John Fowler
2 January 1946 - 15 December 2008
2 January 1946 - 15 December 2008
This article was taken from the Meath Chronicle 17 December 2008
This article was taken from the Meath Chronicle 17 December 2008
Racing colleagues and neighbours of trainer John Fowler are in mourning this week for the Summerhill man following his tragic death in a tree-felling accident at his Rahinstown estate on Monday afternoon.
Racing colleagues and neighbours of trainer John Fowler are in mourning this week for the Summerhill man following his tragic death in a tree-felling accident at his Rahinstown estate on Monday afternoon.
The news of the death of Mr Fowler, who was 62, caused widespread shock as it emerged on Monday evening. He was killed in a freak accident when a tree he had been felling on his land toppled over and trapped him underneath.
The news of the death of Mr Fowler, who was 62, caused widespread shock as it emerged on Monday evening. He was killed in a freak accident when a tree he had been felling on his land toppled over and trapped him underneath.
The removal of his remains takes place on Wednesday evening, 17th December, to Rathmolyon Church of Ireland, with Funeral Mass there on Thursday, 18th December at 2.30 pm.
The removal of his remains takes place on Wednesday evening, 17th December, to Rathmolyon Church of Ireland, with Funeral Mass there on Thursday, 18th December at 2.30 pm.
A former amateur jockey, Mr Fowler trained the winner of a Fairyhouse Grand National and was a member of the board of Fairyhouse at the time of his death. Mr Fowler was at Navan Races on Sunday, where he had a runner.
A former amateur jockey, Mr Fowler trained the winner of a Fairyhouse Grand National and was a member of the board of Fairyhouse at the time of his death. Mr Fowler was at Navan Races on Sunday, where he had a runner.
His wife, Jennifer, known as 'Chich', has been granted a temporary licence to continue the training operation as runners had been entered in upcoming meetings, including at Navan on Saturday next.
His wife, Jennifer, known as 'Chich', has been granted a temporary licence to continue the training operation as runners had been entered in upcoming meetings, including at Navan on Saturday next.
Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington, famous for her association with Moscow Flyer, is a sister of the late Mr Fowler.
Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington, famous for her association with Moscow Flyer, is a sister of the late Mr Fowler.
John Fowler was one of the leading amateur jockeys of his generation, and won the National Hunt Chase in Cheltenham in 1978 on Gay Tie for Mick O'Toole and in 1979 for Dan Moore on Arctic Ale. Between 1962 and 1989, he rode 260 winners under rules and 200 point to point winners.
John Fowler was one of the leading amateur jockeys of his generation, and won the National Hunt Chase in Cheltenham in 1978 on Gay Tie for Mick O'Toole and in 1979 for Dan Moore on Arctic Ale. Between 1962 and 1989, he rode 260 winners under rules and 200 point to point winners.
His major wins as a rider in Ireland included all the big hunter chases and bank races. He won the major amateur riders" handicap at the Galway Festival in 1976 on Michael Cunningham's Irish Fashion, and the same year rode Vaguely Attractive to victory at Aintree.
His major wins as a rider in Ireland included all the big hunter chases and bank races. He won the major amateur riders" handicap at the Galway Festival in 1976 on Michael Cunningham's Irish Fashion, and the same year rode Vaguely Attractive to victory at Aintree.
In 1989, he was to experience his biggest success as a trainer when Maid of Money won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, ridden by the late Anthony Powell. The horse, owned by Sam and Ada McCormick of Culmullen, had won the Black and White Chase at Leopardstown the previous Christmas. He had two of the main fancied runners in that National, with Banker's Benefit and Niall 'Boots" Madden finishing fifth. His many successes with Bankers Benefit, a good distance hurdler before going chasing, led him to receive a Meath Chronicle sports star of the month award in the 1980s. Opera Hat was another of his successful runners, which won at Liverpool and recorded 15 successes in the 1990s.
In 1989, he was to experience his biggest success as a trainer when Maid of Money won the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, ridden by the late Anthony Powell. The horse, owned by Sam and Ada McCormick of Culmullen, had won the Black and White Chase at Leopardstown the previous Christmas. He had two of the main fancied runners in that National, with Banker's Benefit and Niall 'Boots" Madden finishing fifth. His many successes with Bankers Benefit, a good distance hurdler before going chasing, led him to receive a Meath Chronicle sports star of the month award in the 1980s. Opera Hat was another of his successful runners, which won at Liverpool and recorded 15 successes in the 1990s.
