QIPCO British Champions Series has named two of Europe's racing stars, Yorkshire-born trainer Jack Berry and the outstanding 14-time Group 1 winner Goldikova (Ire) (Anabaa), to be inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. Both inductees, together with the Hall of Fame's public vote winner Dubai Millennium (GB), will be recognised with a special presentation on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, October 19.
Jack Berry MBE is just the third person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category, following in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Khalid Abdullah.
Berry has been a pioneer for the Injured Jockeys' Fund (IJF) since it was founded 60 years ago and it was his vision that led to Oaksey House, in Lambourn, Berkshire, and Jack Berry House, in Malton, Yorkshire, being established in 2009 and 2015, respectively. He remains the IJF's vice-president and has raised incalculable amounts of money with his initiatives. In 1996, he was awarded an MBE for charitable services and for services to horseracing.
Berry said, “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is a huge honour. I always knew I wanted to be a jockey from when I was five years old and now, at almost 87, to be added to such a list of horses and humans who have had such an impact on the sport is truly humbling.
“I'm certainly in good company; to even be mentioned in the same breath as Prince Khalid Abdullah, Sir Henry Cecil, The Queen and my old pal Lester Piggott is some achievement and I couldn't be prouder. I am very much looking forward to being at Ascot for QIPCO British Champions Day next month.”
Trained throughout her career by Freddy Head, Goldikova will always be remembered for winning three consecutive renewals of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile between 2008 and 2010, becoming the only horse in history to win the same race three times at America's biggest meeting.
In Europe, Goldikova won a further 11 Group 1 races, including four straight editions of the Prix Rothschild at Deauville. Her overall tally of 14 wins at the top level remains a European record and is testament to the tremendous constitution she demonstrated in a career spanning 17 wins from 27 starts. She finished out of the first three places just once.
Goldikova was owned and bred by the Wertheimer brothers, Alain and Gérard, who said, “We are very touched and honored by the upcoming induction of our champion Goldikova into the Hall of Fame and this mark of distinction reflects the value of her career.
“The winner of 17 races, including 14 Group 1s, she is the only one who has managed to win the Breeders' Cup three times in a row. She also won two main English races on the mile in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket and, of course, a legendary Jacques Le Marois at Deauville in the summer of 2009.
“Having her statue at our farm in France, a permanent photo at the main entrance of Deauville's racetrack, an induction to the American Hall of Fame a few years ago and now the valuable one at the English Hall of Fame represents a lot to us, our team and all of those involved in what she achieved.”
Rod Street, CEO of British Champions Series, added, “Along with Aidan O'Brien, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the QIPCO Guineas Festival earlier this year, the three further inductees into the Hall of Fame this year represent some of the finest qualities to be found in horses and people.
“Dubai Millennium, winner of the public vote for the Turn of the Century horse, was superb on the track and, despite a stud career that was tragically short, has stamped his mark on the breed as sire of Dubawi.
“The brilliant mare Goldikova showed such durability in winning 14 Group 1s–among them three consecutive victories in the Breeders' Cup Mile, as well as her wins in the UK at Ascot and Newmarket.
“And Jack Berry's contribution to our sport, as a trainer but even more significantly as one of the instigators of the Injured Jockeys' Fund, for which his fundraising efforts have been nothing short of staggering, must be one of the greatest of the past century. I am very much looking forward to their inaugurations on QIPCO British Champions Day.”
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