Grand National hero, Irish Olympian and cowboy Eddie Harty dies just a week after wife passed away

Grand National winner and Olympian Eddie Harty has died aged 88, just a week after his wife Patricia passed.

Harty was instrumental in horse racing for Ireland and the sport as a whole, which transcends generations as his grandfather Michael Harty was a trainer and father to four professional jockeys including Eddie’s dad Captain Cyril B Harty who won the 1920 amateur jockeys title with Cecil Brabazon.

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His son Eddie Harty Junior is a trainer based out of Curragh in County Kildare who has enjoyed great success including runs at the biggest festivals.

Eddie & his son Patrick Harty became joint trainers in 2021, which marked five generations of horsemen, further steeping themselves into racing history.

Harty’s other son Eoin is also a trainer based in the USA with notable stakes titles including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Dubai Wolrd Cup, Goodwood Stakes and Santa Anita Derby.

Harty’s 1969 Grand National on Highland Wedding was remarkable for a few reasons, including winning it by 12 lengths.

Not only did horse and jockey take the lead after two circuits but asserted and kept that position until crossing the post.

But Harty wasn’t even booked to ride in the 1969 Grand National at all.

Harty stepped in to replace injured jockey Owen McNally on the horse trained by Toby Balding; uncle to trainer Andrew Balding and TV Presenter Clare Balding and brother to Ian Balding the Derby-winning trainer.

In doing so, made history against the odds and etched his name further into the sport’s history.

Harty was also an Olympian, representing Ireland in the 1960 Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy.

Aged just 23 at the time, placed sixth in the Team Men’s Three Day Event in Equestrianism and placed ninth overall in the individual discipline.

With these accolades he remains the only Olympian to ever win the Grand National.

Harty’s story doesn’t end there though as he went to the US for two years as a cowboy to further his horsemanship and adventure.

The Irishman’s first win in Britain under rules came in an amateur riders’ chase at Newton Abbot back in September 1953.

Harty retired from trainer in 1995, and his last ever runner called This Is My Life fittingly won a maiden hurdle under Tony McCoy.