Joan Moore, matriarch of famous Irish racing family, dies aged 91

Joan Moore, a prominent figure in Irish racing for many years and matriarch of one of Ireland's best-known racing families, died on Wednesday at the age of 91.

Her late husband Dan Moore was a successful trainer who sent out 14 Cheltenham Festival winners, including L'Escargot, who won the Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971 as well as the Grand National in 1975.

The mother of trainer Arthur Moore and Pamela Carberry, widow of the late Irish champion jump jockey and Grand National-winning rider and trainer Tommy Carberry, she was the grandmother of successful jockeys Paul, Philip and Nina Carberry.

During her husband's long illness, she supervised the training of his horses including the exciting front-running chaser Tied Cottage, who won the 1976 Sun Alliance Chase and the 1979 Irish Grand National and finished second in two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Davy Lad (right) and Dessie Hughes win the 1977 Cheltenham Gold Cup from Tied Cottage and SummervilleCredit: Gerry Cranham

In 1980 Tied Cottage won the Gold Cup but was subsequently disqualified when traces of a banned substance, ingested due to contaminated feed, were found.

Moore later served as manager of Punchestown racecourse and was the first female to become a Steward of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee.

She died in Hazel Hall Nursing Home, Clane, Co Kildare and is survived by her sons Arthur and Jonathan, daughter Pamela, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The funeral mass will take place in St Brigid’s Church, Suncroft Co Kildare at 11am on Friday followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Suncroft.

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