THE daughter of the late Irish jockey Pat Eddery has posted a heartfelt tribute to her father on social media in which she revealed his long-term battle with alcoholism.
The 11-time flat racing champion, who is one of the most successful jockeys of all time with more than 4,600 winners, passed away at the age of 63 earlier this week.
The Kildare native was known to have been suffering from ill-health, but his daughter Natasha has revealed via Instagram that it was caused through excessive alcohol consumption.
“I was so proud and still am so proud to be his daughter,” she wrote. “He was an amazing jockey, father and husband, but in the end he was taken over by a terrible disease.
“I don't think of that man, the alcoholic, he wasn't my dad. My dad was kind, sweet, emotional and, while he never said much, I know he loved us all very much.”
A photo posted by Natasha Eddery'Dunsdon (@natasha.eddery) on
Eddery’s 36-year career included successes in 14 British Classics, four Arcs and he twice won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
