Liam Ward (18 May 1930 – 4 October 2022) was an Irish

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

who competed in

flat racing Horse racing is an equestrianism, equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all spor ...

. He was Irish flat racing Champion Jockey six times and rode for leading trainers Paddy Prendergast and

Vincent O'Brien Michael Vincent O'Brien (9 April 1917 – 1 June 2009) was an Irish race horse trainer from Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland. In 2003 he was voted the greatest influence in horse racing history in a worldwide poll hosted by the ''Racing Pos ...

. He was particularly noted for riding two of O'Brien's champions,

Sir Ivor Sir Ivor (5 May 1965 – 10 November 1995) was an American-bred, Irish-trained champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from July 1967 to October 1968 he ran thirteen times and won eight races. He won major races in ...

and Nijinsky, in all their races in Ireland.

Major wins

Irish Derby The Irish Derby ( Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a dista ...

– (2) – '' Sindon (1958), Nijinsky (1970)'' * Irish Two Thousand Guineas – (1) – D.C.M. (1952) * Irish One Thousand Guineas – (1) – Zenobia (1960) *

Irish Oaks The Irish Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs (2,414 metres), and it ...

– (3) – Amante (1958), Aurabella (1965), Gaia (1969) *

Irish St Leger The Irish St Leger is a Conditions races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh Racecourse, Curragh ...

– (3) – Do Well (1951), White Gloves (1966), Reindeer (1969) *

Irish Champion Stakes The Irish Champion Stakes ( Irish: Curadh-Dhuais na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs (2 ...

– (2) – Do Well (1951), March Wind (1962) * Pretty Polly Stakes – (3) – Atlantida (1956), Iskereen (1967), Rimark (1968) *

National Stakes The Vincent O'Brien National Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 me ...

– (2) – Mystery (1961),

(1967)

References

1930 births 2022 deaths Irish jockeys Equestrians from County Limerick People from Rathkeale {{Ireland-horseracing-bio-stub