Pat Mitchell
1943 - 2005
1943 - 2005
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Jump jockey turned trainer Pat Mitchell died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in June 2005, aged 62, after battling cancer for a year. He rode as a jockey from 1961 to 1979 and trained for 25 years between 1977 and 2002. He was described by many who knew him as “one of those unsung heroes of racing”.
Jump jockey turned trainer Pat Mitchell died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge in June 2005, aged 62, after battling cancer for a year. He rode as a jockey from 1961 to 1979 and trained for 25 years between 1977 and 2002. He was described by many who knew him as “one of those unsung heroes of racing”.
Born on April 27, 1943, Patrick Kenneth Mitchell started life in racing as an apprentice with his uncle Frank Muggeridge, who trained initially at Coronation Stables at Worth, in Sussex, but then moved his operation to the old Lewes racecourse following its closure in 1964. Pat was 24 years old when riding his first winner on James Edgar, who was owned and trained by Muggeridge, in the Adur Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on August 21, 1967. His only other winner that season was on 25-1 outsider Rusty, trained by two-horse permit holder Harry Miller, at Plumpton on Easter Monday 1968.
Born on April 27, 1943, Patrick Kenneth Mitchell started life in racing as an apprentice with his uncle Frank Muggeridge, who trained initially at Coronation Stables at Worth, in Sussex, but then moved his operation to the old Lewes racecourse following its closure in 1964. Pat was 24 years old when riding his first winner on James Edgar, who was owned and trained by Muggeridge, in the Adur Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on August 21, 1967. His only other winner that season was on 25-1 outsider Rusty, trained by two-horse permit holder Harry Miller, at Plumpton on Easter Monday 1968.
Miller’s other horse was Arctic Ace, who duly became Pat’s next winner when winning a juvenile hurdle at Kempton in October 1969. That horse would pretty much form the mainstay of the remainder of Pat’s riding career, for he won six more races on him, including three at Folkestone during the first half of the 1973/74 campaign, culminating in the sponsored Lowe’s “Nuckles” Trophy Handicap Hurdle.
Miller’s other horse was Arctic Ace, who duly became Pat’s next winner when winning a juvenile hurdle at Kempton in October 1969. That horse would pretty much form the mainstay of the remainder of Pat’s riding career, for he won six more races on him, including three at Folkestone during the first half of the 1973/74 campaign, culminating in the sponsored Lowe’s “Nuckles” Trophy Handicap Hurdle.
While continuing to ride in races, Pat took out a trainer’s licence in 1977, based at Manor Stables, near Polegate, in Sussex. He trained and rode Calmin to win a Southwell selling hurdle on October 10, 1977.
While continuing to ride in races, Pat took out a trainer’s licence in 1977, based at Manor Stables, near Polegate, in Sussex. He trained and rode Calmin to win a Southwell selling hurdle on October 10, 1977.
He trained at Polegate for ten years before moving to Hamilton Stables on Hamilton Road, Newmarket, in 1987. His best-known horse was Tauber, a prolific sprinter of the late 1980s and early 1990s who won 17 races, 11 of them at Lingfield.
He trained at Polegate for ten years before moving to Hamilton Stables on Hamilton Road, Newmarket, in 1987. His best-known horse was Tauber, a prolific sprinter of the late 1980s and early 1990s who won 17 races, 11 of them at Lingfield.
Pat was a popular figure in the world of racing, as nice a man as one could ever wish to meet. Following his death, former royal jockey David Mould, who was best man at Pat’s wedding and a friend since boyhood, recalled: “Pat was such a good-natured guy. He did well with his horses and was a very good trainer. He would lose owners and describe it as bad luck – and whereas I’d get wound up about it, Pat would just say it was racing.”
Pat was a popular figure in the world of racing, as nice a man as one could ever wish to meet. Following his death, former royal jockey David Mould, who was best man at Pat’s wedding and a friend since boyhood, recalled: “Pat was such a good-natured guy. He did well with his horses and was a very good trainer. He would lose owners and describe it as bad luck – and whereas I’d get wound up about it, Pat would just say it was racing.”
Pat left a widow, Barbara, a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Nick, who by the time of his father’s death was training in Japan. The funeral took place on July 6, 2005 at Our Lady & St Peter’s Catholic Church, East Grinstead, Sussex.
Pat left a widow, Barbara, a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Nick, who by the time of his father’s death was training in Japan. The funeral took place on July 6, 2005 at Our Lady & St Peter’s Catholic Church, East Grinstead, Sussex.
Pat Mitchell’s winners were, in chronological order:
Pat Mitchell’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. James Edgar, Fontwell Park, August 21, 1967
1. James Edgar, Fontwell Park, August 21, 1967
2. Rusty, Plumpton, April 15, 1968
2. Rusty, Plumpton, April 15, 1968
3. Arctic Ace, Kempton Park, October 18, 1969
3. Arctic Ace, Kempton Park, October 18, 1969
4. Arctic Ace, Plumpton, August 18, 1971
4. Arctic Ace, Plumpton, August 18, 1971
5. Densun, Worcester, January 24, 1972
5. Densun, Worcester, January 24, 1972
6. Arctic Ace, Newton Abbot. July 31, 1972
6. Arctic Ace, Newton Abbot. July 31, 1972
7. Arctic Ace, Plumpton, August 16, 1972
7. Arctic Ace, Plumpton, August 16, 1972
8. Rockymont, Plumpton, October 9, 1972
8. Rockymont, Plumpton, October 9, 1972
9. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, September 12, 1973
9. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, September 12, 1973
10. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, October 1, 1973
10. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, October 1, 1973
11. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, November 19, 1973
11. Arctic Ace, Folkestone, November 19, 1973
12. Unknown Warrior, Plumpton, November 22, 1973
12. Unknown Warrior, Plumpton, November 22, 1973
13. Prepare, Plumpton, April 13, 1974
13. Prepare, Plumpton, April 13, 1974
14. Calmin, Southwell, October 10, 1977
14. Calmin, Southwell, October 10, 1977