The late Jennifer 'Chich' Fowler

The racing world is in mourning following the passing of trainer Lady Jennifer 'Chich' Fowler, wife of the late John Fowler of Rahinstown House, Summerhill, and sister-in-law of trainer Jessica Harrington.

She died unexpectedly on Tuesday following an illness, having watched one of her horses run at Naas on Sunday.

She was from the racing and the wider world of equestrianism. While the late John was training she was instrumental in the long term development and the day-to-day operations of Rahinston’s racing and breeding operations.

Her father, Dermot, was a Senior Steward of the Turf Club and Master of the Wexford Hounds and a very long serving chairman. He was a race-horse breeder in his own right, with his most notable success being the Aintree Topham winner, Dunbrody Miller. Chich developed her keen sense of horsemanship on the hunting field and with eventing where she represented Ireland at International Three Day Events in Europe.

As mother of Harry and Charlie she became involved with the operations of the Meath and Irish Pony Club organisations’ respectively, as she followed her sons’ Pony Club careers. Her expert advice and ability to manage people led her to be Chef d’Equipe (1998) and key selector for several International Tetrathlon teams.

Since the passing of John Fowler in a tree-felling accident at Rahinstown in late 2008, Chich took over the National Hunt training licence and continued to focus on the legacy left by John and the 60 years of racing and bloodstock excellence that Rahinston is know for.

Her funeral takes place in the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Rathmolyon, on Tuesday next, 19th March, at 2.30pm.