Pat Eddery

Patrick James John Eddery (18 March 1952 – 10 November 2015) was an Irish flat racing jockey and trainer. He rode three winners of the Derby and was Champion Jockey on eleven occasions. He rode the winners of 4,632 British flat races, a figure exceeded only by Sir Gordon Richards.

Background

Eddery was born in Newbridge, County Kildare, near the Curragh Racecourse. His mother, Josephine Eddery, was the daughter of jockey Jack Moylan; his father, Jimmy Eddery, was twice Irish champion jockey and won the 1955 Irish Derby on Panaslipper. Eddery spent the winters during the 1970s riding in Hong Kong for trainer John Brown.

Walwyn's yard was affected by the equine virus for two seasons from 1978, and Eddery's seasonal tally of winners dropped. In 1980, he accepted the offer of a lucrative retainer from Irish trainer Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle. For five years, Eddery would fly to Ireland for racing on Saturday, then return to his home in Oxford,race in France on Sunday, and in England from Monday to Friday. In Ireland he rode for trainer John Oxx, as well as O'Brien. In 1981, he won the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Kings Lake for O'Brien in a controversial race where the winner was demoted by the stewards and then restored to first place after a successful appeal by the trainer.. The following year, he was Irish champion flat racing jockey for the only time and won the Derby on Golden Fleece for O'Brien and owner Robert Sangster. Further Classic success followed for the team with Lomond in the 1983 2,000 Guineas, El Gran Senor in the 1984 2,000 Guineas and the 1984 Irish Derby, and Leading Counsel in the 1985 Irish St. Leger, while another of O'Brien's owners, Stavros Niarchos provided Eddery with a win in the 1985 Irish Derby on Law Society. El Gran Senor was beaten a short head by Secreto in the 1984 Derby, which Eddery described as the greatest disappointment of his racing career..

Eddery had won his first Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1980 on Detroit, trained by Oliver Douieb and owned by Robert Sangster. In 1985, he rode Rainbow Quest, trained by Jeremy Tree, in the Juddmonte colours of Khalid Abdullah. Narrowly beaten by the previous year's winner, Sagace, they were awarded the race after a stewards enquiry. Early in the 1986 season, Abdullah approached Eddery with the offer of a retainer. Eddery accepted the offer, tempted by the money and the quality of Abdullah's horses, at a time when O'Brien's winners were in decline. It meant that, without the weekly visits to Ireland, he would be able to spend more time in England with his family and attempt to win the British champion jockey title again. He took over from Greville Starkey as the rider of Abdullah's Dancing Brave, trained by Guy Harwood. He partnered Dancing Brave to victory in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Other major winners in the Juddmonte colours included Zafonic, Quest for Fame and Toulon. In 1987, he lost the title to Steve Cauthen by just two wins; the jockeys would have finished level on 196 winners had it not been for an objection by the rider of the third horse in the deciding race. The following year, he regained the title with 183 winners from just over 480 rides - a strike rate of over 38 per cent.

Following the end of his association with Abdullah in 1994, Eddery rode as a freelance until his retirement in 2003. In 1997, he rode his 4,000th winner when Silver Patriarch, trained by John Dunlop won the St Leger. A back injury then side-lined him for six months. After Royal Ascot 2003, Eddery announced his decision to retire at the end of the season. He had ridden a total of 73 winners at the meeting and had five times been leading jockey. His last day of race riding was at Doncaster on 8 November 2003. He rode no winners that day, but was presented with a trophy for lifetime achievement. Over the course of his career, he had ridden 4,632 winners in Britain, second only to Gordon Richard, and won fourteen British Classic races.

Eddery's riding style was not elegant by normal standards, owing to his habit of bouncing up and down in the saddle as he urged his mounts on at the finish, but was undeniably effective. Frenchie Nicholson said that he regretted the fact that his protegee abandoned the "quiet, refined" style he had been taught but admitted that the young jockey stood out as being "in total harmony" with the horses he rode.

Training career

Following his retirement from riding, Eddery set up a racing syndicate organisation with his wife. In March 2005, he was awarded an honorary OBE, which he described as "a great honour".

