Pat Smullen
1977 - 2020
1977 - 2020
Irish Champion jockey and Derby-winning rider Patrick Joseph Smullen was born on May 22, 1977. He was apprenticed to Tom Lacy at Tullamore, County Offaly and had his first mount in public on Power Source (below) at Listowel on September 21, 1992, finishing ninth.
Irish Champion jockey and Derby-winning rider Patrick Joseph Smullen was born on May 22, 1977. He was apprenticed to Tom Lacy at Tullamore, County Offaly and had his first mount in public on Power Source (below) at Listowel on September 21, 1992, finishing ninth.
He rode his first winner on Vicosa, trained by Lacy, in a nine-furlong apprentice handicap at Dundalk on June 11, 1993. This was back when Dundalk was still a dual-purpose turf course, rather than today’s all-weather circuit. He was crowned champion apprentice in 1995 and again in 1996.
He rode his first winner on Vicosa, trained by Lacy, in a nine-furlong apprentice handicap at Dundalk on June 11, 1993. This was back when Dundalk was still a dual-purpose turf course, rather than today’s all-weather circuit. He was crowned champion apprentice in 1995 and again in 1996.
Pat achieved his first Group race victory on Token Gesture (below), owned by Moyglare Stud and trained by Dermot Weld, in the Group 3 C. L. Weld Stakes at the Curragh on October 5, 1996. That was the first of many Group race triumphs he and Weld would share over the next 22 years, many of them in the Moyglare Stud silks. Appropriately, his first Group 1 success was in the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes, aboard the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon (below) in 1997.
Pat achieved his first Group race victory on Token Gesture (below), owned by Moyglare Stud and trained by Dermot Weld, in the Group 3 C. L. Weld Stakes at the Curragh on October 5, 1996. That was the first of many Group race triumphs he and Weld would share over the next 22 years, many of them in the Moyglare Stud silks. Appropriately, his first Group 1 success was in the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes, aboard the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon (below) in 1997.
Pat’s succeeded Michael Kinane as Dermot Weld’s stable jockey in 1999. His first winner in Britain was Takwin (below), trained by Ben Hanbury, in a mile-and-a-half handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on September 9, 2000. That was also the year he became Ireland’s champion jockey for the first time.
Pat’s succeeded Michael Kinane as Dermot Weld’s stable jockey in 1999. His first winner in Britain was Takwin (below), trained by Ben Hanbury, in a mile-and-a-half handicap at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting on September 9, 2000. That was also the year he became Ireland’s champion jockey for the first time.
His first Irish Classic winner came courtesy of Vinnie Roe in the 2001 Irish St Leger. Remarkably, Pat and Vinnie Roe went on to win that race for the next three years, 2002, 2003 and 2004. They also teamed up to win the 2001 Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) and finished second in the 2004 Melbourne Cup.
His first Irish Classic winner came courtesy of Vinnie Roe in the 2001 Irish St Leger. Remarkably, Pat and Vinnie Roe went on to win that race for the next three years, 2002, 2003 and 2004. They also teamed up to win the 2001 Prix Royal Oak (French St Leger) and finished second in the 2004 Melbourne Cup.
In 2002 he partnered Moyglare Stud’s filly Dress To Thrill to win the Group 3 Desmond Stakes, the Group 3 Matron Stakes and the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes, before achieving an American Grade 1 success on her in the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park. Pat achieved further US success the following year when winning the 2003 American Derby (Grade 2) at Arlington Park on Evolving Tactics. He won the American Derby again in 2004 on Simple Exchange.
In 2002 he partnered Moyglare Stud’s filly Dress To Thrill to win the Group 3 Desmond Stakes, the Group 3 Matron Stakes and the Group 2 Sun Chariot Stakes, before achieving an American Grade 1 success on her in the Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park. Pat achieved further US success the following year when winning the 2003 American Derby (Grade 2) at Arlington Park on Evolving Tactics. He won the American Derby again in 2004 on Simple Exchange.
