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Tom Foley, one of the gentlemen of Irish racing and trainer of the legendary jumper Danoli, has died at the age of 74.
He had been battling prostate cancer for the last few years, and fittingly his final winner was at his local track when Rebel Gold won the beginners' chase at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day last month.
Danoli became the people's horse in the 1990s. He was considered to be the Irish banker at the 1994 Cheltenham Festival and duly obliged in the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle under Charlie Swan. He won 17 races, including the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown after a thrilling tussle with Jodami. The previous year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call was a further 20 lengths back in third.
He had been battling prostate cancer for the last few years, and fittingly his final winner was at his local track when Rebel Gold won the beginners' chase at Gowran Park on Thyestes Chase day last month.
Danoli became the people's horse in the 1990s. He was considered to be the Irish banker at the 1994 Cheltenham Festival and duly obliged in the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle under Charlie Swan. He won 17 races, including the 1997 Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown after a thrilling tussle with Jodami. The previous year's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call was a further 20 lengths back in third.
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RIP,who will ever forget Tom and Danoli in that Sun Alliance.
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Danoli's Sun Alliance win is the first race that i can remember watching, and the reason that i fell in love with the sport. Always kept an eye out for a Tom Foley runner after that, especially at Gowran (Tom's local and indeed mine). In fact i backed his last winner, Rebel Gold, when it won at Gowran on Theyestes Day. RIP Tom.
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nice story Monarch here you go again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDWXSMyPLig 1994 Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle
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nice story Monarch here you go again https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDWXSMyPLig 1994 Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle
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I met Tom at the last Thurles meeting when we were allowed in , he had had treatment and said he was doing fine. RIP Tom, a gentleman .
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Nice one Frank. It still gives me a tingle no matter how many times i see it.
Unlike you Workrider i never had the pleasure of meeting Tom. But anyone i know who did spoke of the the man in glowing terms. There can be a lot of arrogant people in racing but Tom would not be in that bracket. Here is a link to some nice words from Tommy Treacy in case any of you haven't spotted it: https://www.racingpost.com/news/latest/he-loved-his-horses-not-only-did-he-train-them-he-made-friends-with-them/475151 |
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Sad times indeed.Tom and Danoli will long be remembered.Rip.
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Very nice monarcy, says it all about Tom
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From an era I loved , when the small man could mix it at the top table.
Nowadays their isn't a doubt in my mind the horse would have ended up one way or another in one of the two big yards. |