Jockey Jack de Bromhead, 13, dies at Glenbeigh Races

Jack de Bromhead - pictured speaking to RTÉ in April - was a "one-of-a-kind child", says his family

The 13-year-old son of prominent horse trainer Henry de Bromhead has died after an accident at a beach race in the Republic of Ireland.

It is understood that Jack de Bromhead fell from his mount while participating in the Glenbeigh Racing Festival at Rossbeigh beach in County Kerry.

His family has described him as a "one-of-a-kind child who touched all our lives in the best way possible".

"Our hearts are truly broken," said his parents.

The Glenbeigh Racing Festival is a popular two-day event in which many young jockeys take part.

The rest of the weekend's racing was cancelled after the incident at about 17:20 local time on Saturday.

Henry de Bromhead - pictured at the Cheltenham Festival in March - has won many of racing's biggest prizes

Henry de Bromhead is one of jump racing's leading trainers, winning the last two Champion Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival with Honeysuckle, as well as the 2021 and the 2022 Gold Cup with Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

He and Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore also combined for a famous victory last year as Minella Times won the Grand National at Aintree.

'Perfect, funny, loving son'

In a death notice posted online, Henry de Bromhead and his wife Heather said: "[Jack] was an amazing son who told us he loved us every day - an over-brimming heart of loyalty, empathy, patience, pluck, courage and how he made us laugh!

"Not only the perfect, funny, loving son but also an incredible, loving brother to our beautiful daughters - his twin sister Mia and his little sister Georgia.

"He always had their back and was fiercely loyal and kind."

The County Waterford family said: "Jack has lived so many more years than the 13 - he filled every moment of his days, always busy, forever curious grasping at life and new interests.

Tributes to the young jockey were left on Rossbeigh beach on Sunday

"It started with his work on the farm, the tractor, the cattle, the ponies and horses.

"He was a passionate expert on them all by the time he was 10.

"By 11 he was offering expert advice and consultation to his father on training horses as he developed his father's passion for all aspects of racing."

'Incredibly popular'

The racing community has been paying tributes to the teenager.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill said on Twitter: "Absolutely tragic news about Jack de Bromhead. My heart breaks for his family.

"There are simply no words. Sending all our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends."

Rossbeigh beach is near the village of Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry

Kerry county councillor Michael Cahill, whose family attended the Glenbeigh Racing Festival, said it was a "horrific tragedy" and the area's community was in a "state of shock".

"The festival has been going for 100 years and this is the first time this has happened," he said.

"I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his parents and siblings."

Suzanne Eade, the chief executive of the governing body Horse Racing Ireland, described the teenager's death as a "tragic loss".

"Jack may have been only 13 but he was already incredibly popular in the racing community," she said.

"His family and friends, his pony racing colleagues and all those whose lives he touched are in our thoughts today during this numbing, devastating tragedy."

Ms Eade said counselling would be offered to Jack's pony racing colleagues and friends.