Paddy Prendergast dies aged 88 The death has been announced of former trainer Paddy Prendergast at the age of 88. Prendergast was part of a highly distinguished family in Irish racing with his legendary father Paddy champion trainer both in Britian and Ireland and his brother Kevin also a highly successful classic winning trainer. Affectionately known as ‘Long Paddy’ due to his height, Prendergast’s training career began in 1962 and spanned 40 years until handing over to his son Patrick, who enjoyed Group 1 success in the 2018 Moyglare Stud Stakes with Skitter Scatter. Paddy junior as he was also known, was a very popular figure in Irish racing circles and enjoyed considerable success including a Royal Ascot victory with Cooliney Prince in the 1980 Windsor Castle Stakes. He twice won the Ballymoss Stakes, now known as the Tattersalls Gold Cup, with Assertive in 1972 and 11 years later with Evening M’Lord. Assertive also won the Irish Cambridgeshire and the Irish Lincoln, while Prendergast won the McDonogh Handicap at the Galway Festival with Readjust (1978) and Rare Duke (1980). A dual-purpose trainer he also enjoyed high level success over jumps with the likes of The Proclamation and Tie Anchor. Paddy Prendergast is predeceased by his wife Maura and survived by his son Patrick and daughters Lorraine, Orla and Niamh and their families. His funeral Mass takes place today in St Brigid's Parish Church, Kildare Town at 12 noon with burial afterwards in St Peter's Cemetery, Two Mile House. Family flowers only and donations if desired to Kildare Day Care Centre. May he rest in peace.
