Pat Eddery recorded 4,632 career wins in British flat racing, a total surpassed only by Sir Gordon Richards.
Early Life and Apprenticeship
Born in Newbridge, County Kildare, near the Curragh Racecourse, Eddery was the fifth of twelve surviving children born to Josephine and Jimmy Eddery. His father was a twice Irish champion jockey who won the 1955 Irish Derby. Educated at the Patrician Brothers' Primary School and later Oatlands Primary School in Stillorgan, he began riding racehorses at age nine. He launched his professional career in Ireland under Seamus McGrath, eventually moving to England to apprentice with Frenchie Nicholson. His first success arrived on 24 April 1969 at Epsom Downs Racecourse aboard the horse Alvaro.
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Eddery became first jockey to Peter Walwyn’s yard in 1972, a partnership that lasted eight years. In 1974, he became the youngest British flat racing champion since World War II at age 22. His 1975 victory on Grundy in the Epsom Derby was followed by triumphs in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In 1980, he transitioned to the Ballydoyle stable of Vincent O'Brien.
Later Career and Championships
In 1986, Eddery began a retainer with Khalid Abdullah, riding notable winners such as Dancing Brave and Zafonic. His career saw him claim seven additional British Champion Jockey titles between 1986 and 1996. In 1990, he reached a career-high 209 wins in a single season, the first rider to cross the 200-win threshold since 1952. Beyond his British achievements, he found international success in the 1985 Breeders' Cup Turf and the 1986 Japan Cup. He received the Lester Award for Flat Jockey of the Year multiple times.
Fast facts
- Born: 18 March 1952, Newbridge, County Kildare
- Died: 10 November 2015, Aylesbury
- Career Wins: 4,632
- British Champion Jockey Titles: 11
- Epsom Derby Wins: 3
- First Career Win: 24 April 1969, Epsom
- Notable Honours: Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire
- Major Awards: British Champions Series Hall of Fame
Questions readers ask
How many times did Pat Eddery win the British Champion Jockey title?
He won the title on eleven separate occasions.
Which jockey holds a higher number of British flat race wins than Pat Eddery?
Sir Gordon Richards is the only jockey to exceed Eddery’s total of 4,632 wins.
