Legend of Ryedale racing calls it a day

Malton-based FitzGerald, 67, is handing over the reins to his son, Tim, who has assisted his father for 19 years and who will officially take over the licence from this Saturday.

FitzGerald, who had hinted 12 months ago that he was preparing to stand down, said: "The time is right for Tim to take over. He has worked very hard, has put in a lot of time here, and deserves his chance.

"It's a little sad in a way to be finishing, because I love it so much. But it's a game for young people, and young owners coming into racing want young trainers. Unfortunately, I now qualify as an old trainer.

"I shall miss it, but I am still active and I will be playing a part, helping Tim, so I'll still be involved. I just hope it goes well for him and that he enjoys the sort of good days that I've enjoyed. I've been very lucky," he added.

FitzGerald, whose professional involvement in racing spans half a century, was formerly a successful jump jockey, who won the 1965 Scottish Grand National on Brasher, before fracturing his skull in a career-ending fall the following year.

Turning his hand to training in 1969, he hit the target with only his second runner - Archer at Market Rasen - and quickly proved himself to be a highly-skilled and ultra-shrewd operator, only too willing to have a tilt at the betting-ring when the opportunity arose.

By the 1980s, he had one of the most powerful jumping stables in Britain, training for, among others, the Marquesa de Moratella, Sir Peter O'Sullevan, Tony Budge and Tim Kilroe.

While his best season, statistically, was in 1986-87 when he saddled 73 winners, his best horse was Forgive 'n' Forget, who won the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup, two years after he'd landed a major gamble in the Coral Hurdle Final.

FitzGerald's other Cheltenham Festival successes were achieved by Canny Danny (Sun Alliance Chase), Danish Flight (Arkle Chase), Trainglot (Coral Hurdle) and Uncle Ernie (Grand Annual Chase)

Among his other high-profile winners over jumps were Galway Blaze (Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup), Androma (Scottish Grand National, twice), Ticketty Boo (Power Gold Cup), and Sybillin (Glenlivet Hurdle, Swinton Hurdle and Victor Chandler Chase).

Renowned for his qualities as a dual-purpose handler, his big-race successes among his 350 winners on the flat included the Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the Ebor Handicap with Sapience, the Cesarewitch with Trainglot and Kayudee (also the winner of the Ascot Stakes), and the Lincoln with Evichstar.

"You'd have to say that Forgive 'n' Forget winning the Gold Cup was my best day, closely followed by Sapience winning the Ebor," he said. "But the worst day was when Forgive 'n' Forget broke his leg in the 1988 Gold Cup. I'll always remember saying to Tim Kilroe, the owner, before the race, 'If you want to have a bet, you'll never get better odds than this about a certainty.' And he was travelling like a certainty when his leg went. It was a heartbreaking blow."

FitzGerald has not had a high-profile horse in recent years, and last summer he was forced to contend with the unwelcome intrusion of the BBC's Panorama team, who accused him of having a 'no-lose' betting account with bookmaker Victor Chandler, something the trainer strenuously denied on camera.

FitzGerald, a popular man with a rock-solid reputation, plans to have runners right up until he hands over the licence. He said; "It would be nice to have a winner this week, but it would be even nicer to have one in the week after Tim has taken over."

FitzGerald jnr will be wasting no time in having runners. The 40-year-old, who had spells working in America and New Zealand before teaming up with his father, said: "We have four horses entered at three different meetings on Saturday, so it could be a busy day. I'm keen to get cracking and get the job moving. I'm looking forward to it, and although my father will be a very hard act to follow, he will still be here. You don't throw away 50 years experience just like that."

Updated: 09:25 Wednesday, February 26, 2003