Leading figures in the racing world paid tribute today to Dick Hern, one of the most famous racehorse trainers, who died yeaterday. He was 81.
He trained many of the great horses of the modern era, including Brigadier Gerard, and won 17 Classics during his career.
He was the Queen's racing trainer for many years and won many races at York, including theJohn Smith's Magnet Cup six times, the Yorkshire Oaks, Yorkshire Cup and Great Voltigeur. He retired in 1997.
He was confined to a wheelchair after breaking his neck in a riding accident in 1984.
Joe Mercer, who rode Brigadier Gerard, said Hern was "a wonderful person2. Willie Carson, a former Royal jockey, said Hern was as good as any trainer in the last century.
Updated: 11:38 Thursday, May 23, 2002
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