In July 2005, Eddery was granted a training licence and set up a stable of 40 horses at Musk Hill Stud in Nether Winchendon, near Aylesbury. As a trainer, Eddery sent out 117 winners, including Hearts Of Fire in Italy's Group 1 Gran Criterium in 2009.

The Pat Eddery Stakes, a listed race for two-year-olds, is held at Ascot every July. They had two daughters, Nichola and Natasha, and a son Harry. Eddery also had a son from an extra-marital relationship, Toby Atkinson, who became a jockey. The marriage broke down in 2008 and the couple divorced in 2009. Eddery then formed a relationship with Emma Owen, who worked at his yard.

Major wins as a jockey

Great Britain 1,000 Guineas – (1) – Bosra Sham (1996) 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Lomond (1983), El Gran Senor (1984), Zafonic (1993) Ascot Gold Cup – (2) – Erimo Hawk (1972), Celeric (1997) Champion Stakes – (3) – Vitiges (1976), Pebbles (1985), Bosra Sham (1996) Cheveley Park Stakes – (5) – Pasty (1975), Woodstream (1981), Prophecy (1993), Gay Gallanta (1994), Wannabe Grand (1998) Coronation Cup – (6) – Crow (1978), Rainbow Quest (1985), Saint Estephe (1986), Saddler's Hall (1992), Sunshack (1995), Silver Patriarch (1998) Coronation Stakes – (2) – Orchestration (1977), Magic of Life (1988) Derby – (3) – Grundy (1975), Golden Fleece (1982), Quest for Fame (1990) Dewhurst Stakes – (6) – Lunchtime (1972), Grundy (1974), Storm Bird (1980), El Gran Senor (1983), Zafonic (1992), Grand Lodge (1993) Eclipse Stakes – (3) – Coup de Feu (1974), Solford (1983), Sadler's Wells (1984) Falmouth Stakes – (3) – Star Pastures (1981), Magic Gleam (1989), Ryafan (1997) Fillies' Mile – (2) – Tessla (1988), Bosra Sham (1995) Golden Jubilee Stakes – (1) – Great Commotion (then called The Cork and Orrery Stakes 1990) Haydock Sprint Cup – (3) – Record Token (1976), Dowsing (1988), Danehill (1989) International Stakes – (4) – Beldale Flutter (1981), Assert (1982), Caerleon (1983), One So Wonderful (1998) July Cup – (2) – Sharpo (1982), Lake Coniston (1995) King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (2) – Grundy (1975), Dancing Brave (1986) King's Stand Stakes – (1) – African Song (1980) Middle Park Stakes – (5) – Habat (1973), Formidable (1977), Bassenthwaite (1984), Primo Valentino (1999), Balmont (2003) Nassau Stakes – (3) – Dancing Rocks (1982), Free Guest (1985), Ela Romara (1988) Nunthorpe Stakes – (4) – Sharpo (1980, 1981), Cadeaux Genereux (1989), Sheikh Albadou (1991) Oaks – (3) – Polygamy (1974), Scintillate (1979), Lady Carla (1996) Prince of Wales's Stakes – (5) – Record Run (1975), English Spring (1986), Two Timing (1989), Batshoof (1990), Placerville (1993) Queen Anne Stakes – (3) – Valiyar (1983), Pennine Walk (1986), Warning (1989) Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – (3) – Milligram (1987), Warning (1988), Bigstone (1993) Racing Post Trophy – (5) – Sporting Yankee (1976), Dactylographer (1977), Beldale Flutter (1980), Reference Point (1986), Armiger (1992) St. James's Palace Stakes – (3) – Radetzky (1976), Posse (1980), Persian Heights (1988) St. Leger – (4) – Moon Madness (1986), Toulon (1991), Moonax (1994), Silver Patriarch (1997) Sun Chariot Stakes – (2) – Sweet Farewell (1974), Free Guest (1985) Sussex Stakes – (6) – Posse (1980), Kings Lake (1981), Warning (1988), Marling (1992), Distant View (1994), Reel Buddy (2003) Yorkshire Oaks – (3) – May Hill (1975), Busaca (1977), Ramruma (1999)

