....Derek O' Sullivan . Race . R.I.P......

Reading the article on race in the field today , brought back some wonderful , and also some sad memories .Derek was a wonderful man , full of fun , yet he had that maturity few of us could muster at his age ..Always one for experimenting , like the day he nearly burnt down the Kildare yard while trying some new rewiring methods he'd just learned ..I remember him picking me up and driving me back to the Stud after a weekend back in Dublin , He told me he had been asked to be a part of a new plan , and he was not sure if he could commit fully to it ..He knew the responsibility would be immense and he wanted to be sure He was able for it...We stopped off in the church in Kildare and Derek offered up a prayer asking for help making this decision...Thankfully for all who passed through the halls of race He decided to take on the massive task on getting it up and running..His understanding of young people and their need to be loved and made feel wanted , I believe was a turning point for many , the feeling of safety and understanding was enough to make them want to stay and work their way up the ladder of life ..May God in his mercy grant him rest....