Michael Prendergast (died 1896)

Michael Prendergast, a 21-year-old jockey from Fedamore, died following a fall in the last race on the second day of Listowel’s meeting on Thursday, August 27, 1896, after his mount, Castlequarter, crashed into a corner post after jumping the last fence. 

The accident happened as Prendergast was trying to drive Castlequarter inside the eventual winner, Tantalus, as they approached the final corner post. As they neared the post, Castlequarter swerved to the right and would have gone inside the post if Prendergast had not snatched him up. This momentary delay cost him his life, for when he straightened his horse, he found that the gap had been closed by the rider of Tantalus. (Listowel was a right-handed circuit in those days, whereas it is now left-handed.)

Courageously, Prendergast tried to squeeze through the remaining narrow space, but, instead, he only succeeded in driving his mount onto the post with shattering force. He was thrown from the saddle and struck the ground violently with his head, knocking him unconscious. 

He was taken to the nearby Deale View Hotel with blood streaming from his ears. Despite being attended to by various doctors, he died, without regaining consciousness, at 7.00 pm the following day. His young wife, whom he had married just two months before, was at his bedside.

The tragic accident prematurely ended a promising career, because, up to then, Prendergast has been enjoying an outstanding meeting, having ridden three winners, including Listowel’s two feature races, including the Listowel Handicap Chase, the predecessor of today’s Kerry National. 

It is possible that the accident may not have occurred had the stewards not disqualified the winner of the first race that day for going inside one of the posts, and, in trying to avoid the same fate, Michael Prendergast earned the unenviable distinction of being the first jockey to die from a fall at Listowel.