Roddy O'Byrne, a well-known figure in both Irish and American bloodstock circles and who played a key part in the careers of two Grand National winners, died at his home in County Waterford Nov. 9. He was 78.
From a celebrated racing family, O'Byrne was one of three brothers noted for their eye for a horse. One brother, Demi, was head vet to Vincent O'Brien and an integral part of Coolmore's buying team, while John found many notable horses for JP McManus.
Roddy O'Byrne spent three decades in America and, along with Peter Kiely, launched McCarthy's Irish Bar in Lexington, which quickly became an institution among the racing and sales community as well as the Irish diaspora.
While he was involved with his brothers in sourcing flat horses, it was the National hunt world that was his passion. During their time in the point-to-point sector with trainer Pat Doyle, O'Byrne owned both the eventual 1994 Grand National hero Miinnehoma and this year's eventual winner Nick Rockett. The latter took a 4-year-old maiden at Curraghmore in O'Byrne's silks four years ago before moving to Willie Mullins. O'Byrne enjoyed naming horses after local characters of his acquaintance, including Nick Rockett and the smart hurdler Danny Connors.
One of O'Byrne's close friends was trainer Tony Mullins, who said: "You could call him one of the most loyal friends you could have, and as a horseman he was probably one of the best judges I came across in my life.
"I must have known him for 50 years, Willie (Mullins' brother) would have even ridden bumper winners for him and I believe he rode winners himself when he was very young.
"His brother Demi picked Thunder Gulch, who won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont, and Roddy picked Miinnehoma. They were the two main pictures in the pub."
Mullins said Nick Rockett's National triumph had given O'Byrne a real thrill, adding: "Willie and the owners of Nick Rockett very kindly brought the horse down to Roddy's hometown, Kilmacthomas, and paraded him this summer. It was huge down there, and he was very grateful for that.
"He told me it was one of the most exciting days of his life to have a horse that he brought through point-to-points to eventually win an Aintree National and have him back home. As he got older, he knew how hard it was and to be able to do it twice, it's quite a feat, as he'd have only three or four horses a year."
His nephew Timmy O'Byrne runs the family's Lodge Stud, which pre-trains horses for major owners and trainers, and also educated Gold Cup hero Inothewayurthinkin for McManus. He bought Nick Rockett on his uncle's behalf.
"He was a very lucky man to buy horses for, maybe it was my luck, but it was an honor for me to have Roddy asking me to buy a horse because he was such a good judge himself," he said.
O'Byrne added: "He was definitely a wonderful character, a great horseman, and an unbelievable judge of a horse. He was loved by us all."
His funeral mass will take place at noon Nov. 12 in St Anne's Church, Fews, and can be viewed online. His burial will be in the adjoining cemetery afterward.
McCarthy's will live-stream the funeral and posted an emotional tribute on its Facebook page.
It said: "Roddy fought courageously through his illness and maintained his love for family and friends until the end. May he rest in peace. We love you Roddy."
