Racing legend Josh
Gifford dies aged 70

JOSH GIFFORD, the legendary former jockey and trainer, died of a heart attack on Thursday morning in hospital after being taken in overnight. He was 70.

Gifford will be remembered above all for the fairytale victory of Aldaniti under Bob Champion in the 1981 Grand National.

Gifford's son Nick, who took over from his father as trainer in 2003, and his family were overwhelmed by the messages of support and goodwill.

"Mum, my sister, and the whole team here at Findon have received so many text messages, phone calls, and emails,"he said on Thursday.

"I'm so incredibly proud of what dad achieved throughout his professional career. My name may have been on the licence in recent years but dad was always here to help and give advice. He will be sorely missed by everybody who knew him."

A four-time champion jockey, Josh Gifford took over the famous Downs Stables in Findon in 1970 and sent out a succession of big-race winners, including top-class hurdler Kybo, Champion Chase winner Deep Sensation, and dual Mackeson Gold Cup victor Bradbury Star, as well as Approaching, Shady Deal and Door Latch.

The son of a farmer and point-to-point enthusiast, Gifford rode in the hunting field and in gymkhanas from a young age and had his first race ride at the age of 11.

He was 14 when riding his first winner, Dorsol at Birmingham in July 1956, and by the end of the year he had won for the Queen at York and triumphed in the Manchester November Handicap.

Gifford won the Irish Lincolnshire and Chester Cup in 1957, and looked a boy wonder in the same mould as LesterPiggott, but increasing weight soon ended his Flat career.

Forced to go over jumps he was soon riding for champion trainer Ryan Price, as second jockey behind Fred Winter. Gifford was still Price's second jockey when he became champion in 1962-63 with 70 wins.

He was champion again the following season with 94 wins but it was 1966-67 which provided him with his greatest season in the saddle. Champion for the third time with a then record score of 122, big wins included the Schweppes [now Betfair Hurdle] for the fourth time in its five years, as well as the Champion Novices' [now RSA] Chase.

He was champion jockey for the fourth and final time in 1967-68 with 82 wins, including the Mackeson Gold Cup on Charlie Worcester.

When Price decided to switch to the Flat, Gifford quit riding at the age of 28 to take over a top string of jumpers.

Early big-race success came with Kybo but it was Aldaniti's triumph in the 1981 Grand National for which Gifford is best remembered.

Aldaniti had been off the course for 14 months when reunited with Bob Champion, who had recovered from cancer, in the Whitbread Trial Chase at Ascot in February 1981, and they emerged triumphant. That was the prelude to the most inspiring victory in Grand National history, beating Spartan Missile by four lengths.

Gifford's biggest winner the following season was Shady Deal in the Whitbread Gold Cup, ridden by Rowe, who succeeded Champion as stable jockey.

In 1986-87 Door Latch won the SGB Handicap Chase at Ascot for the second consecutive time, was runner-up to Desert Orchid in the King George VI Chase, and came third to The Thinker in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

During Gifford's first 17 years as a trainer he failed to win a single race at the Cheltenham Festival, but his long wait ended in 1988 with three winners at the meeting - Golden Minstrel, Vodkatini and Pragada.

Their victories helped to lift him into second place behind David
Elsworth in the prize-money table, which was the closest he ever came to being champion trainer. It was also his best season numerically, with 91 wins.

Deep Sensation won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1993 and followed up in the Melling Chase at Aintree. He put up the best performances of his career when third and second to Viking Flagship in the next two Champion Chases, and also when beaten a short head by that rival in an epic race for the Melling Chase in 1995.

The best chaser Gifford ever trained was Bradbury Star, who won eight races at Cheltenham including the Mackeson Gold Cup twice.

In Gifford's last few seasons there was a decline in his fortunes and he retired at the age of 61 in April 2003, handing over The Downs to his son, Nick.

He went out in a blaze of glory, as his last runner, Skycab, scored at Sandown and returned to an emotional reception that testified to the trainer's immense popularity.

Funeral details will be announced in the next few days.