RTÉ Racing pundit Ted Walsh has paid a glowing tribute to the late Pat Eddery, describing the 11-times English champion jockey as a “supreme artist”.
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Eddery began his career in 1967 and rode his first victor two years later, before going on to claim over 4,600 victories before his retirement in 2003. His 1986 victory, aboard Dancing fearless, is regarded as his most memorable.
Newstalk Sport’s Oisin Langan spoke to Leo Powell, the Managing Editor of the Irish Field about Eddery’s career.
He was an absolute gentleman and one of the greatest jockeys to ever put a leg over a horse.
He later retired in 2003 and began training alongside his brother Paul.
Other famous successes include those of Pebbles at the Breeders’ Cup, Silver Patriarch in the St Leger – which marked his 4,000th victor – and Zafonic in the 2000 Guineas.
Robert Edmondson, Eddery’s close friend and former weighing room colleague, told the Racing Post: “He was one of the greats – without doubt”.
“He was at the top of the tree for so long but he was a green kid when I first started using him. He never seemed to fluster or show any sign of nerves, whatever the circumstances”, said former jockey Dale Gibson, the executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association. We had a lot of fun together.
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Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah, owner of Newmarket’s Banstead Manor Stud in whose silks Eddery had a few of his greatest days including winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Dancing fearless, said: “It is extremely sad news”. I can’t imagine anyone being in his company and not enjoying it. You’re a bit sick when you get beat but that’s the job and you move on.
