CLIVE Brittain has announced his intention to retire from training at the end of the season.
The veteran 81-year-old Newmarket handler has won every British classic at least once apart from the Epsom Derby, although he sent out Terimon to finish second at 500/1 to Nashwan in 1989.
He also trained Bold Arrangement to finish second in the 1986 Kentucky Derby.
Brittain said of his retirement: “I want to spend a few years looking after my wife. She’s spent 60-odd years looking after me, so I think it’s only fair I spend some time looking after her.
“Where there’s a beginning there’s an end and I just felt the end was nigh. This is the right time to do it.
“I’m retiring with some regret, as I’ve had some fantastic owners over the years and still have, as well as great staff. I’ve lived a charmed life.”
Brittain enjoyed his first classic glory with Julio Mariner in the 1978 St Leger, a race he later won the great User Friendly, who also completed the English-Irish Oaks double in 1992.
He trained two winners of the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in Pebbles (1984) and Sayyedati (1993). Pebbles also won the Champion Stakes, the Eclipse and the 1985 Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Brittain won the 2000 Guineas with Mystiko in 1991 and Terimon enjoyed his big day in the Juddmonte International that year.
He was a pioneering trainer, famous for being first in the Newmarket Heath and for his handling of difficult horses like the Royal Ascot winner Radetsky in the 1970s.
He broke new ground for British trainers when Jupiter Island and Pat Eddery lifted the Japan Cup in 1986.
Other top horses include dual Coronation Cup winner Warrsan, the globetrotting Luso, multiple Group 1-winning filly Crimplene, Alflora, Air Express and his latest top-level scorer Rizeena who has also been retired.
His Newmarket colleague James Toller, who has held a licence for 35 years, has also announced his retirement, citing his lack of ammunition as the major reason behind his decision to call it a day.
Toller’s biggest success came at the Curragh in 2004 when Bachelor Duke triumphed in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Toller also won the 1997 July Cup with Compton Place among his big-race victories.
On his decision to retire, the trainer said: “It’s a difficult decision and not one I’ve enjoyed making, but at the same time now that I’ve made it, I feel quite relieved. You need a good horse to attract new owners and it’s so much more competitive now that is very difficult.”
Just last week young trainer Olly Stevens announced his intention to leave the profession.
He trained a Royal Ascot winner in Extortionist, who sadly had to be put down this week, and Lightning Thunder was second in two classics for him.
He also trains the high-class Lightning Spear for Qatar Racing and won a Grade 1 race on dirt in the USA last year with Peace And War.
Stevens and his wife Hetta are tenants at Sheikh Fahad’s Robins Farm Stables in Surrey but felt their attempts to lure new owners were hampered by the impression they were private trainers for the Sheikh’s Qatar Racing team.