Two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey, Barry Geraghty has been named as The Festival ambassador for 2021 and is the latest star to be welcomed into Cheltenham Racecourse’s Hall of Fame.
Riding 1,920 winners during his career, 43 of them at The Festival™, he announced his retirement earlier this year after completing his most successful Cheltenham Festival with five winners.
Following his retirement, The Jockey Club has named Geraghty as their Ambassador for the Cheltenham Festival 2021 as well as inducting him in the legendary Hall of Fame, alongside the likes of Willie Mullins, Best Mate and the late ‘Voice of Racing’, Sir Peter O’Sullevan.
A delighted Barry Geraghty said: “It is an honour to be welcomed into Cheltenham’s Hall of Fame and to be amongst legends of our sport.
“The place is very special to me, and I have had some of the best moments of my career there. It was the fairy tale ending in 2020 to have my final Festival with five winners.
“I am delighted to be able to continue to be associated with the event as the ambassador for 2021. Those four days are the most important in the Jump racing calendar and although ‘Cheltenham eve’ will feel a little different this year, you won’t be able to keep me away.”
Regional Director of The Jockey Club, Ian Renton said: “Barry has been a favourite for racing fans since he won at The Festival in 2002 on Moscow Flyer. We’re delighted to have him back for 2021 as our ambassador - I couldn’t think of anybody better for the role.
“Barry’s place in the Hall of Fame felt like an obvious choice after his glittering career. With two Cheltenham Gold Cups, and multiple Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle victories to his name, he has and continues to be a fantastic ambassador for our sport.”
From Drumee in County Meath, Barry is considered one of the greatest jockeys of his generation, and finished his career while in one of the most coveted jobs in racing as retained jockey to JP McManus, a role he inherited from Sir AP McCoy in 2015.
The Hall of Fame museum at the racecourse displays over 60 years of history that hangs from the ceiling in iconic Cheltenham fashion, telling the story of the Home of Jump Racing.
Barry Geraghty – The Festival™ winners
2002 Moscow Flyer Racing Post Arkle
2003 Youlneverwalkalone Ultima Handicap Chase
2003 Moscow Flyer Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2003 Inching Closer Pertemps Network Final
2003 Spectroscope JCB Triumph Hurdle
2003 Spirit Leader Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
2004 Iris’s Gift Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2005 Moscow Flyer Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2005 Kicking King Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2006 Star De Mohaison RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2006 Sky’s The Limit Coral Cup
2007 Cork All Star Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2008 Finger Onthe Pulse Ultima Handicap Chase
2009 Forpadydeplasterer Racing Post Arkle
2009 Punjabi Unibet Champion Hurdle
2009 Zaynar JCB Triumph Hurdle
2010 Big Zeb Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2010 Spirit River Coral Cup
2010 Soldatino JCB Triumph Hurdle
2011 Bobs Worth Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2012 Sprinter Sacre Racing Post Arkle
2012 Simonsig Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2012 Bobs Worth RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2012 Finian’s Rainbow Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2012 Riverside Theatre Ryanair Chase
2013 Simonsig Racing Post Arkle
2013 Sprinter Sacre Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2013 Bobs Worth Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2014 Jezki Unibet Champion Hurdle
2014 O’Faolains Boy RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2014 More Of That Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2015 The Druids Nephew Ultima Handicap Chase
2015 Peace And Co JCB Triumph Hurdle
2016 Ivanovich Gorbatov JCB Triumph Hurdle
2018 Buveur D’Air Unibet Champion Hurdle
2018 Le Prezien Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
2019 Defi du Seuil Marsh Novices’ Chase
2019 Sire du Berlais Pertemps Network Final
2020 Epatante Unibet Champion Hurdle
2020 Champ RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase
2020 Dame de Compagnie Coral Cup
2020 Sire du Berlais Pertemps Network Final
2020 Saint Roi Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle
If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact Meg Furse, Regional Marketing Executive - Communications on 07896 076579 megan.furse@thejockeyclub.co.uk