Canada Canadian International Stakes – (1) – French Glory (1990)

France Critérium de Saint-Cloud – (1) – Miserden (1988) Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud – (2) – Glint of Gold (1982), Moon Madness (1987) Poule d'Essai des Pouliches – (2) – Ukraine Girl (1981), Houseproud (1990) Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (2) – Sharpo (1982), Double Schwartz (1986) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – (4) – Detroit (1980), Rainbow Quest (1985), Dancing Brave (1986), Trempolino (1987) Prix de Diane – (1) – Jolypha (1992) Prix de la Forêt – (3) – Brocade (1985), Wolfhound (1992), Indian Lodge (2000) Prix Ganay – (1) – Golden Snake (2001) Prix d'Ispahan – (1) – Sanglamore (1991) Prix Jacques Le Marois – (2) – The Wonder (1982), Lear Fan (1984) Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère – (1) – Tenby (1992) Prix Jean Prat – (1) – Olden Times (2001) Prix du Jockey Club – (3) – Caerleon (1983), Hours After (1988), Sanglamore (1990) Prix Lupin – (1) – No Lute (1981) Prix Maurice de Gheest – (3) – Beaudelaire (1983), Lead on Time (1986), Interval (1987) Prix Morny – (1) – Zafonic (1992) Prix du Moulin de Longchamp – (2) – Distant Relative (1990), All at Sea (1992) Prix de l'Opéra – (1) – Andromaque (1994) Prix Rothschild – (1) – Nashmeel (1987) Prix Royal-Oak – (3) – Old Country (1983), Raintrap (1993), Moonax (1994) Prix de la Salamandre – (1) – Zafonic (1992) Prix Vermeille – (2) – Bint Pasha (1987), Jolypha (1992)

Germany Bayerisches Zuchtrennen – (1) – Kaieteur (2002) Grosser Preis von Baden – (1) – Glint of Gold (1982)

Hong Kong Jockeys' Invitation Race – Destiny (1974) Hong Kong Derby – (2) – Breathing Exercise (1975), Grand Duke (1977) Queen's Silver Jubilee Challenge Cup – Caerdeon Line (1977) St. Andrew's Plate – Seven Stars (1979) Hong Kong Gold Cup – Observatory (1979)

Ireland Irish 2,000 Guineas – (3) – Grundy (1975), Kings Lake (1981), Tirol (1990) Irish Champion Stakes – (2) – Kings Lake (1981), Sadler's Wells (1984) Irish Derby – (4) – Grundy (1975), El Gran Senor (1984), Law Society (1985), Commander in Chief (1993) Irish Oaks – (3) – Colorspin (1986), Wemyss Bight (1993), Bolas (1994) Irish St. Leger – (1) – Leading Counsel (1985) Matron Stakes – (1) – Mighty Fly (1983) Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1) – Woodstream (1981) National Stakes – (3) – El Gran Senor (1983), Law Society (1984), Danehill Dancer (1995) Phoenix Stakes – (3) – Achieved (1981), Digamist (1987), Danehill Dancer (1995) Tattersalls Gold Cup – (1) – Batshoof (1990)

Italy Derby Italiano – (1) – Old Country (1982) Gran Premio del Jockey Club – (2) – Silver Patriarch (1998), Golden Snake (2000) Gran Premio di Milano – (1) – Tony Bin (1988) Premio Presidente della Repubblica – (1) – Tony Bin (1988) Premio Roma – (2) – Knifebox (1993), Taipan (1998)

Japan Japan Cup – (1) – Jupiter Island (1986)

Slovakia Slovenské Derby – (1) – Lonango (1997)>

United States Arlington Million – (1) – Tolomeo (1983) Breeders' Cup Sprint – (1) – Sheikh Albadou (1991) Breeders' Cup Turf – (1) – Pebbles (1985) Man o' War Stakes – (1) – Defensive Play (1990)

Major wins as a trainer Italy Gran Criterium – (1) – Hearts of Fire (2009)