Irish Champion Jockey Smullen Succumbs to Cancer at 43

The international racing community was rocked during the evening of Sept. 15 after it emerged that Pat Smullen had died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin from pancreatic cancer. He was 43 years of age. 

A nine-time Irish champion jockey and 12-time European classic winner, Smullen had been diagnosed with the illness on March 26, 2018.

His initial treatment led to him being given a clean bill of health last year, and he proved an inspiration for many in the way that he put his efforts into fundraising initiatives for Cancer Trials Ireland, including an Irish Champions Weekend legends race that ultimately raised over €2.5 million for the cause.

The news of his death, almost a year to the day after that most memorable of occasions, is unfortunately poignant. 

Smullen suffered a relapse in recent months and his condition is believed to have deteriorated last week. His family confirmed that he died on Tuesday evening.

A dual champion apprentice in 1995 and 1996, Smullen's glittering career reached a glorious climax when he soared to victory aboard Harzand in the Investec Derby (G1) in 2016. That memorable triumph on the Aga Khan's homebred was achieved in partnership with his great ally Dermot Weld, for whom he succeeded Mick Kinane as stable jockey in 1999.

Recognized as one of the most dependable and steady big-race riders of his era, Smullen made the breakthrough at group 1 level aboard the Tommy Stack-trained Tarascon in the 1997 Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1).

During his spectacular tenure at the helm for the Rosewell House trainer, he farmed nine championships—only Kinane has won more Irish titles. 

Harzand's brilliant Epsom-Curragh Derby was the undoubted highlight, but he also won a Budweiser Irish Derby (G1) on Grey Swallow, two Irish One Thousand Guineas (G1) on Nightime and Bethrah, and four consecutive Irish St. Legers on Vinnie Roe.

His other major wins for Weld in Britain included the Sagitta Two Thousand Guineas (G1) on Refuse To Bend, the Ascot Gold Cup (G1) on Rite of Passage, the QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1) on Fascinating Rock, the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) on Free Eagle, and the Peugeot Sun Chariot Stakes (G2) on Dress To Thrill, on whom he also won the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) in the United States.

Smullen rode his first winner on Vicosa for Tom Lacy at Dundalk on June 11, 1993, and also rode what proved to be his final winner at the modern incarnation of the track on Togoville for Anthony McCann on March 16, 2018.

In all, he rode 1,892 winners in Ireland and Britain, and 25 at the highest level around the world. He leaves behind his wife Frances, the classic-winning trainer who is a sister of Aidan O'Brien's wife Annemarie, and their three children Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah.

"Pat Smullen was one of Irish racing's brightest stars, a nine-time champion, but his achievements in the saddle pale in comparison to his qualities out of it," said Horse Racing Ireland chief executive Brian Kavanagh on Tuesday night.

"An inspiration to us all, his legacy is large. All our thoughts this evening are with Frances, Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah."