Henry Richard Amherst Cecil (born January 11, 1943) is a successful English horse racing trainer who has had many winners in the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Oaks and the St. Leger Stakes.
Henry Cecil is the step-son of former champion trainer, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort for whom he worked as an assistant from 1964 to 1968. Cecil took out his licence in 1969 (first winner Celestial Cloud at Ripon - 17 May) and has since developed one of the most prolific racing stables in England. He is now something of a legend in the racing community and has been Champion Trainer 10 times. Overall he has won 34 classics at home and abroad. Among the many excellent jockeys to have ridden for Cecil, the most notable have been Steve Cauthen, Lester Piggott, Joe Mercer, Kieren Fallon and Pat Eddery. He is particularly renowned for his success with fillies, having won the Epsom Oaks eight times and the 1,000 Guineas six times. He is the Master trainer at Royal Ascot where his record of 70+ winners is second to no one.
In 1995 he was dealt a blow when his relationship with Sheikh Mohammed broke down, with the owner withdrawing his horses from Cecil's stable.
After a few years in the relative doldrums he came back with his first classic when Light Shift won the Oaks in 2007. There was not a dry eye at Epsom after she won.
Henry Cecil has the remarkable ability to be admired from all walks of life. He was bred aristocratically but is yet a real working man's hero. His popularity is second to none. The cries of "well done enry! are audible on every course after a Cecil win. He is magnanimous in defeat and victory alike.
In February 2007, Henry Cecil revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for stomach cancer for nine months.
Major wins
- 1,000 Guineas - (6) - One in a Million (1979), Fairy Footsteps (1981), Oh So Sharp (1985), Bosra Sham (1996), Sleepytime (1997), Wince (1999)
- 2,000 Guineas - (2) - Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976)
- Ascot Gold Cup - (5) - Le Moss (1979, 1980), Ardross (1981, 1982), Paean (1987)
- Champion Stakes - (3) - Indian Skimmer (1988), Bosra Sham (1996), Twice Over (2009)
- Coronation Stakes - (5) - Roussalka (1975), One in a Million (1979), Chalon (1982), Chimes of Freedom (1990), Kissing Cousin (1994)
- Derby - (4) - Slip Anchor (1985), Reference Point (1987), Commander in Chief (1993), Oath (1999)
- Dewhurst Stakes - (2) - Wollow (1975), Diesis (1982)
- Eclipse Stakes - (3) - Wolver Hollow (1969), Wollow (1976), Gunner B (1978)
- Falmouth Stakes - (2) - Chalon (1982), Chimes of Freedom (1990)
- Fillies' Mile - (6) - Formulate (1978), Oh So Sharp (1984), Diminuendo (1987), Tessla (1988), Bosra Sham (1995), Reams of Verse (1996)
- International Stakes - (2) - Wollow (1976), Royal Anthem (1999)
- King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - (3) - Reference Point (1987), Belmez (1990), King's Theatre (1994)
- Lockinge Stakes - (2) - Belmont Bay (1981), Prismatic (1985)
- Middle Park Stakes - (2) - Cajun (1981), Diesis (1982)
- Nassau Stakes - (6) - Roussalka (1975, 1976), Connaught Bridge (1979), Nom de Plume (1987), Lyphard's Delta (1993), Midday (2009)
- Oaks - (8) - Oh So Sharp (1985), Diminuendo (1988), Snow Bride (1989), Lady Carla (1996), Reams of Verse (1997), Ramruma (1999), Love Divine (2000), Light Shift (2007)
- Prince of Wales's Stakes - (5) - Lucky Wednesday (1977), Gunner B (1978), Perpendicular (1992), Placerville (1993), Bosra Sham (1997)
- Queen Anne Stakes - (4) - Belmont Bay (1981), Mr Flurocarbon (1982), Valiyar (1983), Trojan Fen (1984)
- Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - (1) - Kris (1979)
- Racing Post Trophy - (10) - Approval (1969), Take Your Place (1975), Hello Gorgeous (1979), Dunbeath (1982), Lanfranco (1984), Reference Point (1986), Be My Chief (1989), Peter Davies (1990), Armiger (1992), King's Theatre (1993)
- St. James's Palace Stakes - (4) - Bolkonski (1975), Kris (1979), Shavian (1990), Dr Fong (1998)
- St. Leger - (4) - Light Cavalry (1980), Oh So Sharp (1985), Reference Point (1987), Michelozzo (1989)
- Sun Chariot Stakes - (2) - Home on the Range (1981), Indian Skimmer (1988)
- Sussex Stakes - (5) - Bolkonski (1975), Wollow (1976), Kris (1979), Distant View (1994), Ali-Royal (1997)
- Yorkshire Oaks - (4) - Connaught Bridge (1979), Diminuendo (1988), Catchascatchcan (1998), Ramruma (1999)
- Canadian International Stakes - (1) - Royal Anthem (1998)
- Critérium de Saint-Cloud - (1) - Passage of Time (2006)
- Grand Critérium - (1) - Tenby (1992)
- Grand Prix de Paris - (1) - Beat Hollow (2000)
- Prix de Diane - (2) - Indian Skimmer (1987), Rafha (1990)
- Prix de la Forêt - (1) - Salse (1988)
- Prix d'Ispahan - (1) - Indian Skimmer (1989)
- Prix du Jockey Club - (1) - Old Vic (1989)
- Prix Maurice de Gheest - (1) - Pursuit of Love (1992)
- Prix du Moulin de Longchamp - (1) - All at Sea (1992)
- Prix Royal-Oak - (2) - Ardross (1981), El Cuite (1986)
- Prix Saint-Alary - (1) - Indian Skimmer (1987)
- Irish 1,000 Guineas - (1) - Cloonagh (1973)
- Irish Champion Stakes - (1) - Indian Skimmer (1988)
- Irish Derby - (2) - Old Vic (1989), Commander in Chief (1993)
- Irish Oaks - (3) - Diminuendo (1988, dead heat), Alydaress (1989), Ramruma (1999)
- Moyglare Stud Stakes - (1) - Chimes of Freedom (1989)
- Tattersalls Gold Cup - (1) - Shiva (1999)
- Gran Premio d'Italia - (1) - El Cuite (1986)
- Premio Roma - (2) - Irvine (1972), Orban (1987)
- Premio Vittorio di Capua - (1) - Star Cutter (1986)
- Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf - (1) - Midday (2009)
- Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes - (1) - Yashmak (1997)
References
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