Racing legend Cecil dies

Legendary horse trainer Henry Cecil died on Tuesday aged 70 after a long battle with cancer. Cecil, who was British champion trainer 10 times and trained the winner of the Epsom Derby four times, had a memorable time on the track over the last three seasons with the unbeaten Frankel. The colt, owned by Saudi prince Khalid Abdullah, won all 14 races - 10 of them Group One races - and just under £3 million ($4.7 million, 3.5 million euros) in prize money from 2010-12, earning himself the official mantle of the greatest racehorse ever. However, Cecil, who said that Frankel's success was what kept him battling, grew more and more frail throughout last year and this season had not been seen on the racecourse for some time. "It is with great sadness that Warren Place Stables confirms the passing of Sir Henry Cecil earlier this morning," read a statement from his stables. Cecil, whose twin brother David also died of cancer, was a much loved character, whose courageous battle with the illness had endeared him further with the public. Indeed when Frankel ran his final race at Ascot last October, the suitably named Champion Stakes, the 32,000 capacity crowd gave him three cheers both before and after the race, moving him to tears. It also completed a remarkable comeback by him after several years during which he had been a shadow of the all-conquering trainer as two broken marriages took their toll and the winners total dwindled. Indeed many thought he might retire altogether and enjoy one of his hobbies, tending his roses at the gardens in Warren Hill. However, having given up alcohol, the winners started flowing again and it was appropriate the ever loyal Abdullah, who had stood by him while other owners, including Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin al-Maktoum, took their patronage away, should be the one to enjoy the greatest moments at the end of his career with Frankel. The tributes flowed for Cecil who, while not the most outgoing of men, had a loyal group of friends. His great training rival Michael Stoute, also champion Flat trainer on 10 occasions, paid Cecil the ultimate tribute by describing him as the best trainer the UK has ever had. "I do not believe this country has ever produced a better trainer than Henry," said Stoute, who like Cecil was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II but, while his was for services to the Barbados tourist industry, Cecil's was for services to racing. "I know there has never been one so loved. "And then there was his toughness and courage which had to be seen to be believed as he continued to supervise the training of his horses. Some man." Six-times champion Kieren Fallon, who was Cecil's retained jockey until they fell out, described him as a "legend". "He was a legend. My first year with him, I was champion jockey. We had a great rapport and he will be sadly missed," he told Sky Sports News. "We won the Derby with Oath, the Guineas with Sleepytime, we had a lot of great success. "I think Frankel will be on everybody's mind, the way he trained that horse, one of the greatest horses we've ever seen - we'll not see another one like him I don't think. To the end, I think he was the one that (helped) him last so long I think. "It's a very sad day, he will be fondly missed." Arguably, one of Cecil's key victories was that of Light Shift in the 2007 Oaks, his first Classic since 1999. The filly was owned by the Niarchos family, who enjoyed a long relationship with Cecil. Their racing manager Alan Cooper said: "The news has come as a shock. He's been so brave throughout his illness. Our thoughts are with his family. "I've enjoyed a 30-year working relationship with him and it has been absolutely fantastic. He's been a good friend and a very good teacher. "He has been so brave throughout all this and never complained once. "It is very tough to take the news, his record speaks for itself." Source: AFP