One of the great training dynasties in Irish racing has come to an end with the death of multiple Classic and Group 1-winning handler Kevin Prendergast just two weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. 

Son of the legendary Paddy ‘Darkie’ Prendergast, who was champion Flat trainer in Britain on three successive occasions in the 1960s, Kevin Prendergast continued the legacy of his father by saddling his first winner, Zara, at the now defunct Phoenix Park in May 1963. His death on Friday morning, June 20, comes exactly 45 years after that of his father.

In a career spanning more than 60 years, he went on to scale many of racing’s most exalted peaks, with the grey filly Pidget becoming his first Classic winner in 1972 by landing the Irish 1,000 Guineas at 20-1, ridden by Wally Swinburn. Bill Williamson was then aboard when she won the Pretty Polly Stakes and she crowned a memorable season by beating the colts in the Irish St Leger, with TP Burns in the saddle. 

Prendergast won another Irish St Leger with Conor Pass in 1973 and in 1977 won the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with Nebbiolo, beating The Minstrel into third.

At the time, Prendergast was just the third Irish trainer after his father and Vincent O’Brien to win the Newmarket Classic. 

In the mid-1990s, he enjoyed a tremendous run of success with Oscar Schindler, who won back-to-back Irish St Legers in 1996 and 1997, before the likes of Rebelline, Miss Beatrix, Kingsfort, La Collina and Termagant flew the Friarstown Stables flag with aplomb in Group 1s. His final Classic winner was Awtaad in the 2016 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh.

In all, Prendergast saddled more than 2,000 winners, although in recent years he had scaled right back and sold his Friarstown base on the Curragh. His last winner was Copie Conforme, ridden by his great ally Chris Hayes, at Bellewstown in August last year.

Kevin Prendergast 1932-2025:

‘He’s a legend and still absolutely loves the game’ – Kevin Prendergast at 90 

Kevin Prendergast CV

Born Australia, July 5, 1932

Father Paddy Prendergast (champion trainer in Ireland & Britain)

Biggest winner as amateur rider Rising Spring (1959 Galway Corinthian Stakes)

Assistant to Paddy Prendergast 1956-62

Stables Erindale, Friarstown, Co. Kildare

First winner as trainer Zara (ridden by himself) Phoenix Park, March 23, 1963

First winner in Britain Hul A Hul, Chester, May 6, 1964

First big-race winner Perhaps So (1964 Rockingham Handicap)

Top-rated horse Ardross (rated 131 in Racehorses of 1980); won Jockey Club Cup, runner-up to Le Moss in Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup & Doncaster Cup

British Classic winner Nebbiolo (1977 2,000 Guineas)

Irish 2,000 Guineas winners Northern Treasure (1976), Awtaad (2016)

Irish 1,000 Guineas winners Pidget (1972), Arctique Royale (1981)

Irish St Leger winners Pidget (1972), Conor Pass (1973), Oscar Schindler (1996, 1997)

Other Classic winner Alabama Jacks (1999 Premio Parioli)

Scalp Hurdle/Irish Champion Hurdle winner Prominent King (1976, 1978)

Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Rebelline (2002)

Pretty Polly Stakes winners Pidget (1972), Lady Singer (1976), Polaire (1999), Rebelline (2001)

Matron Stakes winner La Collina (2013)

Phoenix Stakes winners Areola (1970), Sweet Emma (1982), Bradawn Breever (1991), La Collina (2011)

National Stakes winner Kingsfort (2009)

Moyglare Stud Stakes winners Milly Whiteway (1973), Arctique Royale (1980), Miss Beatrix (2006), Termagant (2009)

Hardwicke Stakes winner Oscar Schindler (1996)

Sun Chariot Stakes winner Snow (1980)

Diadem Stakes winner Haatef (2007)

Other notable Flat winners Nebbiolo (1976 Gimcrack Stakes), Northern Treasure (1976 Blandford Stakes), Ore (1981 Queen’s Vase), Oscar Schindler (1996 Ormonde Stakes), Verglas (1996 Coventry Stakes), Quws (1997 Blandford Stakes, 1998 Gallinule Stakes), Mustameet (2006 Curragh International, Royal Whip), Miss Beatrix (2006 Goffs Million), Decado (2007 Curragh International), Awtaad (2016 Boomerang Stakes), Madhmoon (2018 Champions Juvenile Stakes, 2019 Desmond Stakes)

Other notable NH winners Talgo Abbess (1965 Gallaher Trophy Novice Hurdle), Warkey (1966 Galway Hurdle), Our Bid (1999 Champion Flat Race, Punchestown), Katie T (2014 Limerick Mares Novice Hurdle, 2015 BoyleSports Hurdle)

Derby runner-up Madhmoon (2019, to Anthony Van Dyck)

Irish Derby runner-up Ragapan (1973, to Weavers’ Hall)

Placed in Champion Hurdle Talgo Abbess (3rd in 1967, to Saucy Kit)

2,000th winner Tell The Wind, Dundalk, September 24, 2010

Classic wins 10 (Ireland 8, Britain 1, Italy 1)

Leading trainer in Ireland (races won) 1970, Flat/NH combined

Compiled by John Randall