Former champion jockey and trainer Josh Gifford has passed
away, aged 70, after suffering a heart attack.
Gifford will be best remembered for Aldaniti's emotional Grand
National victory at Aintree in 1981 after his jockey Bob Champion
recovered from cancer and the horse recovered from serious injury
– a story immortalised in the film Champions.
Gifford's son, Nick, who took over his father’s
training licence in 2003
confirmed the news this morning saying, "I'm afraid he passed away
in the early hours.
"He'd been back home for about three weeks (after suffering
from septicaemia) but he took a turn for the worse yesterday
evening.
"By the early hours he was in a really bad way and in the end
it was a heart attack."
Gifford was an accomplished jockey being champion NH rider on
no less than four occasions.
He had four Cheltenham Festival successes and finished second
in the 1967 Grand National on Honey End behind the 100/1 winner
Foinavon.
As well as winning the National with Aldaniti, Gifford trained
top-quality horses such as Door Latch, Deep Sensation, Bradbury
Star and Katabatic.
He trained over 1,500 winners in his career.
Current champion jockey Tony McCoy tweeted, "Very sad to hear
that Josh Gifford trainer & former champion jockey passed away
this morning a great man my thoughts are with his family RIP."
Jockey Barry Geraghty tweeted: "Very sad to hear that Josh
Gifford passed away overnight a great Trainer and former Jockey,
thoughts are with his Family RIP."
Former jockey turned trainer Richard Rowe paid an emotional
tribute speaking to the
Racing Post, "He was a hero as far as I'm concerned and we had
many great times together. I left school at 16, spent my whole
riding career with him and and he has been a friend ever since.
"He has been like a father to me, I actually popped in to see
him last week and he was in great form. True to form I left three
and a half hours later after just popping in to say Hi.
"He was a true gent, I've never met anyone who would say
otherwise, you couldn't wish to meet a better man. My thoughts are
with his wonderful family in such tough times."
