Horse racing fraternity mourns Marguerite Weld and Johnny Harrington

Horse racing remembered two of its stalwarts yesterday when Marguerite Weld and Johnny Harrington were laid to rest.

Mourners first gathered at St Brigid's Church in the Curragh Camp to remember Mrs Weld (98), a trainer and breeder and mother of trainer Dermot Weld. Fr PJ Somers of St Brigid's parish recalled a "a loyal and trusted friend . . . who got things done".

Dermot Weld, her only child, said his mother was “an amazing woman” who developed three stud farms and bred numerous winners from a handful of mares. “She could ride before she could walk.”

Her track success was recalled and her son said her horse Nightime’s triumph in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2006 was “certainly the happiest racing day of our lives”.

Classic success
Two years earlier, Grey Swallow, bred by Mrs Weld, won the Irish Derby. Mrs Weld, who was predeceased by her husband Charlie, is survived by Dermot, her daughter-in-law Mary, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Many mourners at her funeral travelled to Moone, Co Kildare, afterwards to attend the funeral of Johnny Harrington, bloodstock agent and husband of trainer Jessica Harrington.

Bishop Jim Moriarty told the packed congregation at Holy Trinity Church that Mr Harrington was a popular man. “People really liked him. Why? Because Johnny liked people.”

He golfed with Mr Harrington and said he was one of nature’s gentlemen and marvellous company. He recalled how Johnny attended top British boarding school Ampleforth where the headmaster wrote to his father to say Johnny was a nice boy, but not academic.

"I'd recommend that Johnny should return to Ireland and become a farmer," he wrote.

Mr Harrington snr, a sensible man, replied: “I don’t have a farm so you will have to continue to look after him at Ampleforth.”

Bloodstock agent and family friend Adrian Nicoll said Johnny “lived a full and exciting life and was loved by people the world over”.

Charades with the queen
He recalled his wit, charm and legendary ability to tell stories against himself. His adventures included playing charades with the queen and being responsible for one of the best hunts of the century when his horse caused a pile-up at the first fence which resulted in the master of the hounds being knocked out.

He was later made redundant and lost one-third of that settlement when he played cards before dinner at Ballydoyle with the late Vincent O’Brien.

He is survived by his wife Jessica, daughters Emma and Kate, stepchildren James and Tara and extended family.

The President’s aide-de-camp Cmdt Tony Whelan attended Mrs Weld’s funeral while his Aide-de-camp Col Brendan McAndrew attended Mr Harrington’s funeral.

Mourners at the funerals included Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney; trainers Nicky Henderson, John Oxx, Noel Meade, Tom Taaffe, Jim Dreaper;Henry de Bromhead and Aidan O'Brien and family.

Also present were jockeys Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty; retired jockey Mick Kinane; Irish Field editor Leo Powell; racing broadcasters Tracy Piggott and Ted Walsh; former minister for finance Charlie McCreevy, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett, and Horseracing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh and chairman Joe Keeling.