12 Facts About Pat Smullen

Pat Smullen was stable jockey to Dermot Weld from 1999 until 2018.

Pat Smullen was then apprenticed to local trainer Tommy Lacy, who provided him with his first winner, Vicosa, at Dundalk in 1993.

Pat Smullen won the Irish apprentice championship in 1995 and 1996.

Pat Smullen spent two years as a stable jockey to John Oxx, winning his first Group 1 race, the Moyglare Stud Stakes, on Tarascon for trainer Tommy Stack at the Curragh in 1997.

Pat Smullen was Irish champion jockey in 2000,2001,2005,2007,2008,2010,2014,2015 and 2016, a total of nine times.

In May 2018 Pat Smullen announced his retirement from race riding on medical advice, having undergone chemotherapy and surgery for pancreatic cancer the previous year.

Pat Smullen had ridden 1,845 winners in Ireland and 47 in Britain.

Pat Smullen married Frances Crowley, trainer and amateur jockey, in 2001.

In September 2019 Pat Smullen organised a legends race at the Curragh to raise funds for pancreatic cancer trials and research.

Pat Smullen died aged 43 in Dublin on 15 September 2020 from a case of pancreatic cancer.

Pat Smullen was diagnosed with the cancer in March of 2018.

Pat Smullen ended up raising considerable funds for charity upon learning of his diagnosis where over 1 million Euros were raised towards Cancer research in Ireland.