic death of Jack de Bromhead, 13-year-old son of leading jumps trainer Henry de Bromhead and his wife, Heather, after what has been described as a freak fall at Glenbeigh horse and pony races in County Kerry Sept. 3.

A twin brother to Mia and older sibling to Georgia, Jack de Bromhead was already a familiar young face to racing fans, having featured in various television interviews as the likes of Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo, and Minella Times dominated for his father's County Waterford stable.

He was known as a pleasant and humble boy who was regularly seen by his father's side at the races, and had begun to carve his own career on the horse and pony racing circuit over the past couple of seasons, making a big impression by riding a handful of winners this summer.

On Saturday he was participating at the historic Glenbeigh races two-day event on Rossbeigh Strand in west Kerry.

It is understood de Bromhead was riding in the fifth race when his mount veered into the sea as they rounded a bend and fell, landing on top of him. An air ambulance was summoned to attend the stricken rider, but despite the best efforts of all the emergency services he died at the scene.

"A male in his teens received treatment at the scene following the incident but was later pronounced deceased," Gardai said of the accident.

"His body has since been removed to the morgue at Kerry University Hospital."

The remainder of Saturday's card was abandoned immediately, as was Sunday's scheduled fixture. It was the first time the Glenbeigh meeting had been held since the pandemic.

The de Bromhead family's devastating loss comes at a time when Henry's stable has dominated jump racing's most prestigious events. He has sent out Honeysuckle to win the last two Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, where he has also won the past two Gold Cups with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

He and Rachael Blackmore also combined to scale the sport's highest summit when landing a famous victory in the 2021 Grand National with Minella Times.

Funeral details have yet to be announced.

"A one-of-a-kind child who touched all our lives in the best way possible—he will be forever present in our lives. Always cherished, always loved, frozen in time with a beautiful young soul," de Bromhead's parents wrote in a tribute that was published in the Racing Post the morning of Sept. 4.