Posted on 4th September 2019
It is with great sadness that we learnt yesterday of the passing of Cheltenham-Festival winning trainer Ferdy Murphy aged 70.
During his time training from Wynbury Stables near Middleham, North Yorkshire Ferdy was a staunch supporter of the National Horseracing College and gave a huge number of our learners’ employment opportunities. He was patient in his approach and gave weaker learners the time they required to develop. In turn, they rewarded him by becoming competent, loyal members of his stable staff team. He gave those who had aspirations of race-riding opportunities on the schooling ground and steered them in the right direction so they fulfilled their dreams. He immersed himself in the racing industry his entire life; what he didn’t know probably wasn’t worth knowing. He always had a story to tell and you’d find yourself repeating to others, for it was such a great story. He was a man of his word and a man who, together with Harvey Smith, fought hard for equality when it came to all matters relating to National Hunt racing in the north of the country. When he relinquished his trainer’s licence and left the UK for a new life in France in 2013 he was sorely missed by all at the College. All our thoughts at this time are with his family.
