JP McMANUS scratched all of his runners today and for the foreseeable future after the shock death of his 40-year-old daughter-in-law.
Emma McManus died yesterday morning after falling ill while on a family holiday in Barbados.
The McManuses had been enjoying a Christmas break staying in a private villa in the grounds of the family’s luxury Sandy Lane resort.
Emma, wife to JP’s son John, is believed to have been rushed to a medical centre where she passed away.
Declan Moylan, a family friend, told Extra.ie: “I’ve just heard it two minutes ago from my daughter, terrible news, unbelievable.
“They’re pretty shaken up by it, it’s unbelievable. Oh my God, terrible. I don’t know how John is, I just got a quick phone call.”
Jockey Mark Walsh told Racing TV: “Sadly Emma McManus passed away during the night. Thoughts and prayers are with all the family.”
Frank Berry, racing manager for McManus, said: “It’s a very sad time for all the family.
“We’re not going to have any runners for the next while.”
The Royal Barbados Police are believed to investigating the sudden death, but detectives have ruled out foul play.
A police spokesman said: “She was at the medical centre when she passed away. She took sick and was taken there.
“It’s being treated as a sudden death but there is no suspicion of foul play.”
The family were staying in a private villa in the grounds of the luxury hotel, where rooms cost €1,500 a night.
The couple were childhood sweethearts and lived together in a luxury home in Chelsea with their eight-year-old daughter, Millie.
They got married in Portugal in 2010 and recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary.
"Thoughts ad prayers are with all the family"
Mark Walsh's only ride @punchestownrace is a winning one – on what he describes as 'very tiring'.
Thoughts are with the McManus family following the sad loss of Emma – daughter-in-law of JP – who passed away on Wednesday Morning pic.twitter.com/p7KKuRAjWD
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 31, 2020
Champion jumps owner JP McManus was due to have nine runners in Britain and Ireland today.
But they have all been withdrawn, including his 152-rated hurdler Darasso who was set to run in the feature race at Punchestown.
And it seems the famous green and yellow hooped silks will not be seen for a while as the family deal with their awful loss.