Mr Fowler specialised in recent times in training horses for bumpers and was preparing for a busy season. On Sunday, he saddled Freemantle Doctor in the Drogheda Handicap Chase at Navan, finishing fourth under Ross Geraghty.
Mr Fowler specialised in recent times in training horses for bumpers and was preparing for a busy season. On Sunday, he saddled Freemantle Doctor in the Drogheda Handicap Chase at Navan, finishing fourth under Ross Geraghty.
The Drumree jockey this week paid tribute to the man he had worked with for the past 12 years. 'He was a gentleman and very easy to ride for. I was honoured to ride for him over the past 12 years and had a great relationship with him. The news is very upsetting,' he said.
The Drumree jockey this week paid tribute to the man he had worked with for the past 12 years. 'He was a gentleman and very easy to ride for. I was honoured to ride for him over the past 12 years and had a great relationship with him. The news is very upsetting,' he said.
Captain Con Power, who regularly used the Rahinstown gallops for his horses, described John Fowler as an outstanding amateur jockey.
Captain Con Power, who regularly used the Rahinstown gallops for his horses, described John Fowler as an outstanding amateur jockey.
'He worked for many years in his youth with TP Hogan in Limerick, where he schooled horses and rode point to point and chase,' Captain Power, also from Summerhill, said. 'He was a top amateur jockey and there would always be a battle between himself and Ted Walsh at the time.'
'He worked for many years in his youth with TP Hogan in Limerick, where he schooled horses and rode point to point and chase,' Captain Power, also from Summerhill, said. 'He was a top amateur jockey and there would always be a battle between himself and Ted Walsh at the time.'
Mr Fowler was a member of the committee at Fairyhouse Racecourse, and racecourse manager Caroline Gray described his death as dreadful news. He had attended a committee meeting there on Thursday last.
Mr Fowler was a member of the committee at Fairyhouse Racecourse, and racecourse manager Caroline Gray described his death as dreadful news. He had attended a committee meeting there on Thursday last.
'He was very active on the committee and had a very rational viewpoint on everything,' she said.
'He was very active on the committee and had a very rational viewpoint on everything,' she said.
'He didn't just look at it from a trainer's point of view - he had a balanced view on everything and was a great help to me personally since coming here. We are all shell-shocked.'
'He didn't just look at it from a trainer's point of view - he had a balanced view on everything and was a great help to me personally since coming here. We are all shell-shocked.'
Castletown trainer Noel Meade described Mr Fowler's death as absolutely shocking and said he was a very popular man who had only recently stepped down as a member of the Trainers" Association Committee.
Castletown trainer Noel Meade described Mr Fowler's death as absolutely shocking and said he was a very popular man who had only recently stepped down as a member of the Trainers" Association Committee.
Mr Fowler's father, Brigadier Fowler, was a Kells native who joined the Gunners Royal Artillery and was at Fairyhouse Races on that infamous Easter Monday in 1916 when summoned away to help quell the rebellion in Drogheda, and later became an instructor at the Army Equitation School in Weedon.
Mr Fowler's father, Brigadier Fowler, was a Kells native who joined the Gunners Royal Artillery and was at Fairyhouse Races on that infamous Easter Monday in 1916 when summoned away to help quell the rebellion in Drogheda, and later became an instructor at the Army Equitation School in Weedon.
On returning from England, the family lived for a while at Culmullen House before moving to the family estate at Rahinstown, where the Fowlers still host the annual Meath Hunt-Tara Harriers point-to-point races.
On returning from England, the family lived for a while at Culmullen House before moving to the family estate at Rahinstown, where the Fowlers still host the annual Meath Hunt-Tara Harriers point-to-point races.
Mr Fowler is survived by his wife, Chich, and sons Harry, who works in Tattersalls in Newmarket, and Charlie, who works in the IT industry.
Mr Fowler is survived by his wife, Chich, and sons Harry, who works in Tattersalls in Newmarket, and Charlie, who works in the IT industry.