Willie Carson and Lady Cecil, on behalf of her late husband Sir Henry Cecil, were presented with QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame medals by The Queen Consort.
Carson becomes the fourth jockey to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, after Lester Piggott, Pat Eddery and Frankie Dettori. The 79-year-old was crowned Champion Jockey in Britain five times and his 3,828 winners in the UK included 17 British Classic triumphs, four of them in the Derby.
Carson said: “It is very humbling because of where I have come from, but here I am, an ex-Champion Jockey, having ridden British Classic winners for Her Majesty The Queen and with four Derby winners. I have done a few things in my life, but being awarded into the Hall of Fame is one of the biggest. It is a big deal to be invited.”
Cecil was one of the most successful trainers of all time, winning 10 trainers’ championships and 25 British Classics. It was ten years ago this week that Cecil acclaimed his most celebrated masterpiece, Frankel, after the colt had signed off his flawless 14-race career with victory in the QIPCO Champion Stakes. “He is the best I have ever had and the best I have ever seen,” he said. “I would be very surprised if there has ever been better.”
Lady Cecil, who played a key role in the latter part of Sir Henry’s career, said: “He was modest and would have been surprised to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but he would also have felt very honoured. I am delighted as I think he’s a very worthy inductee. I hope he will prove to be a popular choice.”
For more information on the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, please visit Horseracinghof.com
Racenews Press Release
Photos: Lady Cecil and Willie Carson with their medals (Megan Ridgwell)
For information on Past The Wire’s annual Breeders’ Cup Seminar, the very best in the game CLICK HERE
