Horse trainer known as ‘world’s greatest gentleman’ after Cheltenham Festival heroics dies

CHELTENHAM winning trainer Billy Boyers has died at the age of 93.

Edna Bolger hailed Boyers as “the world’s greatest gentleman” in a touching tribute.

Billy Boyers has passed away aged 93

Boyers passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness.

He was surrounded by his family and friends at his home in the West of Ireland, including his wife and three daughters.

A hugely popular figure in the racing community, Boyers famously trained the Paul Clarke-owned Kilcoleman to victory at Cheltenham.

The horse, ridden by the late Tommy Kinnane, galloped to glory in the County Hurdle on St Patrick’s Day, 1977.

That proved to be a golden year for Boyers as the following month Ferdy Murphy steered Artistic Prince to success in the John Jameson Gold Cup.

It took more than 40 years for another Sligo horse to win at Cheltenham when 80/1 Jeff Kidder broke the curse in March 2021.

Boyers was Sligo’s best known trainer during the 1970s and ’80s.

He won the Galway Plate in 1980 after having trained his string on the beach at his native Rosses Point.

Boyers was an immensely popular figure and mentor including Irish trainer Bolger.

Bolger said: “He was a terribly nice man and very proud of Sligo and Sligo racecourse.

“I’m going to miss him ringing me every Christmas morning, as he used to call every single year without fail and we’d have a great chat.

“He was the world’s greatest gentleman. He trained all his horses on the beach – they were never on grass until they got to a racetrack.

“Billy was just an all-round gentleman who will be missed greatly by everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”

Boyers was still attending Sligo race meetings up until his 93rd birthday.