Major award for Offaly legend of the horse racing industry

YOU hear the village of Rhode mentioned anywhere and you immediately think of GAA and the many successes and great footballers it has produced over the years however on Saturday night last in a different sporting sphere Rhode was again making the headlines in the sporting world.

Tom Lacy of Ballyheashill Stud was honoured with the Small Breeder Award at the ITBA National Breeding and Racing Awards for the fantastic achievements of Persian Force over the last year.

Now in his eighty seventh year Tom is still as fit and active that would put many fifty to sixty years younger to shame.

Tom purchased the dam Vida Amorosa at the Goffs sales in 2018 and what an inspired purchase it was as her first two foals she produced resulted in Gubbass and Persian Force.

Her first foal Gubbass was a top performer winning two from eight race whilst Persian Force landed the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket in July before finishing runner up in the Group One Keeneland Pheonix Stakesat the Curragh in August a race Lacy had won with his homebred Ingabelle thirthy four years previously.

It was then on to America for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Sprint where he finished a very close fourth and has since been retied to stand at stud.

A family steeped in racing history Tom Lacy rode his first winner over seventy years ago and will be remembered for his association with Height Of Fashion on whom he finished runner up in 1964 behind Arkle and 1966 behind Flyingbolt in the Irish Grand Nationals.

Tom was also the mentor of some of Irelands top jockeys and is responsible for giving the late Pat Smullen his start in the racing industry.

Toms eldest son Tony is the Vice President of Keeneland Sales in America and his other son Barry works alongside his father at home on the stud and was a very capable jockey in his own right been crowned champion apprentice on two occasions.

A deserving award for a legend of the Horse racing industry.