Legendary Irish jockey John Thomas McNamara has passed away.
The Limerick man was just 41 years old when he died at his home overnight, according to reports.
McNamara, who was left paralysed by a fall at Cheltenham in 2013, is reported to have experienced complications on Friday night and was rushed to hospital.
He was then allowed to return home to spend his final days with family and friends.
“It’s a sad day. Isn’t it appropriate that he passed away during the Galway Festival where he would have ridden many a time,” family friend Frankie Ward told the
Limerick Leader.
“All his colleagues are there in Galway and will all be thinking of him. He was a great rider, a great personality and he called it as it was. He was a great horseman. He had several winners in the UK and Cheltenham. Nina Carberry took over from him riding a lot of Enda’s (trainer Enda Bolger) horses. They will all be sad but relieved that he is not suffering anymore.
“Hopefully,” Frankie said, “he will enjoy Galway from heaven.”
Everyone from horse owners to fans to footballers paid tributes to a true Irish sporting hero.
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