ROBERT SANGSTERA much-loved thoroughbred racehorse ownerand investor, whose influence on the course of modern bloodstock history isalmost immeasurable, Robert Sangster died after a long battle with cancer on 7April, 2004, aged 67.The football pools magnate counted amonghis many big-race wins the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Melbourne Cup and Prix de l’Arcde Triomphe. Altogether, he won an astounding 27 European Classics.Lester Piggot, who rode many of Mr Sangster’swinners, described the legendary racehorse owner as “a marvellous person toride for,” while Irish trainer Vincent O’Brien said he was “deeply saddened” tolearn of his death.Even today, Mr Sangster and Vincent O’Brian still holdthe world record price for a yearling, having paid approximately £7 million forSeattle Dancer in 1985.Robert Edmund Sangster was born on 23 May,1936, in Liverpool, England. Heir to the ‘Vernons’ football pools fortune, heattended Repton School in Derbyshire before completing his National Service inBerlin with the Cheshire Regiment.It was a chance bet on a horse called‘Chalk Stream’ in the 1960 Lincoln Handicap which began his life-long love forracing. Although the five-year old gelding ultimately finished unplaced,Mr Sangster nevertheless bought it and later enjoyed his first taste of success onthe turf by winning the Liverpool Autumn Cup that year.By 1967 he owned a number of racehorses,one of which, Brief Star, had taken the prestigious Ayr Gold Cup for him. Hewas also one of the partners in the Coolmore Stud, travelling around the worldbuying well-bred yearlings to race and breed.He bought his first stallion, Deep Diver,in 1973 for £400,000. It was to be the birth of the so-called ‘Brethen’ which,in partnership with Vincent O’Brien and stud farmer John Magnier, was torevolutionise the racing business.By spreading the investment, the group soonfound that they eliminated the gamble and their first raid, on Keeneland Salesin Kentucky, in 1975, reportedly netted them yearlings to the value of around$1,800,000.Meanwhile, Mr Sangster’s impending 40th birthday was also due to net him the full ownership of Vernons Pools. However,the prospect of a vast capital transfer tax was rather less attractive to himand, as a result, he became a tax exile, having bought ‘The Nunnery’ mansion onthe Isle of Man which was to remain his home for decades.The 1980s saw further successes forMr Sangster, with horses in training with an incredible 36 trainers in sixcountries. He was purportedly spending up to 200 days a year in airliners and,in 1982, his wife remarked, “We usually win about three races somewhere in theworld every day.”He sold the Vernons Pools empire for areputed £90 million in 1988. Much of this was spent on horses and stables, mostfamously the £18 million Manton estate in Wiltshire where he installed severalworld-famous trainers over the years, including Michael Dickinson and BarryHills.Towards the end of his life he spent muchof his time in Barbados but continued to be active in the running of his hugebusiness. He died on 7 April, 2004, aged 67, after a long battle withpancreatic cancer.Altogether, he was champion owner fivetimes. His famous blue, green and white silks won more than 100 Group Oneraces, including two Derbies with The Minstrel in 1977 and Golden Fleece in’82.He was elected a member of the Jockey Clubin 1972, director of Newmarket Thoroughbred Breeders in 1985 and establishedthe company Classic Thoroughbreds with Vincent O’Brien and Michael Smurfit in1987.“I suppose I could have put all myyearlings in the Kentucky sales and made about £20 million,” he once said. “ButI’d have been bloody bored the rest of the year.”
Keep me informed of updates
