TOM COSTELLO TRIBUTE
1932-2009
Tom Costello The man who sold on six individual Cheltenham Gold Cup winners “had a fantastic eye for a young horse”
om Costello, the legendary Irish horse dealer who sold on six individual winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, including three-time hero Best Mate, has passed away at the age of 77. Widely regarded as the best judge of a young National Hunt horse in the business, Costello’s unparalleled success saw a steady stream of clients beating a path to his door in Newmarket-onFergus, County Clare. Richard Kent, owner of Mickley Stud, said: “I knew Tom for 20 years, and we traded a lot in that time. He used to buy ten or 12 foals from me every year. “Tom had a fantastic eye for a young horse and great faith in his own judgement. He certainly knew where to find horses; they were always as cheap as possible when he was buying, although they were dear when he was selling! “His horses were all natural jumpers, as he used to school them (without riders) from the age of two. Tom was a unique, charming man, who loved his family and had a great appreciation of nature. His achievements will never be bettered.” A former trainer, Costello sent out Tartan Ace to land the 1973 Irish Grand National and landed the 1981 Powers Gold Cup with The Mighty Mac. However, it was as a supplier of top-class chasers to many of racing’s biggest owners that he excelled. Costello had the ability to identify potential in young horses, which he bought,
PHOTOS: CAROLINE NORRIS/GEORGE SELWYN
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usually privately as foals or yearlings out of the field, and allowed to develop at his farm. Typically, the Costello horses were educated in point-to-points before being sold. Midnight Court, successful in 1978, was the first from the Costello academy to capture the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was followed by The Thinker (1987), Cool Ground (1992), Imperial Call (1996), Cool Dawn (1998) and Best Mate (2002, 2003 and 2004), who Costello sold to Henrietta Knight after victory in a two-runner point-topoint at Tuam, in Galway. Other stars sold by Costello include Florida Pearl, One Man, and Grand National victors Hedgehunter and Comply Or Die. Another noted horse trader, Martin Cullinane of Mount Brown Farm, said: “I must have known Tom for 40 years. I have never met a better judge of a young horse. “Tom knew every field in Ireland. He would only have to look at a horse once to know if he wanted it. You get some buyers at the sales writing notes about horses in catalogues – I never saw Tom write one word down, ever. “I spoke with him just before he died and he was in good spirits, looking forward to the Derby Sale. We will never know another Tom Costello.” Costello is survived by his wife, Josephine, and sons John, Tom, Adrian, Dermot and Tony, who all became involved in the family business and rode as amateurs.
Costello discovery: Best Mate, triple Gold Cup hero
THOROUGHBRED OWNER & BREEDER INC PACEMAKER 13