Richard Fahey secures landmark 3,000th winner

News | 11^th May 2021

Richard Fahey today claimed his 3,000^th career victory in Great Britain with Hong Kong Harry at Ayr.

Richard Fahey joins the likes of five-time Champion Trainer John Gosden and fellow Yorkshire-based trainer, Mark Johnston, to have reached the monumental milestone.

Fahey, who was born in Ireland but moved to Yorkshire when he was 18, said: “I would never have dreamed of reaching 3,000 winners when I started out, to have had 30 would have been enough back then!”

“However, I’m obviously delighted to have reached such a fantastic milestone now and the credit must go to all my team as I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

“If I had to pick one highlight, it would have to be Ribchester breaking the track record in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, it doesn’t get much better than that!”

Amongst the 3,000 victories, Richard Fahey has trained four Group 1 winners, including two with Ribchester in 2017 in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at Newbury and then the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot.

His most recent success at the highest level came with Sands of Mali with stable jockey Paul Hanagan in the QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes at QIPCO British Champions Day in 2018.

Paul Hanagan rode Hong Kong Harry to victory and is the jockey to have ridden the most winners for Fahey, with the pair enjoying 895 successes together. Speaking of Fahey’s achievement, Hanagan said: “I joined Richard when I was 17 years old and we have both grown together ever since, enjoying some fantastic days and moments together.”

“There is no way I would have been able to achieve what I have achieved in my career, for example the two Champion Jockey titles, if it weren’t for Richard. We have become great friends and I’m over the moon for him to have reached this fantastic milestone.”

On top of Richard Fahey’s 2,859 British winners on the flat, he has also trained 141 winners on the British jumps circuit.

Tony Hamilton who has also ridden 588 winners for Richard Fahey said: “I began riding for Richard in 2002 so have spent nearly every other day with him for the last 20 years. He is very good to work for and we have enjoyed some fantastic days including Forest Ranger winning the Huxley Stakes twice.”

“Reaching 3000 winners is a magnificent achievement and I’m delighted to have played my part in that, along with Paul Hanagan and the rest of the team. It’s a great team to be a part of.”

The win with Hong Kong Harry marked Fahey’s 152^nd success at Ayr, with his highest performing tracks amongst the 3,000 being Wolverhampton (207) and Beverley (180).

Richard Fahey has enjoyed 50 victories so far in 2021 and is currently sixth in the 2021 Flat Trainers’ Championship after earning over £441,000 in prize money.