David Power, one of the founders of the Paddy Power betting shop chain and the owner of multiple Group 1 winners Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) and Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), has died following a long illness.
Power was a racecourse bookmaker for decades and only recently retired six years ago. Along with his wife Sabena, they enjoyed great success on the course as well, campaigning Slade Power to a career which included wins in the G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes and the G1 Darley July Cup. He last reportedly stood at Haras de Fontaines in France.
Sole Power too claimed victories at the highest levels, notably winning the G1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes in 2010 and 2014, the G1 King's Stand Stakes in 2013 and 2014 and the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in 2015. He was multiple Group 1-placed in three countries and across five tracks, to name only a few of his accomplishments.
Trainer Eddie Lynam, whose relationship with Power began with a horse named Empirical Power (Ire), remembers him as a friend along with being a model client.
“He was a great man to train for and a great friend,” Lynam told The Irish Field. “I'd say there wasn't a week went by where I didn't speak to him two or three times. He was always good company. If he didn't have something nice to say about somebody, he wouldn't say anything at all.”
Lynam added, “He was a great man to train for in that whether the horse was good or bad, there was never a cross word. He enjoyed his very good horses to the limit, he had great fun with them. It was an honour to train for him.”
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