| Subject: 補上Racing Post全文報導(見內文) |
Author:
Lincoln
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Date Posted: 00:02:47 01/05/06 Thu
Author Host/IP: pcd680051.netvigator.com/218.102.212.51
In reply to:
快蝦碌
's message, "[悼]麥通酋長(Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum)去世!!!" on 23:51:46 01/04/06 Wed
by PA Sport Staff
LEADING figures from the world of racing have paid tribute to Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum who has died aged 62.
Sheikh Maktoum, who was ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, passed away while visiting Australia, the president's office in Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
He has been succeeded by his younger brother Sheikh Mohammed and his funeral will take place on Thursday morning at Umm Hurair cemetery in Bur Dubai, according to www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae.
Sheikh Maktoum and Sheikh Mohammed, along with their other brother Sheikh Hamdan, revolutionised racing not only in Britain but across the globe and together formed the mighty Godolphin operation.
Sheikh Maktoum had 10 trainers throughout the world including Sir Michael Stoute, Ed Dunlop, Mark Johnston and Neil Drysdale as well as hundreds of horses in training.
He had a host of big-race winners, with his best-known horses including Fantastic Light, Cadeaux Genereux, Shadeed and Shareef Dancer.
He was also the owner of Gainsborough Stud in Newbury.
The news came as a great shock to former champion jockey Joe Mercer, his racing manager for the past 19 years.
"It's absolutely awful," he said.
"We had hundreds of great horses - Cadeaux Genereux, Royal Applause, Fantastic Light, Hatoof, Shadeed, Shareef Dancer - dozens and dozens of them.
"He really enjoyed his racing. He knew what was going on and was a very good man to work for. He was a good loser and a good winner.
"He had 10 trainers throughout the world including Sir Michael Stoute, Ed Dunlop, Barry Hills, Mark Johnston, Andre Fabre and Criquette Head in France and Neil Drysdale in America.
"He had over 200 horses in training and a lot of yearlings still to come in.
"The whole family have done a remarkable job for English racing.
"They bought stallions at the right price and invested a tremendous amount of money into the bloodstock business.
"They have been great for the industry."
Johnston expressed his regret at the news and acknowledged the contribution of Sheikh Maktoum in helping to put his Middleham yard on the racing map.
He said: "Obviously it's a great shock. It's terrible and unbelievable and I had no inkling anything was wrong with him.
"He did a huge amount for racing, not just in Dubai but worldwide.
"Along with Sheikh Mohammed, he was instrumental in changing the whole shape of my yard and helping move me to a different level."
The Scottish-born trainer singled out Land Of Dreams, Systematic and Shamardal as offering the fondest memories of his association with Sheikh Maktoum.
Land Of Dreams, a daughter of Cadeaux Genereux, won the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes in 1997, while Systematic landed the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes in September 2002.
Johnston added: "Systematic was terrific and Land Of Dreams was brilliant but there were that many good memories and horses.
"Obviously Shamardal ran in the Gainsborough Stud colours to win the Dewhurst and that was also special.
"There have beenno yearlings allocated yet this year but most years I have had about 30 of his horses with me - he was my biggest owner."
Ed Dunlop, who is based at Gainsborough Stables, paid tribute to the man who gave him the opportunity to train from one of the finest stables in the country.
"It's very sad news, primarily for Sheikh Maktoum's family and all of Dubai," said the Newmarket trainer.
"He was a wonderful man to work for and most importantly, he was the one who gave me a chance."
Dunlop's best horsewith Sheikh Maktoum was Lailani, who won the Group 1 Nassau Stakes and the Irish Oaks in 2001.
More recently, the pair teamed up to good effect with Court Masterpiece, who earned connections nearly ?00,000 in prize money.
Dunlop added: "There are somany fond memories. He was a big racehorse owner and a very successful one with lots of good horses.
"Obviously the best filly I had with him was Lailani, while Court Masterpiece was terrific last year for me.
"At this stage we don't know what will happen in the future but it's immaterial at the moment because our thoughts go to his family.
"He will be sorely missed."
Walter Swinburn carried Sheikh Maktoum's famous blue and white silks to success in several top-flight races including Hatoof in the 1,000 Guineas and Shadeed in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
He told Racing UK: "It came as a great shock learning of his death earlier this morning and the memories have kept flooding by me all day.
"I was so lucky and fortunate to ride such great horses and he was such a gentleman and a pleasure to ride for.
"Shareef Dancer is one of his horses that is often overlooked. He won the Irish Derby - beating the English and Irish Derby winners - and set the ball rolling for them in 1983.
"I started riding for them as I was retained by Sir Michael Stoute at the time and he had some of their horses. I then became his retained jockey in 1991-92.
"I enjoyed a good relationship with him and me and my family were welcomed byhim into Dubai every year, where we were looked after like you wouldn't believe.
"It was just an honour to have met the man and ridden some good horses for him over the years."
Sheikh Maktoum was elected an honorary member of the Jockey Club in 1985 and Julian Richmond-Watson, senior steward of the Jockey Club, paid his tribute.
He said: "Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum made a hugely significant contribution to the sport of horseracing and British thoroughbred racing and breeding in particular.
"He bred and owned several champions, many of which went on to enjoy great success at stud.
"Along with other members of his family, he was a great sportsman who cared deeply about his horses.
"The majority of his racing interests were based in this country and I believe he shared with the British racing public a love of horses, of racing and of the history and heritage the sport has in this country."
BHB chairman Martin Broughton added: "British Racing has lost a tremendous patron and pioneering figure inSheikh Maktoum al Maktoum.
"His sad death will be felt throughout the sport, but his legacy is sure to live on."
The Emirates Racing Authority announced their offices would be closed for seven days with racing at Nad Al Sheba on January 5 and 12 cancelled, along with the card at Jebel Ali on January 6.
However, the Dubai Racing Carnival which is due to start on January 19 is expected to take place as scheduled.
Following the announcement of his death, Dubai declared 40 days of official mourning.
The stock exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ceased trading and many shops and businesses closed.
"The United Arab Emirates today lost a historical leader who devoted his life to establishing the United Arab Emirates and enhancing its structure and the welfare of its people," the government said in a statement.
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