Grand National-winning jockey and racing pioneer Pat Buckley dies at age of 77

Pat Buckley, who rode Ayala to win the 1963 Grand National among a host of big-race victories before becoming a pioneering racing figure in the Middle East, has died. He was 77.

Buckley was remembered fondly by friends and family on Thursday following his death, with tributes pouring in for a man admired for his horsemanship, generosity and dedication to racing.

Buckley had served as apprentice to trainer Captain Neville Crump after leaving Ireland in 1957, with his finest moment in the saddle coming when he steered 66-1 shot Ayala to success at Aintree for Keith Piggott, father of Lester, as a 19-year-old.

Buckley also won the Whitbread Gold Cup in 1963 and 1964 on Hoodwinked and Dormant and the 1968 Scottish Grand National on Arcturus.

Seamus Buckley, a former jockey and clerk of the course at Goodwood, remembered his older brother as a fearless rider with a huge passion for the sport.

He said: “Pat was a great brother and he helped me so much to get on my way in the sport. In some ways it was quite daunting given how successful he was and he was such a brave jockey too. He would ride anything and was one of the proper old school jockeys.

“He was very close to his family and loved nothing more than being with them. He was liked by everyone too, I can’t think of ever hearing a bad word being said about him by anyone.

“I think what I remember most about him is that he was always there for all of us. He was a good guy, he was fair to everyone, he was a wonderful horseman and he adored racing so much.”

After retiring from riding, Buckley travelled to Oman in 1978 where he spent ten years helping the local Jockey Club establish a racecourse and equestrian facility. He was then asked to help in the creation of a racing industry in Abu Dhabi, moving to the country in 1990.

Buckley oversaw the first meeting at Abu Dhabi in 1991 and remained a prominent figure in the UAE for the next three decades and played a key part in the first running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996.

Jockeys wore black armbands at Meydan on Thursday in memory of Buckley, and two-time UAE champion rider Richard Mullen described his death as “a great loss”.

He said: “The whole of the UAE has lost a dear friend in Pat Buckley. I've been here for 22 years, and counting, and Pat's been a big part in racing here and part of my life. He's been a great friend to me and the UAE will be a quieter place without him.

“We can only send our condolences to his family here and in the UK. He was an integral part of the inaugural running of the [Dubai] World Cup and he mentored us when we came over here. It's a great loss and the world's a smaller place without him.”

Godolphin jockey William Buick added: “I'm very sorry to hear of Pat Buckley's passing and my condolences to his family and close friends. It's incredibly sad.

“I knew him quite well from my days going to Abu Dhabi and he was always very friendly. He was the ultimate professional. It's a sad day for racing, not only in the UAE but across the world.”

Buckley is survived by his wife Sarah and children Helen and Kevin, who wrote on Twitter: “Rest in peace Dad. We’ll miss you so much. 'Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened'."