Pat’s first British Classic winner was Refuse To Bend (below) in the 2003 2,000 Guineas. He won the Irish Derby for the first time in 2004 on Grey Swallow, the Irish 1,000 Guineas twice, on Nightime in 2006 and Bethrah in 2010, and the Irish Oaks on Covert Love in 2015.
Pat’s first British Classic winner was Refuse To Bend (below) in the 2003 2,000 Guineas. He won the Irish Derby for the first time in 2004 on Grey Swallow, the Irish 1,000 Guineas twice, on Nightime in 2006 and Bethrah in 2010, and the Irish Oaks on Covert Love in 2015.
Judged purely on Racing Post ratings, Grey Swallow and Vinnie Roe were the best horses he rode, rated 126 and 125 respectively. However, he gained his most valuable success on the Aga Khan’s colt Harzand in the 2016 Derby at Epsom, following that with victory in the Irish Derby.
Judged purely on Racing Post ratings, Grey Swallow and Vinnie Roe were the best horses he rode, rated 126 and 125 respectively. However, he gained his most valuable success on the Aga Khan’s colt Harzand in the 2016 Derby at Epsom, following that with victory in the Irish Derby.
Easily his most prolific Pattern race winner was Famous Name, on whom Pat won 13 Group races between 2008 and 2012 including the 2012 Royal Whip. He also finished runner-up on him in the 2008 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Being number-one jockey for Dermot Weld’s Rosewell House yard enabled Pat to become champion jockey in Ireland nine times (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016). He achieved calendar-year centuries four times, his most successful year numerically being in 2016 with 129 winners. Among post-war champion Flat jockeys in Ireland, only Michael Kinane (13 between 1994 and 2003) has won more titles.
Easily his most prolific Pattern race winner was Famous Name, on whom Pat won 13 Group races between 2008 and 2012 including the 2012 Royal Whip. He also finished runner-up on him in the 2008 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby). Being number-one jockey for Dermot Weld’s Rosewell House yard enabled Pat to become champion jockey in Ireland nine times (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016). He achieved calendar-year centuries four times, his most successful year numerically being in 2016 with 129 winners. Among post-war champion Flat jockeys in Ireland, only Michael Kinane (13 between 1994 and 2003) has won more titles.
He rode eight Royal Ascot winners including the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2015 on Free Eagle, and also finished third on Right Of Passage in the 2009 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Back in Ireland, he won the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup three times, on Grey Swallow (2005), Casual Conquest (2009) and Fascinating Rock (2016).
He rode eight Royal Ascot winners including the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2015 on Free Eagle, and also finished third on Right Of Passage in the 2009 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. Back in Ireland, he won the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup three times, on Grey Swallow (2005), Casual Conquest (2009) and Fascinating Rock (2016).
His other Group 1 victories included the 2002 National Stakes on Refuse To Bend, the 2007 Prix de l’Abbaye on Benbaun, the 2010 Pretty Polly Stakes on Chinese White, the 2011 Matron Stakes on Emulous, and the 2015 Prix de l’Opera on Covert Love. He rode a total of 25 Group/Grade 1 winners during his career, 21 of which were on horses trained by Dermot Weld.
His other Group 1 victories included the 2002 National Stakes on Refuse To Bend, the 2007 Prix de l’Abbaye on Benbaun, the 2010 Pretty Polly Stakes on Chinese White, the 2011 Matron Stakes on Emulous, and the 2015 Prix de l’Opera on Covert Love. He rode a total of 25 Group/Grade 1 winners during his career, 21 of which were on horses trained by Dermot Weld.
He also rode three British Champions Day winners, namely Rite Of Passage (2012 British Champions Long Distance Cup), Sapphire (2012 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes), and Forgotten Rules (2014 British Champions Long Distance Cup.
He also rode three British Champions Day winners, namely Rite Of Passage (2012 British Champions Long Distance Cup), Sapphire (2012 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes), and Forgotten Rules (2014 British Champions Long Distance Cup.
