The late Sean Sullivan The death took place in Arcadia, California recently of 77 year old horse racing trainer Sean Sullivan. Born on September 4, 1928 at the Fairgreen, Cahirciveen, Sean lost his brave battle with a terminal illness. He grew up in the 1950's, a glory era of South Kerry football. Like many of his peers he went on to win two South Kerry senior football championship medal with his beloved club St.Mary's. Among his team-mates were Kerry players the late Gerald O'Sullivan, goalkeeping legend Donie Marcus O'Neill, Jerome O'Shea and Ned Fitzgerald. In fact in 1954 he made his one and only appearance in a Kerry jersey when he came on as a second half substitute in a national football league game against Kildare in Naas. His life long friend Marcus O'Neill remembers him as a solid and uncompromising wing back. Sean Tadgh, as he was affectionately known in his native place, kept in weekly telephone contact with Marcus, always enquiring about the well being of Kerry and St.Mary's football. Sean O'Sullivan, like so many of his friends, was forced to emigrate in 1956 in search of employment and opportunity. He chose Chicago to follow his dream of a life in horse-racing. Once he landed in the United States he never looked back. His greatest moment in racing came when his horse, 40/1 outsider The Bart thrilled racing fans as he duelled John Henry to the wire in the inaugural Arlington Million Invitational in 1981. John Henry defeated The Bart by a nose in the event, the world's first $1 million race. Hence went on to be voted the season's horse of the year. His battle with The Bart is memorialised in bronze with a statue overlooking the paddock at Arlington park. Sullivan saddled the son of "The Fabuleux", a top turf horse to four grade stakes wins. These included a track record victory in the 1982 Hialeah Turf Club Handicap (GI). Sullivan's other top runners included 1985 Metropolitan Handicap (GI) winner Forzando and 1986 Del Mar Derby and California Derby winner Vernon Castle. His early years as a trainer were spent in Chicago and Florida, before he eventually moved his operation to California. His horsemanship, sense of humour and caring for backstretch workers made him one of the most well liked trainers on the American racing circuit. Sean was immensely proud that his daughter Noreen followed in his footsteps and continues to carve out her own niche as a trainer. May the sod of his adopted California rest lightly on Sean Tadgh Sullivan, a racing icon who left his native Barr Na Sraide to follow his dream as an idealist at 28 years old in 1956. He is survived by his wife Mary, three daughters Sharon, Noreen and Mary-Anne, four grandchildren and his sister Mrs Mary O'Sullivan, Marian Place, Cahirciveen. Ni bheith a leitheid an aris. Courtesy of The Kerryman 06 July 2006 Tweet

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