Patrick James “Pat” Eddery(1952-2015) was an internationally popular Irish jockey and notable trainer. The eminent rider was made famous by, among other victories, riding three winners in the Epsom Derby. Eddery was also a champion jockey on eleven distinct occasions. With a total of 4,632 victories for British flat races, this iconic racing luminary’s record was only surpassed by Sir Gordon Richards, an equally renowned jockey who thrilled crowds throughout Europe.

Born in the southern suburbs of Ireland, as a young man Eddery spent most of his time around the Curragh racecourse. The fifth child of Jimmy Eddery, the father was also a popular Irish jockey in his prime. Eddery’s mother was the daughter of Jack Moylan, a retired horse man. As such, Pat Eddery’s career choice was largely informed by the horse racing passions of his parents and grandparents. Interestingly too, his wife’s brother (Paul) was also involved in racing, though he didn’t make a serious name for himself in the sport.

Establishing his riding career as an apprentice of the stable of Seamus McGrath, the sterling racer finally moved on to England where he became a protege to Frenchie Nicholson. Shortly after, the then young jockey won a major breakthrough on Alvaro at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1969. Throughout his successful career, the Irish-born jockey clinched 11 championship titles within a period of less than four years. His last internationally recognised win came in 1996 as he attempted to reclaim his past riding glory.

Eddery also has a colorful training career record to his name. In 2005, and at the behest of his wife, the retired racing veteran launched a stable comprising 40 horses. At the Musk Hill Stud in Nether Winchendon, the former celebrated jockey received a license to train both horses and aspiring jockeys. Eddery’s newly founded racehorse syndicate gave interested sports investors the chance to own shares in these racehorses.

Paul Mulrennan’s career story is as gripping as they come. He had never thought about horse racing before the age of 16. He did so happen to have an uncle that trained horses in Galway but never really thought it was the sport for him, his only fascination at that time being Gaelic football. Forever, that year, at age 16, he was advised to try his hand at being a jockey, seeing as he was too short for Gaelic football. Since that moment, the Ealing-born Irishman has never wavered on his way to the top.

Starting out

After deciding he wanted to be a jockey, Mulrennan chose to enroll at the British Racing School at Newmarket. Up until that time, he had never so much as sat on a horse, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a master of the game and earning the respect of his peers. When he finished his apprenticeship, the jockey decided to head up north and join the racing circuit there.

Victories and prize money

Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes was one of Mulrennan’s first big race wins, and he did it with Melody of Love in 2012. Surely a horse with a name like that would have a rider dancing to the rhyme of its saddle! Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) was another notable achievement, this time astride Mecca’s Angel in 2015. At the end of 2016, he again roared at William Hill Firth of Clyde Stakes with Delectation. The now 35-year-old managed to forge a strong sense of camaraderie with one of his best winners, Dandino. His maor prizes have ranged between £22,684 and £236,622.

Born on May 1st, 1960, Steve Cauthen is a retired North American jockey with a string of horse racing wins to his name. He grew up in Walton in Kentucky and gradually developed a strong interest in his father’s horse riding lifestyle.

Cauthen embarked on his first-ever race at Churchill Downs on May 12, 1976. Riding King Swat on this maiden effort, he unfortunately registered a dismal showing and finished last. Nonetheless, the he didn’t let this demoralissing development impact his love of horse racing. Less than a week later, he successfully steered his first winner (named Red Pipe) to an exemplary win at River Downs.

After this widely lauded first victory, Cauthen’s meteoric rise continued. By late 1977, he had amassed a whopping 487 racecourse victories. Within the very first two years of the career, Steve Cauthen emerged as the only jockey to win $6 million in the whole of United States’ racing history. He clinched this coveted position in 1977 when he rode the three-year-old filly named Little Happiness to a decisive victory.

As a result of this unbeaten reputation, the widely esteemed jockey received a few pseudonyms from the media and his legions of fans. These titles included “Stevie Wonder” and the “The Six Million Dollar Man” – both adoring references that depicted his growing reputation around the world.

In 1978, Steve Cauthen went on to win the U.S. Triple Crown – the youngest jockey to achieve this. Owing to this newly attained triumph, he was named as the Sport’s Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. For the next 37 years, Steve Cauthen remained the last jockey to clinch all legs of the Triple Crown. This was until Victor Espinoza achieved the same position on American Pharaoh in 2015.

An Italian-born jockey, Andrea Atzeni comes from the Mediterranean archipelago of Sardinia. Despite not coming from a racing background, this enigmatic winner has impressed time and time again. Horse riding historians and pundits have often attributed his  racing prowess to his undying interest in horses since a young age. The young Atzeni competed in low-key amateur showdowns around his Sardinia neighborhood.

Despite his fruitless quest for proper professional training in the neighboring vicinity, the aspiring jockey refused to give up and relocated to Milan. Starting a serious pupilage phase at the age of 15, the would-be racetrack champion steadily built an unparalleled career profile that extends beyond the present day. Restless with curiosity and penchant for riding titles, he moved residence two years later. At the ripe age of 17, Atzeni found himself in England’s extremely competitive sporting environment.

Pitching tent in Newmarket, Andrea Atzeni finally landed a career-shaping apprenticeship at the Prestige Palace stables that were owned by a renowned Alduino’s son – Marco. Both Marco and Atzeni spent quality periods together and at the same time, the fruitful engagement helped popularise the facility beyond its earlier confines, with many more upcoming trainees applying for tutelage vacancies.

In 2014 alone, Andrea Atzeni concluded the season with a whopping 125 wins. His numerous other triumphs include the Grosser Preis von Bayern – (1) – Seismos (2013), the British Champions Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes – (1) – Simple Verse (2015), the Coronation Cup – (1) – Postponed (2016), the Dewhurst Stakes (2014), the International Stakes, and the George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.