Here is all you need to know about Michael Byrne and his cause of death as the Grand National Jockey passes away aged 36ย
Michael Byrne, the 36-year-old jockey from Tipperary, passed away tragically on Saturday and tributes have been pouring.
After he and his horse Golan Way finished second in the 2014 Grand National and went on to participate in additional Cheltenham competitions over his career, the Irish jockey became well-known among fans of the sport.
Who is Michael Byrne as Grand National Jockey passes away, cause of death, obituary, bio, age and family
The jockeys at @FfosLasRC pay their respects to Michael Byrne… pic.twitter.com/B3w0sv5ej2
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 7, 2024
Who was Michael Byrne?
Michael Byrne was a jockey who left lasting impression in racing. He lost his life at the age of 36.
Funeral arrangements have been announced with a funeral mass taking place on Thursday in Holycross Abbey, Thurles but the cause of death of the Irish jockey isn’t known yet.
The horse racing community in Ireland and beyond has been left stunned after the sudden passing of a former Grand National jockey.
Michael Byrne from Tipperary, who rode in the Grand National and recorded 96 career wins, died on Saturday at the age of 36.Michael Byrne tributesโฆ pic.twitter.com/uLx9oirnpf
— โSudden And Unexpectedโ (@toobaffled) May 7, 2024
A look at Michael Byrne’s career so far
Michael Byrne’s remarkable career as a rider for Vale of Glamorgan’s trainer Tim Vaughan in Britain is what made him famous.
61 of his victories came from horses trained by Tim Vaughan, giving him 96 victories overall. However, he lost to Pineau De Re in the Grand National. He started in the point-to-point circuit in Ireland before receiving Peter Bowen’s coaching. He later rode backup for Richard Johnson for Vaughan. With 96 wins, he was runner-up in the 2013โ14 conditional jockeys’ championship, behind Gavin Sheehan.
Some of Byrne’s most treasured memories came from his rides at Aintree: in April 2010, he won a Listed mares’ bumper with Big Time Billy, and four years later, he rode Golan Way, a first-time faller at Foinavon in a race that Pineau De R had won. Towards the end of the Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up’s career, he rode Take The Stand regularly and paired up with Carole’s Destrier to win the Silver Plate at Kempton in March 2014.
He stopped participating in the game and retired in 2016. He returned to his home country of Ireland and carried on with the company there, preparing horses for sale.
Michael Byrne’s family
Michael Byrne was born to Michael and Kitty. He also has other siblings, brothers David, Stephen and Eoin and sisters Amy and Katie. Michelle, Chloe and Rebecca are his sister in laws and Johnny is his brother in law.
He is also survived by nephews Tadhg, Andy, M.J. and Harry, nieces Erin, Hannah and Mila, aunts, uncles and cousins.
The Cahir native is the nephew of renowned point-to-point trainer Pat Doyle, who handled many champion jump horses in their early days, and had been working with his uncle at the Suirview Stables.