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Eddie Harty
Eddie’s ambition is, with your help, to grow Mulgrave Lodge into one of the leading Dual Purpose yards in Ireland. Eddie is married to Marie, one of the leading equine veterinary surgeons in the country. He is the first to admit that without her input, the yard would not be as efficient or successful as it is. The line continues. Their son, Patrick, is the Assistant Trainer and he brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Their daughter, Carolyn, currently works in Lambourn in the UK but is still a valued team member.
Our History
The Harty racing dynasty started as long ago as 1860, when John Harty is recorded as riding winners in the south of Ireland. His son Edmund followed suit and was the first man to ride short over fences. In the eyes of many at the time he got his come-uppance when killed in a fall in 1884! His brothers John and Michael carried on the tradition. Michael moved to Alston, Croom, Co Limerick, in 1897. Here he set up as the first public trainer in Ireland outside the Curragh. Michael had five sons all of whom became Jockeys. Michael jnr, Henry, George and John as professionals, Cyril as an amateur. Between 1904 and 1930 the quintet rode over 500 winners in Ireland. Cyril an accomplished horseman, joined the Free State army, and moved to Dublin. Here, he became the anchor for the Irish Army Showjumping team. This team was set up to advertise the merits of the Irish horse, an important export for the fledgling nation. The team competed with great success throughout Europe and the United States. Indeed it was on one such trip to the United States, whilst competing at Madison Square Gardens, that Cyril met Winifred Smith. They married and Winifred went on to be the matriarch of the next generation of jockeys and trainers. Cyril went on to train from Chapelizod on the edge of the Phoenix Park. He was renowned as a trainers of horses, jockeys and trainers. The highlight of his career came when he saddled Knight’s Crest to win the Irish Grand National, ridden by his star protégé, Martin Moloney. Cyril had three sons who rode and trained successfully. “Buster”, the eldest, rode very successfully as an amateur, both in Ireland and the UK, before taking over the training licence from Cyril. Buster went on to be a leading trainer. The star of his yard was Gypsando, the winner of the Scalp Hurdle, Leopardstown Chase, Guinness Chase and the Munster National. he was ridden to all these victories by his younger brother, John. John was a leading amateur and professional of his time, winning the Galway Plate, the Sweeps Hurdle on Master Monday and the Irish National on Daletta, which was trained by his brother in-law, Guy Williams, who married Cyril’s youngest daughter, Anne. John then went on to train many winners from his Batterstown, Co Meath yard before being tragically taken with Motor Neurone disease. The third racing son of Cyril’s is Eddie. Eddie, who had his first ride on the racetrack aged 14, went on to be one of the leading amateurs of his day.
Highland Wedding