Overview

• Prendergast took out his training licence in 1963 and saddled his first winner, Zara, at Phoenix Park before securing Classic gold with Pidget in the 1972 Irish 1,000 Guineas.
• Over six decades he amassed more than 2,000 victories, including wins in the Irish St Leger and the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with Nebbiolo.
• His last winner, Copie Conforme, was ridden by Chris Hayes at Bellewstown in August 2024 and his final runner, Glory To Be, finished at Cork just days before his death.
• Chris Hayes and Dermot Weld paid tribute to Prendergast’s meticulous horsemanship and praised the immaculate condition in which his horses were presented.
• Prendergast’s passing on June 20, 2025 fell exactly 45 years after the death of his father, champion trainer Paddy ‘Darkie’ Prendergast, ending one of Ireland’s great racing dynasties.