Pat Eddery is the second jockey to be inducted into the Qipco British Champions Series Hall of Fame.
The legendary rider, who joins Lester Piggott, was champion jockey 11 times between 1974 and 1996 and he is the second-most winning rider in Britain with a tally of 4,633 winners.
He won the Derby with Grundy, Golden Fleece and Quest For Fame and added a further 11 British Classics to his haul. Eddery also played a leading role in the 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, often described as the race of the century, when riding Grundy to beat Bustino.
Outside Britain he rode the great Dancing Brave to victory in the Arc in 1986 while partnering Breeders' Cup Turf winner Pebbles and Jupiter Island to victory in the Japan Cup.
Eddery died in November 2015 and his family will be presented with a medal to commemorate his inclusion to the Hall of Fame. The medal will also be on display at Ascot on Champions day in an exhibition on October 16.
His daughter, showjumper Natasha Eddery-Dunsdon, said: “He was, and always will be, one of the all-time greats. When I think about what he was like as a jockey, I think about his quiet concentration, his focus, the determination to win. That's what set him apart, his desire to win and to beat his comrades.
“Entering the Hall of Fame would have made him so proud. I only wish he were still here to experience this special moment. It's one myself and my family will cherish.”
Legendary trainer Vincent O'Brien, together with three titans of the turf from the 1970s, Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and Nijinsky, have been named as the next four stars to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, which can be found online at Horseracinghof.com.
Launched to mark the 10th anniversary of QIPCO's sponsorship of the British Champions Series, the first official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing sets out to immortalize the Modern Greats of the sport, both human and equine, from 1970 onwards.
On the basis of their undisputed status and achievements within the sport, the quartet will join inaugural inductees Frankel and Lester Piggott in the Hall of Fame, with O'Brien becoming the first trainer to gain membership.
Broadcaster Brough Scott, who undertook his first broadcast for ITV Racing in 1971, the year in which Brigadier Gerard completed his incredible unbeaten 3-year-old season, was part of the independent panel of horseracing experts who agreed on the inductees.
He said: “No racing decade ever had a start like the 1970s. Nijinsky, Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard – three horses of the century only a year apart. No Derby winner more majestic than Nijinsky, no Arc winner more of a mould-breaker than Mill Reef, no miler more complete than Brigadier Gerard.
“Irish genius Vincent O'Brien added to the magic of that era, setting a standard most could only dream of matching. He changed the racing and training landscape, and his legacy lives on at Ballydoyle and Coolmore – which remain two of the world's greatest racing operations to this day.
“They individually and collectively deserve these places within the Hall of Fame and the panel and I offer our heartfelt congratulations to their connections.”
Trainer O'Brien, who registered a total of 141 Group One wins, with 67 in the UK, died 12 years ago but his influence on the sport will go on forevermore. As well as training six Derby winners and a host of other British Classics, he also landed three consecutive Grand Nationals in the 1950s, making him one of few trainers to succeed in both disciplines at the highest level. He also created the superb training facilities at Ballydoyle and played a pivotal role in the development of Coolmore Stud – two of Ireland's, if not the world's, most illustrious racing operations. Tellingly, the winning machine that Vincent O'Brien helped create and develop continues to flourish to this day.
Brigadier Gerard, Mill Reef and Nijinsky – the last-named trained by O'Brien – all lit up the sport during the early 1970s. Between the three, they won an incredible 40 of their 45 races.
The mighty Brigadier Gerard, ridden by the late Joe Mercer, won 17 of his 18 races and is remembered as one of the greatest milers there has been, although he also shone over further. His record in 1971 was phenomenal, winning all six of his races, and his final resumé contained a British Classic in the 2000 Guineas, two Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and two Champion Stakes victories.
