Very sad to hear of the death of Pat Eddery at the early age of 63. Certainly one of the greatest Jockeys ever to sit astride a horse with the most beautiful hands. 11 Championships and only beaten by Sir Gordon Richards for the most UK winners. A great tribute by Brough Scott in Racing Post for those interested. Who doesn't remember the Grundy/Bustino dual in the King George at Ascot 1975- the race of the century.
RIP.
Pat Eddery
He just seemed to young, its seems only like yesterday he was putting all those winners past the postBlack Ice wrote:Very sad to hear of the death of Pat Eddery at the early age of 63. Certainly one of the greatest Jockeys ever to sit astride a horse with the most beautiful hands. 11 Championships and only beaten by Sir Gordon Richards for the most UK winners. A great tribute by Brough Scott in Racing Post for those interested. Who doesn't remember the Grundy/Bustino dual in the King George at Ascot 1975- the race of the century.
RIP.
I see his death is now being described as alcohol related, that's a great shame
I always got the impression that Eddery lived and breathed Horse Racing. Perhaps when it all came to an end, his life just seemed empty. I've heard many footballers say the same thing - the day they stopped playing, a dark cloud hung over their head for a very long time. I can imagine that for a professional sportsperson, adjusting to life without that makes life seem almost meaningless - Gary Speed being a tragic example
I always got the impression that Eddery lived and breathed Horse Racing. Perhaps when it all came to an end, his life just seemed empty. I've heard many footballers say the same thing - the day they stopped playing, a dark cloud hung over their head for a very long time. I can imagine that for a professional sportsperson, adjusting to life without that makes life seem almost meaningless - Gary Speed being a tragic example
A lot of jockeys from that era would have drank and smoked heavily just to keep the weight off.
I read Richard Hughes auto biography and it was really eye opening the amount he was drinking just to keep his weight down. He was drinking a bottle of champagne a night.
I think they all have proper sports nutritionists and healthy diets now, though still must be really tough being a jockey.
I read Richard Hughes auto biography and it was really eye opening the amount he was drinking just to keep his weight down. He was drinking a bottle of champagne a night.
I think they all have proper sports nutritionists and healthy diets now, though still must be really tough being a jockey.
-
andyfuller
- Posts: 4619
- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 12:23 pm
Thanks for posting that andyfuller. Well drink doesn't take weight off- it puts it on massively. So they had to spend the next morning in the sauna sweating it off. Others have cracked it: Hughsie, Johnny Murtagh, (he went down as far as anyone could go); but look what a great 2nd career he had riding.Greville Starkey to an extent.
I admire those greatly who manage it- as never to have another drink must be very tough!! Sadly Pat..just like George Best couldn't manage it and the demon drink got them both. Missed a great tribue on CH4 today..must catch it on iplayer.
I admire those greatly who manage it- as never to have another drink must be very tough!! Sadly Pat..just like George Best couldn't manage it and the demon drink got them both. Missed a great tribue on CH4 today..must catch it on iplayer.
Watched the 'Being AP' video last night and can thoroughly recommend it. Although he's teetotal and always has been, plus he will have a brilliant 2nd career as TV commentator and bags of commercial opportunities and two young kids, AP certainly won't be short of a full life. However I caught an interview with him only last week, ie 8 months after his retirement in which he said: "James Hunt said once: 'the closer i am to death- the more alive i feel'- I kinda know what he meant," I guess some can cope with life after the pinnacles of sport- and some just can't.