Matt O'Donnell (greyhound trainer)
{{Short description|Irish greyhound racing professional trainer (1933-2016)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox horseracing personality
|name = Matt O'Donnell
|image = Matt O'Donnell greyhound trainer circa 1990.png
|caption =
|occupation = Greyhound Trainer
|birth_place =
|birth_date = June 1933
|death_date = 4 January 2016 (aged 83)
|career wins =
|race =
Classic/Feature wins:
English Greyhound Derby
(1992)
Irish Greyhound Derby
(1990, 1991, 1995)
Easter Cup
(1984, 1987, 1990,1991,1992)
Champion Stakes
(1986, 1991)
St Leger
(1978, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1995)
Grand National
(1979)
Cesarewitch
(1994)
Produce
(1978, 1985, 1989)
Oaks
(1987)
|awards =
|honours =
|horses =
| }}
Matt O'Donnell was an Irish greyhound trainer. He is a three-time winner of the Irish Greyhound Derby and one-time winner of the English Greyhound Derby and is regarded as one of Ireland's all-time leading trainers.
Career
O'Donnell started training in 1968 and first came to prominence in the late 1970s with 'Malange', reaching the 1978 St Leger final at Wembley and winning the 1978 Irish St Leger at Limerick.{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}
After twelve years of success, he finally won the Irish Derby with The Other Toss in 1990.{{cite book|last=Genders|first=Roy|title=NGRC book of Greyhound Racing|year=1990|publisher=Pelham Books Ltd|isbn=0-7207-1804-X}} O'Donnell successfully defended the title in 1991 with Ardfert Mick {{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2005|year=2004|publisher=Raceform|isbn=1-904317-58-8}} and joined the exclusive group of English/Irish Derby winning trainers with Farloe Melody in 1992.{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=56|title=1992|publisher=Greyhound Data}} In 1995 he won a third Irish Derby.{{cite web|url=http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?r=78|title=Irish Derby Final|publisher=Greyhound Data}}
He was based in Killenaule, County Tipperary,{{cite book|last=Barnes/Sellers|first=Julia/John|title=Ladbrokes Greyhound Fact File|year=1992|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-22-8}} and amassed 22 Classic winners.{{cite book|last=Hobbs|first=Jonathan|title=Greyhound Annual 2008, page 62|year=2008|publisher=Raceform|isbn=978-1-905153-534}} After retiring from training he assisted his wife Frances, who took over the licence; in 2012 she won the Irish Derby.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-20207057.html |title=Skywalker Puma swoops to conquer in Derby thriller |website=Irish Examiner |date=10 September 2012 |access-date=25 November 2023}}
Personal life
Before he trained greyhounds he owned a milk delivery business and a haulage firm. He married Frances Ruth (sister of another leading training Dolores Ruth), both Frances and Dolores are daughters of another trainer John Ruth who died in 1993.
Matt died on 4 January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/greyhounds/farewell-to-training-legend-matt-odonnell-34335602.html|title=Farewell to training legend Matt O'Donnell|date=5 January 2016 |publisher=Irish Independent}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ODonnell, Matt}}
Category:Irish greyhound racing trainers