Eddie Harty, the Irish Olympic eventer and jockey who won the 1969 Grand National, has died at the age of 88. He passed away on 11 February, just a week after his wife Patricia. Harty's career spanned equestrian events and horse racing, marked by family legacy and notable achievements.
Eddie Harty was born in Dublin in 1937 into a prominent equestrian and racing family. His father, Captain Cyril Hardy, was a founding member of the Irish showjumping team and a successful jockey and trainer. Harty's grandfather, great-grandfather, and four uncles were also jockeys.
Harty rode his first winner under Rules in 1953 during an amateur riders’ chase at Newton Abbot. He competed across various equestrian disciplines and represented Ireland at the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he rode Harlequin to ninth place individually, contributing to the Irish team's sixth-place finish.
Following the Olympics, Harty married Patricia O’Neill and relocated to Melton Mowbray. He resumed racing, achieving success as a jockey for trainers including Fred Winter, Alec Kilpatrick, and Fred Rimell, amassing more than 260 winners. His most celebrated victory came in 1969 at the Grand National, where he substituted for the injured Owen McNally to ride Highland Wedding for Toby Badling to a 12-length win.
An injury from a fall at Cheltenham in December 1971 prompted Harty's retirement from riding. He returned to Ireland and established himself as a trainer at Strawhall near the Curragh. His final runner, This Is My Life, secured a victory at Roscommon in September 1995 under jockey AP McCoy.
Harty's legacy continues through his family. His son Eddie Harty Jr. and grandson Patrick hold a joint training licence in Kildare, Ireland, while another son, Eoin, trains in the US. “He had an enormous personality who accomplished so much in life, not least shaping some great people,” a spokesperson for Harty Racing said.
Patricia Harty died on 4 February. The couple is survived by children Eddie, Eoin, and Freda; grandchildren Nick, Gerard, Patrick, Carolyn, and Eddie; and great-granddaughter Anabelle.