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Jockey Pat Smullen, who rode 12 Classic winners and won the Epsom Derby four years ago, died aged 43 from cancer.
The nine-time Irish champion was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and passed away in Dublin on Tuesday.
Smullen retired from racing in 2019, but helped raise awareness with charity races while suffering from the disease.
Last year over € 2.5 million was raised for Cancer Trials Ireland when Smullen organized a race during the Longines Irish Champions Weekend in Curragh.
The one-mile event captured great attention and was won by Sir Anthony McCoy riding Quizical for Smullen’s good friends, Sheila and John Lavery.
“We can be very proud of horse racing in general in Ireland. The stable staff, the racing fans, the owners, the trainers, the jockeys – they have all been very supportive of the amazing man that is Pat Smullen,” he said McCoy in September 2019.
McCoy added at the time. “Pat is a special person and a great friend to all of us. Unfortunately, what we are doing today are difficult and sad circumstances, but it shows you how brilliant this sport is.”
Queen Elizabeth II presented Pat Smullen with her winning Epsom Derby trophy in June 2016
Smullen was a multi-win rider in Group One around the world, leading Harzand to four victories, including the Irish Derby and Epsom Derby four years ago.
At Epsom Harzand, coached by Dermot Weld, he shot 13-2 and held off the favorite US Army Ranger to win by a length and a half.
Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Officer Brian Kavanagh told PA news agency: “Pat was one of our biggest stars. He was a nine-time jockey champion, but in many ways his greatest achievements were out of the saddle.
“Since her diagnosis she did a wonderful job raising money for charity and fought this disease with a big heart and it is hard to believe she passed away at such a young age. All our thoughts go out to Frances and her three children, Hannah, Paddy and Sarah, and all her friends and colleagues in the weigh-in room.
“It’s a really sad day for Irish racing. Pat was one of the best men you could hope to meet. There has been so much reaction in Irish racing and such a degree of shock, which shows the great respect in which Pat was held. .
“It was a pleasure to have something to do with him: his achievements in the saddle were one thing, his qualities outside of him were another.
“He was a world figure in racing, but his reaction to his diagnosis and the fundraising he did last year in particular was really wonderful. It’s just a sad, sad day.”
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