Cheltenham Racecourse today announces the first new names to be added to the Cheltenham Hall of Fame since its inception in 1998. Trainers David Nicholson and Martin Pipe, plus totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Desert Orchid and Best Mate are the new inductees.
Commenting on the list, Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham, said: “We felt that the time was right to add some new names to the list and the four new members of the Hall of Fame all richly deserve their place among the greats.
“Martin Pipe not only redefined the training of Jump horses, he also won more races at Cheltenham than any other trainer in history and David Nicholson was a giant of Jump racing - as a jockey, a trainer and also as a mentor to many of the biggest names in the sport today.
“Desert Orchid’s improbable victory in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup of 1989 would make any shortlist of the greatest Jump races ever, and Best Mate’s brilliant record at Cheltenham and the extraordinary public reaction to his passing, makes his inclusion a formality.”
There will be a ceremony in the Winner’s Enclosure before racing on Tuesday, March 13, the first day of The Festival 2007, to honour the new inductees.
The 12 existing Hall of Fame members are:
Golden Miller
Sir Ken
Fulke Walwyn
Fred Winter
Sir Peter O’Sullevan
Michael Dickinson
Arkle
Dawn Run & Jonjo O’Neill
The Rimells
The Queen Mother
Dick Francis
Vincent O’Brien
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