Kavanagh leads tributes to Jacqueline O'Brien Brian Kavanagh has led the tributes to Jacqueline O'Brien, widow of legendary trainer Vincent O'Brien, who died in Dublin yesterday, aged 89. Kavanagh, the CEO of Horse Racing Ireland said yesterday:- "It is very poignant on the opening day of Cheltenham, a place that Jacqueline and Vincent were so closely associated with for many years. "She was a wonderful lady and an institution in Irish racing for decades. Deepest sympathies to all her family. "She was an absolute joy to have anything to do with and was a wonderful fundraiser behind the scenes for worthy causes. "She was very passionate about her husband and the family and all the successes they had. It is a really sad day. "She was much more than just the wife of Vincent O'Brien: in her own right she was a fantastic lady - a very talented photographer, very talented fundraiser, philanthropist and a key member of the Ballydoyle team through the golden years." Mrs O'Brien, a native of Australia, married her husband in 1951 and they had five children. Their youngest son Charles is due to run Henry Higgins on Friday in the race named after his father, the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.
