Jonjo O'Neill today led the tributes to the mighty Sea Pigeon who was put down last night, at the age of 30, on veterinary advice following a serious injury. Sea Pigeon won 21 of his 40 races over jumps, including two Champion Hurdles, and 16 of his 45 starts on the Flat including the Chester Cup in 1977 and 1978 and the 1979 Ebor at York.
O'Neill, a former champion jumps jockey, had the distinction of riding the great horse on the Flat and over hurdles, and he said today: "It is a very sad, poor old lad, he was the best I had ever ridden, he was fantastic really.
"Mind you he had to come late and he could make you look brilliant or an idiot if you came too late!"
Now a leading trainer, O'Neill was on board when Sea Pigeon won the first of his Champion Hurdles, and he was also in the saddle when he got home by a short-head in the Ebor.
Sea Pigeon began his career in training with Jeremy Tree, before moving to Gordon Richards and then to Peter Easterby who will never forget the wins – and the victory celebrations.
He recalled: "We have had some great days and bad heads because of him – I think the champagne was flowing down the stands one day at York!
"He had ability, it was as simple as that and he is one of the best we have ever had. The most exciting part about him as far as the public was concerned that they love a horse to come from behind thinking `will he or won't he get there'. That is more exciting than a front-runner."
Sea Pigeon was laid to rest this morning at Easterby's Great Habton stable and he concluded: "We buried him alongside Night Nurse. They are in front of the house where the young horses school over logs and we will fence it off and plant three beech trees. It is doubtful if we will ever see another like him."
Lord Oaksey, journalist and Channel 4 Racing presenter, played a great part in ensuring Sea Pigeon had a happy retirement. He said today: "The poor old horse had to be put down on Tuesday afternoon, a bone in his foot had deteriorated so badly the vet said that he could not possibly recover.
"I would rate him as the greatest all-rounder I ever saw, I never saw Brown Jack who had a fantastic record, but Sea Pigeon was the most exciting hurdler to watch, almost always coming with that strong late burst."
