Racing mourns pioneer owner/breeder Sangster
Sangster, 67, died on Wednesday at his London home after losing his lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.
Lord Bell, speaking on behalf of the family, said: "He died at home in late afternoon, early evening time yesterday.
"He was surrounded by his family and he died very peacefully after a long illness that started nine or 10 months ago."
Sangster was the best-known and most-successful British-based owner of the last 30 years, topping the table in 1977, 1978, 1982, 1983 and 1984.
He won the Derby twice, with The Minstrel in 1977 and Golden Fleece in 1982, along with a raft of other big races including the 1000 and 2000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
The Minstrel and Golden Fleece were both trained by the legendary Vincent O'Brien at Ballydoyle, and he led the tributes.
"We were deeply saddened to learn of Robert's death today. He was a great friend, a wonderful owner and part of our family, young and old, for many years," he said in a statement.
"Trusting and uncomplaining, with an excellent sense of humour, he was a joy with whom to share good times; he was enthusiastic and always grateful even for small victories.
"Magnanimous in defeat, he was a superb loser and did not waste time dwelling on what might have been. I appreciated, more than I can ever say, Robert's trust and confidence that I, as trainer and partner, would do the best for him and the horses.
"Robert was a true visionary whose large-scale investment in the best American-bred yearlings in the 70s was one of the principal factors in establishing Ireland and Coolmore as major forces in the bloodstock world.
"His knowledge of bloodstock was extensive and professional and it was helpful to get his opinion on all aspects of horse management, training and breeding."
Sangster and O'Brien enjoyed many big-race successes together, with the likes of Alleged, who won the Arc for two successive years, 2000 Guineas and Irish Derby winner El Gran Senor, and Sadler's Wells, who won the Eclipse and Irish Champion Stakes before going on to be a great stallion.
"We shared some great memories over the years with horses like The Minstrel, Alleged, El Gran Senor, Sadler's Wells and Golden Fleece and I cannot think of anybody with whom I would rather have shared them. Robert also provided our son David with his first Classic success when Assert won both the French and Irish Derbys," O'Brien added.
"A wonderful character who enjoyed life to the full, he will be sorely missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to have known him. Our thoughts are with his sorrowing family."
Lester Piggott was on board for many of those big winners, and the former champion jockey said: "It's a very sad day and the end of an era.
"I've known Robert since the 60s and we had great days and so many great horses. He was a great friend and a marvellous person to ride for. We'll miss him."
Pat Eddery, who succeeded Piggott on the Ballydoyle horses at the end of the 1980 season, said: "It's terrible news, it's just so sad. He's been a great friend for years and I've ridden some great winners for him. He was one of the nicest people I've ever met.
"He's done so much for racing. I was very fortunate that I rode for him for many years and he was always a gentleman to ride for.
"My first big winner for him was Detroit in the Arc, then Golden Fleece winning the Derby, El Gran Senor he was a real good horse and Lomond in the Guineas.
"Not only was he a great owner to ride for but he was also a great friend. He was always very good to me."
Another top jockey who owed a lot to Sangster was Steve Cauthen.
Speaking from his American home, he said: "I have got a lot to be thankful to Robert for. He brought me to Europe and we had a lot of fun and success together.
"He was a great guy to work with and to work for. He cared a lot about the people that were involved in his inner circle and had a lot of good fiends he was a great man.
"One of my great memories was winning the Gold Cup on Gildoran. That was a highlight, but Robert enjoyed a good punt and we had big wins in the Extel Stakes and the Cambridgeshire.
"He enjoyed the people in racing and loved the game."
Sangster was born in Merseyside on May 23, 1936, and inherited the Vernons football pools company from his father. He sold it for £90million in 1988.
He dominated both the racing and breeding worlds through the late 70s and early 80s. The triumvirate Sangster formed with O'Brien and stud boss John Magnier left a legacy that exists to this day, with the Coolmore operation pre-eminent in the world of breeding. As well as being involved with Coolmore, Sangster had his own breeding interests including the Swettenham Stud in Wiltshire in England and the Longfield Stud in Cashel.
