Pat Eddery’s daughter reveals jockey’s alcohol addiction in heartfelt tribute post
Sport

Pat Eddery’s daughter reveals jockey’s alcohol addiction in heartfelt tribute post

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.”

Read the full post below.

Filled with grief this morning that my dad Pat Eddery is no longer here. It's been five years since I last saw, we stayed In touch and spoke on the phone, I never missed a birthday etc and not a day went by when I didn't think about him. The last time I saw him face to face was when I brought him home from rehab and he drank straight away. I turned to him and said "dad if you choose to drink over health and family, I can't be part of that life for you." Sadly his addiction was too strong and he couldn't overcome it. My sibling and his close friends did all we could to help him battle his illness, but we lost in the end. It has been so sad to witness his decline and my siblings and I knew that we would loose him to his demon drink. But that said, I loved him so much and I had probably the best childhood anyone could ask for. I was so proud and still am so proud to be his daughter, 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. #pateddery #love #family #father #daughter #siblings #lose #mourning #sad #legend #superstar #myhero #hero #neverforget #horseracing #britishhorseracing #globalsupetstar #racing #horses #memories

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.