Owen Brennan

Owen was born on December 30, 1934 and lived at 4, Caxton Street, Wetherby.

His 'apprenticeship' was somewhat fleeting: 'I spent some time with Paddy Sleator in Ireland...'

Before coming to England, Owen had ridden plenty of point-to-point winners as an amateur in Ireland. He was particularly successful on Good Lather on which he won many times.

His first winner in England came on Sea Tiger at Uttoxeter in October, 1957.

His best day as a jockey came at Easter, 1960, when he rode a double at Wetherby.

On June 16, 1962, he married Maureen Keegan. She gave him a son, Martin, and three daughters, Cindy, Helen & Siobhan.

Owen took out a trainer's licence in 1965 and, moving to Park Leys, Newark, Nottinghamshire, set up shop.

On Owen's recommendation, comedian Freddie Starr bought future National winner Minnehoma, named after the place in Texas where Paul Getty had first struck oil. This was to replace Kouros which Owen had trained for Starr. Kouros had broken its neck at Bangor.

Owen, on behalf of Starr, bought the horse for 35,000 guineas and turned him out for the summer.

Minnehoma proved to be a swine to ride: he had been a nightmare to break in and now constantly unshipped any jockey who tried to ride him.

Then he caught salmonella poisoning and rapidly went downhill.

To cap it all, Owen's son Martin, who had done a sterling job of gaining the horse's confidence, broke his collarbone at Nottingham and it was left to Owen to continue its education.

Owen took Minnehoma to Uttoxeter on March 28, 1989, for its first bumper. Before the race, the horse got rid of its rider, Jamie Railton, twice, and its odds went out to 33/1.

Owen invested a fiver.

Minnehoma hacked up by five lengths.

Apart from training he began 'making and hunting' young horses for sale.

The best horses he trained were Parmoss, Prince Blarney & Queen's Burn.

His Head Lad was Gerry McGee.

Having trained over 300 winners, he retired in October, 2009. 

He had enjoyed a successful career which had spanned over 40 years: his two best known chasers were the multiple winning Speaker Weatherall and Strath Royal, both owned by his biggest benefactor, Lady Anne Bentinck.

In February, 2013, aged 77, he returned to training and, from his new stable at Bretby, 13 miles outside Derby, he sent out a further three winners.

Then, on December 17, Owen suddenly disappeared.

On Wednesday, 9th January, 2013, his body was dragged from the River Derwent. He had been missing for more than three weeks and that included what would have been his 78th birthday.

Owen had suffered a stroke in September 2012 that left him prone to memory loss.

His son, ex-jockey Martin Brennan, said at the time: 'It is just nice that the uncertainty is over and we now know where he is. We can now move on and get things planned.'

Charlie Moore, clerk of the course at Uttoxeter, said: 'Owen always has a mischievous grin and was a joy to see. He will be much missed. A number of people asked me, be they trainers, racegoers, annual members, what I knew about Owen's whereabouts at our New Year's Eve meeting. The family would have been touched that there was so much concern.'

On the day of his disappearance, Owen and his wife had dropped off Christmas presents at the Derbyshire stable of trainer Chris Kellett, who said: "Over the last couple of years we had become real good friends, and he was the most lovely fellow you could ever meet. When I started out training he was always available to give advice and I learned a lot from him."

Nottinghamshire-based trainer Michael Appleby, whose first job in racing was with Owen, said: "We always chatted when we met each other at the races. Owen was a really hard-working and lovely bloke."

Lincolnshire trainer Steve Gollings said: "Owen was a colleague and a friend and I am just pleased they have found him for his family's sake. Our condolences go out to them. It is very sad."