Maureen Mullins, a successful owner-breeder and the matriarch of a racing dynasty, has died at the age of 94 after a short illness.
Mullins played an integral role in the training career of her late husband Paddy at Goresbridge in County Kilkenny, from where he became a 10-time Irish champion trainer over jumps.
His 52-year training career is best remembered for the exploits of Dawn Run, the only horse to complete the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double at the Cheltenham Festival, while there was Group One success on the Flat with Hurry Harriet and Vintage Tipple.
As an owner-breeder, Mullins saw her silks carried to victory in a number of high-profile Irish handicaps, including the 1979 Irish Cambridgeshire (I’m Ready) and the 1984 Irish Lincoln (Girl In Blue).
Kilcruit, who began life racing in her colours, became a Grade One winner at the Punchestown Festival in 2021.
Mullins was the mother of perennial Irish champion trainer Willie, fellow Grade One-winning handlers Tony and Tom, renowned horse transporter George and daughter Sandra – all of who were victorious in the saddle.
She was also a winning rider herself, steering Razzo Forte to glory in a female riders’ event at Gowran Park in 1982, a race which her daughter also rode in.
Her grandchildren include record-breaking amateur rider Patrick, multiple Grade One winner Danny, and David, who rode Rule The World to win the 2016 Grand National.
Grandsons Charlie and Emmet have also ridden winners while the latter trained a Grand National victor in 2022 Aintree hero Noble Yeats, underlining the family’s incredible influence on National Hunt racing.
A regular racegoer up until the end, her son Tony told the Racing Post: “She cut the ribbon to open the new weighing room at Gowran Park in January and a couple of days after she came down with pneumonia or a flu, and she was in the house since.
“She was moving around with some assistance up to a few days ago so it was relatively peaceful, and people have been great here.”
