A minute's silence was observed ahead of the second day of the Galway Races at Ballybrit in honour of JT McNamara, who passed away overnight.
The jockeys lined up ahead of this evening's opening race to pay their respect to the 41-year-old who died following complications on Friday night.
The respectful tribute was followed by a video showing several of McNamara's highlights throughout his national hunt career.
Black armbands were also worn by all jockeys at tonight's meeting.
A minute's silence at Ballybrit racecourse for the late JT McNamara @Galway_races #RTEracing https://t.co/74l6ZYLCzh
— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) July 26, 2016
Earlier, billionaire racehorse owner JP McManus remembered McNamara for his loyalty and kindness following the Limerick man’s passing overnight, while tributes have been pouring in from across the sporting world.
McNamara enjoyed many of his big race wins wearing McManus' distinctive green and gold silks, including three at the Cheltenham Festival.
He captured the National Hunt Chase on board Rith Dubh in 2002, the Cross-Country Chase with Spot Thedifference in the 2005 and the Foxhunter Chase on board Drombeag in 2007.
Sadly, Cheltenham was also where McNamara’s career came to an end, with the injuries eventually leading to his premature passing overnight at the age of 41.
McManus, speaking from his home in Limerick, spoke of how his fellow county man galvanised the racing world following his injury, and of someone who was “loyal to a fault either to man or horse.”
"When JT had his accident in Cheltenham he could have died that day but the will of the man to live at the time, and the good that came out of that afterwards from the hundreds of people who rallied to support him and his family; that is his legacy," said Mr McManus.
"It's amazing how many people rallied around afterwards and wanted to support any event and anything that would make life that little bit better and that has brought about a huge awareness around people who suffer in this way.
“It was a terrible situation that brought good. The world is a better place because of JT and his situation and how hard he fought," he added.
A sad day for Irish sport. RIP JT McNamara. Thoughts and prayers with his family and all the racing world.
— Shane Lowry (@ShaneLowryGolf) July 26, 2016
McNamara had over 600 career victories and was a four-time Cheltenham Festival winner, but it was his ride on board Rith Dubh in 2002 which stands out for McManus.
He said: “While there have been many great rides at Cheltenham I have never seen a more delicate and kind ride than when JT literally kissed Rith Dubh over the finish line in the National Hunt Chase.
“Because of his temperament JT knew how to manage him and through sheer kindness cajoled him to the finish," he recalled.
"He was a very caring person and very direct. He never used two words when one would do instead.
“He was loyal to a fault either to man or horse, he stuck with horses at times when he had the option of riding a better one but he felt he owed it to the horse, when often it might have been the horse that owed him. He had a great love for the animal he was riding,” recalled McManus.
"It's interesting to hear so many great jockeys who looked up to him as the absolute horse man. He knew when to be kind. He knew when kindness worked best with a horse. He knew the horse.
“He could be forceful when necessary and he could have ridden more fancy horses but he was extremely loyal to the horse."
May his family find strength from somewhere.We are all thinking and praying for them. https://t.co/C24baTEWWm
— Ronan O Gara (@RonanOGara10) July 26, 2016
Following his fall, which left him paralysed from the neck down, a fund was set-up to help pay for his medical bills and caring, with donations pouring from all across the racing community, including McManus.
"There were hundreds of people who showed support. He had a fan base he didn't know he had who all wanted to help in their own way, I was just one of hundreds," said JP McManus.
Indeed, Bruce Springsteen dedicated his song My Hometown to the injured jockey during his sell-out Thomond Park show in 2013.
And shortly after the concert McManus picked the horse that would be named after the Springsteen song.
"JT wanted to name one of our horses. He got to pick the horse who we named My Hometown after the Springsteen concert," McManus revealed.
One of the saddest days in our sport to loose JT McNamara a great friend to us all and a brilliant horseman RIP pic.twitter.com/GRDPzSSr8F
— BarryJGeraghty (@BarryJGeraghty) July 26, 2016
