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Thursday, 23 May, 2002, 15:34 GMT 16:34 UK
Tributes to Dick Hern
Four-times champion racehorse trainer Dick Hern has died aged 81.
Send your tributes to a racing legend.
Hern is best known for handling Brigadier Gerard, the legendary colt that won 17 out of his 18 races. In a 40-year training career, Hern was champion trainer four times, won 17 Classics and was honoured by the Queen with a CVO. One of his greatest achievements was saddling Nashwan to win the 2000 Guineas and Derby in 1989 while confined to a wheelchair, a year after breaking his neck. Salute one of the most successful flat trainers of all time.
When I think of great horse trainers throughout the world, Major Dick Hern is at the top of the list.The Three Greats in one team, Hern-Nashwan-Carson, will always live in my memory. Thank you Dick... As a graduate student at Oxford University, I had the opportunity to visit Major Hern's stables with a group of racing enthusiasts. I still treasure the memory of his friendly demeanour and the unlimited time he spent showing us the horses.
He had a Derby winner there - Henbit I think it was. Better yet was sitting afterwards, chatting about racing in his living room over a gin and tonic.
The horse of his that I'll never forget was Dayjur: The way it romped to victory in the Abbey by 10 lengths before that moment of terrible luck in the Breeders Cup when he jumped a shadow.
The Major treated this terrible piece of ill fortune with uncomplaining dignity. The same dignity he showed when dealing with his confinment to a wheelchair or when talking about another one of his classic winners.
I was secretary (non-racing) to the Major for 10 years (1987-97) and can agree whole-heartedly with Mr Dunlop's comments. He was the most wonderful man. I have so many fond memories of him and feel great sadness at his death.
A great trainer, may his soul rest in peace.
He has given the punters countless years of enjoyable horse racing by producing fantastic horses for us to watch.
Whilst resident in the UK, I fondly remember the day Brigadier came out of the "dip" at Newmarket to beat My Swallow and the great Mill Reef, with Joe Mercer aboard. The "Major" was a legend. We should also remember Highclere - a quality filly trained by the maestro.
I'm 16-years-old and I've been into flat racing for two years now and Hern has inspired me for those two years.
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See also:
22 May 02 | Horse Racing
22 May 02 | Horse Racing
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