He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Togoville, trained by Anthony McCann, at Dundalk on March 16, 2018. Ten days later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He underwent an intense round of successful chemotherapy before requiring major surgery to have the shrunken tumour removed. While the surgery went well, physical complications arose afterwards, necessitating a further operation. He remained in hospital for a long period, returning home just before Christmas 2018.
He rode what would prove to be his last winner on Togoville, trained by Anthony McCann, at Dundalk on March 16, 2018. Ten days later he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He underwent an intense round of successful chemotherapy before requiring major surgery to have the shrunken tumour removed. While the surgery went well, physical complications arose afterwards, necessitating a further operation. He remained in hospital for a long period, returning home just before Christmas 2018.
Although he succeeded in completing a full recovery, he had gained 14lb in weight during his prolonged absence from the saddle. His doctors advised him that getting back down to his riding weight could compromise his immune system. He therefore announced his retirement in May 2019.
Although he succeeded in completing a full recovery, he had gained 14lb in weight during his prolonged absence from the saddle. His doctors advised him that getting back down to his riding weight could compromise his immune system. He therefore announced his retirement in May 2019.
"In the months that followed," wrote the Racing Post's Alan Sweetman, "he threw himself into the organisation of the Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland, staged at the Curragh on the second day of (2019) Irish Champions Weekend. The occasion was an unimaginable success, raising in excess of €2.5 million, and he took considerable pride in announcing in July that €100,000 had been allocated to St Vincent's Hospital (in Dublin) for a next-generation sequencing machine to enhance diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer.
"In the months that followed," wrote the Racing Post's Alan Sweetman, "he threw himself into the organisation of the Pat Smullen Champions Race for Cancer Trials Ireland, staged at the Curragh on the second day of (2019) Irish Champions Weekend. The occasion was an unimaginable success, raising in excess of €2.5 million, and he took considerable pride in announcing in July that €100,000 had been allocated to St Vincent's Hospital (in Dublin) for a next-generation sequencing machine to enhance diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer.
"Sadly, soon afterwards he had to be readmitted to St Vincent's when his condition deteriorated. His legacy there, and so far beyond, is one that will endure in his absence."
"Sadly, soon afterwards he had to be readmitted to St Vincent's when his condition deteriorated. His legacy there, and so far beyond, is one that will endure in his absence."
Pat Smullen died on the evening of Tuesday, September 15, 2020, aged 43.
Pat Smullen died on the evening of Tuesday, September 15, 2020, aged 43.
He rode 1,845 winners in Ireland and 47 in Britain during his highly successful career.
He rode 1,845 winners in Ireland and 47 in Britain during his highly successful career.
Pat's debut was at Listowel September 21 1992
Pat's debut was at Listowel September 21 1992
Pat's first winner - Vicosa June 11 1993, Dundalk
Pat's first winner - Vicosa June 11 1993, Dundalk
Pat's first Group race victory - Token Gesture October 5 1996
Pat's first Group race victory - Token Gesture October 5 1996
This race was named after the late father of Dermot Weld, trainer of Token Gesture.
This race was named after the late father of Dermot Weld, trainer of Token Gesture.
Stable jockey Mick Kinane elected to ride Absolute Glee (third), leaving Pat to win on the
Stable jockey Mick Kinane elected to ride Absolute Glee (third), leaving Pat to win on the
10-1 second string by a head after making all the running.
10-1 second string by a head after making all the running.
In doing, Pat lost his apprentice's allowance.
In doing, Pat lost his apprentice's allowance.
Pat's first Group One winner - Tarascon September 7 1997, The Curragh
Pat's first Group One winner - Tarascon September 7 1997, The Curragh
Pat's first winner in England - Takwin September 9 2000, Doncaster
Pat's first winner in England - Takwin September 9 2000, Doncaster
Pat's first English Classic - Refuse to Bend, Two Thousand Guineas, May 3 2003, Newmarket
Pat's first English Classic - Refuse to Bend, Two Thousand Guineas, May 3 2003, Newmarket