Eddie Harty dies aged 88 Grand National-winning jockey and former trainer Eddie Harty has died aged 88. Harty, whose wife Patricia died only last week, was a member of a famous and long-established racing family based on the Curragh. From Olympic Games To Aintree Glory A talented and versatile horseman, Harty represented Ireland in the three-day event at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome before forging a successful race-riding career in Britain. His finest moment in the saddle came when winning the 1969 Grand National on the Toby Balding-trained Highland Wedding. After retiring as a jockey, he returned to Ireland and enjoyed plenty of success, under both codes, as a trainer. Notable victories included the Greenland Stakes with Balgaddy (1977), two Irish Cambridgeshires with Persian Royale (1983) and Jonjas Chudleigh (1990) and the Leopardstown November Handicap in 1988 with Pylon Sparks. He retired from training in 1995 and the Harty name has remained on racecards since through his son Eddie jnr and, in recent years, by the latter along with his own son Patrick under their joint-training licence. Eddie Harty is survived by his children Eddie, Eoin and Freda, daughters-in-law Marie and Kathy, son-in-law Paul, grandchildren Nick, Gerard, Patrick, Carolyn and Eddie, and great-granddaughter Anabelle.
