By Brian Sheerin
Trainers Edward O'Grady and Jessica Harrington have led the tributes to leading owner and breeder Dermot Cox following the death of the successful businessman on Tuesday.
A pillar of the community in Kildare, Cox owned many leading lights over jumps, including Cheltenham Festival hero Back In Front and Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Tranquil Sea.
Father to David of Baroda Stud, Cox played an instrumental role in the development of Punchestown racecourse. He has been attributed to being the driving force behind forging and developing relationships with overseas trainers, the fruits of which were on show when the Nicky Henderson-trained reigning Champion Chaser Sprinter Sacre lit up the track with victory over Sizing Europe in 2013.
His role within the track was acknowledged this year when Cox, along with champion national hunt trainer Willie Mullins and leading owners Sean and Bernadine Mulryan, were inducted into Punchestown's hall of fame.
Harrington supplied one of Cox's most recent big-race wins, the family's homebred mare Madam Bovary, who landed a valuable handicap chase under Robbie Power at that same meeting.
She said, “Dermot was just a lovely person–great fun to be around. He lived life to the full. I know he was a great sportsman and loved his hunting and shooting as well. He obviously loved his racing and something that was also dear to his heart was the Kildare Hunt and Punchestown races–he absolutely loved Punchestown.”
Along with Back In Front and Tranquil Sea, O'Grady sent out 2002 Troytown Chase winner Takagi on behalf of Cox, who the trainer described as “a real sportsman.”
O'Grady said, “Back In Front, Tranquil Sea and Takagi-we had many great days. Dermot loved his hunting, racing, shooting, rugby and generally loved his sport. He was a real sportsman. If I had to think of our best day together, perhaps it would be Tranquil Sea winning the Paddy Power at Cheltenham [in 2009]. That was a superb race. Obviously winning the Supreme Novices' in 2003 with Back In Front would also have to rank up there as well. You'd have to describe a man like Dermot as a complete sportsman.”
Away from racing, Cox ran a successful cash and carry business [Cox's Cash & Carry] in Newbridge, which was sold in 2022. He lived at Rosetown Stud, which is beside his son David's Baroda Stud, of which he is understood to have been immensely proud of.
But it was his exploits at Punchestown that were revered among those who knew him best on Wednesday, including racecourse manager Conor O'Neill, who said days like Sprinter Sacre winning at the festival wouldn't have been possible without Cox.
“On behalf of all at Punchestown, we extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathies to the Cox family,” O'Neill said. “Dermot played an instrumental role at Punchestown for many years. He was a former vice chairman of Punchestown racecourse, he was a proud member of the Kildare Hunt Club and was also a master of the Kildare Hunt Club. His significant contribution to the track was acknowledged at this year's festival.
“He leaves behind him a number of legacies and played a pivotal role in establishing a tradition of UK-trained horses coming to Punchestown after Cheltenham. He created that tradition-more or less single-handedly to be fair to him-and also played a massive role in the redevelopment of the racecourse in 1998. He is a massive part of Punchestown's history, there is no doubt.”
Husband to the late Ann, and much loved father of David, Louise, Aoife and Patrick, Cox is also survived by daughters-in-law Tamso and Vicky, son-in-law Kevin, and grandchildren Dermot, India, Isla, Sarah, Patrick, Louis and Tiger.
Reposing at his residence (W12 FC89) for friends and family on Friday from 2pm to 6pm. Funeral on Saturday to arrive at St. Conleth's Parish Church, Newbridge for 11am Mass. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Newbridge.
Funeral Mass in celebration of Dermot's life may be viewed online.
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