The Ian Balding-trained Mill Reef had to play second fiddle to Brigadier Gerard in the 2000 Guineas of 1971 but, upped in distance, he would never be beaten again. His exploits included outstanding victories in the Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Meanwhile, the majestic Nijinsky, ridden by inaugural Hall of Famer Lester Piggott, made history in 1970 by scooping the Triple Crown. No horse has since achieved this milestone of winning the 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger in the same year. Nijinsky went on to become a hugely successful stallion and, to this day, remains the only sire to have a winner of the Derby (Epsom) and the Kentucky Derby in the same year.
Connections of these four stars will receive a specially commissioned medal, designed by Asprey and unique within British racing, to mark their achievement. The four medals will be displayed at Doncaster's Cazoo St Leger day (Saturday 11th September) as part of a QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame exhibition. The exhibition can be found within the racecourse's grandstand in the Grandstand Enclosure.
Achieving a place in the Hall of Fame has become one of the highest accolades within British Flat racing, reflecting extraordinary achievements and contributions to the sport. Launched to mark the start of this year's QIPCO British Champions Series, a number of additional inductions will be announced in the build-up to QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot (Saturday Oct. 16), including one horse chosen by the public (vote here) which is open until Sept. 24.
Frankie Dettori celebrated winning the 20th Classic of his career with victory on Mother Earth in the QIPCO 1,000 Guineas – then joked he has “plenty of time” to beat the legendary Lester Piggott's record of 30.
It was a fourth victory in the race for the 50 year old Italian jockey and a seventh for trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Taking the lead just inside the final quarter mile, Zoffany filly Mother Earth, a 10-1 chance, kept on finding more and at the finish had a length to spare over the staying on Saffron Beach (9-1). A futher neck back in third was 22-1 chance Fev Rover.
Speaking after the race Dettori said: “I was super excited to win that! I didn't have the pressure to ride the favorite and had a very willing partner on a filly who I knew would give me everything.
“Aidan gave me a lot of confidence this morning and said to forget about (favored) Santa Barbara and just ride my own race. He told me to get cover and I did and like I said I forgot about the favorite and just kicked at the top of the hill.
“I knew she'd stay really well and I won – it's as simple as that! It's my 20th Classic (in Britain) at 50 years old. I'm only 10 behind Lester now so I've got plenty of time!
“It's great to do it at Newmarket. I'm extremely happy and I got lucky to get that ride. Lester was 56 so I've got six years left and Kevin (Manning, 54, winner of Saturday's 2,000 Guineas with Poetic Flare) won yesterday – come on the oldies!”
Before the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, many had expected an O'Brien victory in the race to come via his 5-2 joint favorite Santa Barbara, who finished fourth under Ryan Moore.
But O'Brien said of Mother Earth: “She's a very good filly and always was. It was unfair to the favorite (Santa Barbara) to come but we had to come with the view to coming back over here for the Oaks.
“Santa Barbara is only a baby and Ryan said that he'd liked to have waited longer but he saw Frankie coming down his outside and he had to come then and she was just green in the dip, but after having one easy run it was a great run.
“Mother Earth is a very consistent filly – she had a great run in America last time out last year and that was very professional. She relaxed and quickened and did everything really well, so we're delighted. I think Mother Earth will stick to a mile and we'll step Santa Barbara up in trip – the latter was always going to go to the Oaks next time and this filly was always going to go to the Irish Guineas next. That was the plan.
“We won't go again with Santa Barbara (before the Cazoo Oaks). We felt that she would learn as much coming here as she would for three runs, but it was a risk doing it that she was going to get beaten.
“She'll be fine, she's classy and she would have learnt a lot today and she has plenty time to get over that. Ryan was very happy and he said to me that in an ideal world he didn't want to commit as early.
“But with Frankie coming he had to keep going then and she was a little bit unbalanced going into the dip, which is understandable as we've never taken her off the bridle at home. Hopefully she'll come out of it ok and it will do her good.
“I didn't ask Frankie anything afterwards – I just listened. I'm sure you could hear it all as well! It's great to have him and he's an unbelievable rider.”
