Michael Osborne, prominent international racing figure, dies

Michael Osborne, prominent international racing figure,

dies

Leading racing and bloodstock figure Michael Osborne died

Wednesday night after a short illness at the age of 71. Some of

the world's most influential names paid tribute Thursday to the

iconic character, who helped transform the face of international

racing with his work in Dubai and who played a major role in some

of the most powerful breeding operations in Europe and the United

States.

After spells at the helm of the Irish National Stud and

North Ridge Farm in Kentucky, Osborne was hand-picked by Sheikh Mohammed bin

Rashid Al Maktoum to discover the Irish base of the Darley

operation, and he arranged the purchase of Kildangan Stud in

County Kildare.

In recent years, the Naas, Ireland-born former veterinarian was at

the forefront of the inception of racing in Dubai and was made

chief executive of the Emirates Racing Association, overseeing

the transformation of Nad Al Sheba Racecourse and the launch of

the world's richest race.

Sheikh Mohammed was one of those

offering his thoughts yesterday.

"Michael was a wonderful man,"

he said. "My thoughts and sympathy are with his family. We had

some marvelous times together and I will always remember the

great work that he did. He was a hugely influential figure in

world racing. It was Michael who established the Dubai World Cup

(UAE-G1) as a great international race."

Osborne also engineered the World

Series, and had this year taken on the chairmanship of the World

Racing Championships in order to revamp the concept.

"Michael always had enormous enthusiasm -- for horses, for Ireland and for

Dubai," Sheikh Mohammed added. "Nearly 20 years ago, he was the

one who bought Kildangan Stud for me. He really loved the farm, and it is fitting that he is going to be laid to rest in the

graveyard at Kildangan."

Osborne was also a senior steward of the Irish Turf Club,

director of the Irish Horseracing Authority and Horseracing

Ireland and chairman of Punchestown and Curragh racecourses.

Among the many paying homage to him yesterday was Horseracing

Ireland's Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh.

"Michael Osborne was

Ireland's foremost international racing figure of recent times,"

he commented. "Over four decades he occupied every significant

role in the Irish racing and breeding industries and set new

standards of excellence in every position he filled. His

outstanding quality was his ability to relate to and work with

people of all ages and backgrounds. His unique talents and

enthusiasm saw him succeed wherever he operated and throughout

the racing and breeding world his legacy will endure for a very

long time."

Osborne was instrumental in the twinning of his home county Kildare with Lexington, Kentucky. Spendthrift Farm's

former General Manager and friend John Williams reflected on his

influence in the United States.

"Michael was a lovely man -- he meant so

much to me and to so many people in the U.S. and elsewhere," he

said. "He touched so many, many people. The things he did just

spread exponentially. He did amazing things for people."

Following Thursday's funeral service, a Requiem Mass will take

place at St Brigid's Church in Kildare on Friday.