Vincent O'Brien: The Official Biography

Vincent O'Brien is a horse-racing legend. Recently voted horse racing’s greatest personality of all time, ahead of more familiar names like Lester Piggott, Tony McCoy and Sheikh Mohammed, O'Brien has won every race that matters in Britain and Ireland over his 50-year career. He is the only man to have trained three consecutive Grand National winners. He trained some of the best-known racehorses of all time - including Nijinksy, winner of the triple crown in 1970, The Minstrel and Alleged. He won three consecutive Gold Cups and three consecutive Champion Hurdles. He’s had extraordinary success in flat racing, too - six Derby winners, three winners of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, three King George VI winners and twenty-five races at Royal Ascot. He is without doubt the best racehorse trainer of all time. His story is a fascinating one - from humble beginnings in County Cork, he rose to become master of the legendary Ballydoyle stables. He chose to train racehorses rather than opening a butcher’s shop, much to the benefit of the sport. Here his extraordinary story is told by his wife, Jacqueline, with distinguished racing writer Ivor Herbert. Lavishly illustrated with personal and public photographs that span his amazing life, this book is a must for anyone with an interest in horses or racing.