Ascot Race Named For Eddery

The opening race of Ascot's King George Day July 23 will be the Listed Wooldridge Group Pat Eddery S. after the racecourse renamed the Winkfield S. permanently in the late jockey's honour. Eddery, who won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. in 1975 and 1986 and earned six leading rider titles at Royal Ascot, died in November.

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Communications at Ascot, said, “Pat was a legend at Ascot, all over Britain, Ireland and the world. We, race sponsors Wooldridge Group, and QIPCO, sponsors of the King George, are deeply honoured that the family have chosen Ascot and King George Day as the place where the racing community and public can remember everything he achieved. We are discussing with [Eddery's daughters] Natasha and Nicola a permanent memorial to Pat's achievements, including his six Royal Ascot top jockey titles, and will be looking at all sorts of ways to commemorate Pat's career on site on King George Day.”