Pat Smullen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Smullen
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Pat Smullen in Hanshin Racecourse in 2013
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| Born |
Patrick Joseph Smullen
22 May 1977 County Offaly, Ireland
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| Died | 15 September 2020 (aged 43) Dublin, Ireland
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| Occupation | Jockey |
Patrick Joseph Smullen (born May 22, 1977 – died September 15, 2020) was a famous Irish jockey. He was known for winning the Irish flat racing Champion Jockey title nine times! During his career from 1992 to 2018, he rode 1,845 winning horses in Ireland and 47 in Britain. Some of his biggest wins were riding a horse named Harzand to victory in the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby races in 2016. He was the main jockey for trainer Dermot Weld from 1999 until he retired in 2018.
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Pat Smullen's Early Life and Training
Pat Smullen was born in County Offaly, Ireland. He learned about riding and horse racing from his brother, Sean. Sean worked for a horse trainer named Joanna Morgan.
Pat then became an apprentice (a trainee) to a local trainer, Tommy Lacy. Tommy Lacy helped Pat get his first win on a horse named Vicosa at Dundalk in 1993. Pat became the best apprentice jockey in Ireland in both 1995 and 1996.
Pat Smullen's Racing Career
Pat Smullen worked as the main jockey for trainer John Oxx for two years. In 1997, he won his first big race, called a Group 1 race. This was the Moyglare Stud Stakes on a horse named Tarascon at the Curragh.
In 1999, Pat became the top jockey for trainer Dermot Weld. He stayed in this important role until he retired in 2018. Pat was the Irish champion jockey nine times! He won this title in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016.
His first major Classic race win was in the Irish St. Leger in 2001. He won this race on a horse called Vinnie Roe for Dermot Weld. They were so good together that they won the same race for the next three years too!
Pat won a total of twelve European Classic races. This includes his famous wins in the 2016 Epsom Derby and Irish Derby on the horse Harzand. These wins were for trainer Dermot Weld and owner Aga Khan.
In May 2018, Pat Smullen announced he was retiring from racing. This was because of medical advice. He had been treated for pancreatic cancer the year before. By the time he retired, he had ridden 1,845 winners in Ireland and 47 in Britain.
Pat Smullen's Personal Life
In 2001, Pat Smullen married Frances Crowley. She was also a trainer and an amateur jockey. They had three children together: Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah.
In September 2019, Pat organized a special "legends race" at the Curragh. This race helped raise money for research into pancreatic cancer. A couple of months later, he received a special honor. He was given the Daily Telegraph Award of Merit at the 2019 Cartier Racing Awards.
Pat Smullen passed away in Dublin on September 15, 2020, at the age of 43.
Pat Smullen's Major Wins
Here are some of the biggest races Pat Smullen won:
- Flying Five Stakes – (2 wins) – Benbaun (2006, 2007)
- Irish 1,000 Guineas – (2 wins) – Nightime (2006), Bethrah (2010)
- Irish Derby – (2 wins) – Grey Swallow (2004), Harzand (2016)
- Irish Oaks – (1 win) – Covert Love (2015)
- Irish St. Leger – (4 wins) – Vinnie Roe (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004)
- Matron Stakes – (2 wins) – Dress to Thrill (2002), Emulous (2011)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes – (1 win) – Tarascon (1997)
- National Stakes – (1 win) – Refuse to Bend (2002)
- Pretty Polly Stakes – (1 win) – Chinese White (2010)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup – (3 wins) – Grey Swallow (2005), Casual Conquest (2009), Fascinating Rock (2016)
- Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp – (1 win) – Benbaun (2007)
- Prix de l'Opéra – (1 win) – Covert Love (2015)
- Prix Royal-Oak – (1 win) – Vinnie Roe (2001)
- Epsom Derby – (1 win) – Harzand (2016)
- 2,000 Guineas – (1 win) – Refuse to Bend (2003)
- Ascot Gold Cup – (1 win) – Rite of Passage (2010)
- Champion Stakes – (1 win) – Fascinating Rock (2015)
- Prince of Wales's Stakes – (1 win) – Free Eagle (2015)
- Sun Chariot Stakes – (1 win) – Dress to Thrill (2002)
- Breeders' Cup Marathon – (1 win) – Muhannak (2008)
- Matriarch Stakes – (1 win) – Dress to Thrill (2002)
