Hannon to turn yard over to son on January 1

Veteran trainer Richard Hannon, who secured a fifth British trainer's title

earlier this month, is to hand over the reins to son Richard Jr. on January 1,

it was announced Thursday. Hannon Sr., whose four domestic classic successes

include this year's One Thousand Guineas with Sky Lantern, had hinted such a

change was imminent throughout the year, and had recently notified the stable's

owners of his intentions.

"The worst-kept secret is racing is finally out," he confirmed on his

website. "I am standing down from New Year's Day. It was always going to happen,

but Richard Jr. has served his apprenticeship, and you cannot keep him waiting

forever. Ian Balding passed the baton to Andrew and Barry Hills did likewise to

Charlie, and it is only right that Richard should now take over.

"We thought long and hard as to when to make the announcement, but I wanted

to make sure all my owners knew first, especially The Queen, and now that all

the yearlings are in for next season it is the appropriate moment to let

everyone know. After all, it is Richard's 38th birthday today. What better

present could he ask for?

"Inevitably, people will say that I have retired, but I will still be up and

out at first lot and assisting Richard instead of him assisting me. It is not my

style to lay in bed all morning. I love being with the horses, but these past

couple of seasons I have started to wind-down and go racing less. I will still

go to Newbury and Salisbury and also Royal Ascot and Goodwood, but I am now 68

and maybe it is time that I dropped down a gear."

Hannon, who spent a brief spell as the drummer for The Troggs, had his

trainer's license granted in 1970 following the retirement of his father Harry,

and has remained at the forefront of his country's training ranks since his

breakthrough win in the Two Thousand Guineas three years later with Mon Fils.

Following up that success in the Newmarket classic with Don't Forget Me in

1987 and Tirol in 1990, the master of Herridge and Everleigh stables also sent

out more than 3,600 winners, which include 33 at Royal Ascot, and has remarkably

recorded a century of winners in 20 of the last 21 seasons.

Previously renowned as a specialist with juveniles thanks mainly to the

exploits of the likes of the fillies Lyric Fantasy and Lemon Souffle, he has

recently undergone a belated transition to handler of top-class horses in all

categories. After the multiple Group 1-winning milers Paco Boy, Canford Cliffs

and Dick Turpin have followed Toronado and Olympic Glory.

"The quality of horses has definitely improved these last two or three years,

and that is down to Richard Jr.," he continued. "It was him who brought in

Sheikh Hamdan (al Maktoum) and Sheikh Joaan (al Thani) amongst others, and we

can now go to the bloodstock sales with fatter check books than we have done in

the past.

"I have been lucky enough to have trained some great horses. The first

classic winner is always special, and I will never forget Mon Fils landing that

Guineas, while Tirol and Don't Forget Me also have prominent places in the

scrapbook, but there have been plenty of others, notably Canford Cliffs, Paco

Boy, Toronado, Sky Lantern and Olympic Glory.

"However, we have one more roll of the dice this year, Sky Lantern in the

Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on December 8. We have enjoyed another fabulous

season, with seven Group 1 winners and £5.5

million in prize money, but it would be nice to finish with one more biggie, and

maybe Sky Lantern can make the dream become reality. She is very well and she

will love the fast ground out there."

Many of the existing owners are expected to maintain their patronage of the

stable, with The Queen's Racing Manager John Warren one of the first to give his

support to the changeover.

Hannon's friend and fellow conditioner Mick Channon paid tribute Thursday.

"He's a genius, there is no other word for him," he told PA Sport. "Richard

Jr. is a lucky lad, because he has learned from a master. I've always said that

all the other trainers are his apprentices. As well as being a great trainer,

though, he's been a great mate to me down the years. We've been friends for a

long time. I'm pleased he's gone out right at the very top. He's a great

trainer, but most of all a great man.

"It's pretty emotional for me, because for most of my life Richard Hannon has

been a trainer, and now he won't be. Obviously I knew it was coming, but it's

still sad -- it's the end of an era. I'm thrilled for Richard Jr., though, he

couldn't be taking over at a better time. It's amazing what has been built up

there.

"I remember Richard as assistant to his dad, Harry, in the days we used to

use pitch forks as starting gates. The right people send him horses now --

that's why he's had so much success recently -- but he was training Guineas

winners back in the 70s. He's got a great clientele, he always has had, and he

deserves everything he's got."

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