The 13-year-old son of prominent horse trainer Henry de Bromhead has died after an accident at a beach race in the Republic of Ireland. Jack de Bromhead fell from his mount while participating in the Glenbeigh Racing Festival at Rossbeigh beach in County Kerry on Saturday.
The Glenbeigh Racing Festival, a popular two-day event featuring many young jockeys, was cancelled for the rest of the weekend following the incident at about 17:20 local time. Henry de Bromhead, one of jump racing's leading trainers, has won the last two Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival with Honeysuckle, as well as the 2021 and 2022 Gold Cup.
In a death notice posted online, Henry de Bromhead and his wife Heather described Jack as a "one-of-a-kind child who touched all our lives in the best way possible." They said: "Jack has lived so many more years than the 13 - he filled every moment of his days, always busy, forever curious grasping at life and new interests."
The racing community has been paying tributes to the teenager. Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said on Twitter: "Absolutely tragic news about Jack de Bromhead. My heart breaks for his family." Kerry county councillor Michael Cahill described it as a "horrific tragedy" and said the community was in a "state of shock."
Suzanne Eade, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, described the death as a "tragic loss" and said counselling would be offered to Jack's pony racing colleagues and friends.
