Graham Bradley, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle-winning jockey, has died aged 65 after a five-year battle with semantic dementia. The former rider, who was best known for partnering Bregawn to victory in the 1983 Gold Cup, was remembered this week by leading names from the weighing room after his family confirmed his passing.
Bradley rode more than 700 winners during a 22-year career, with his major-race record also including the 1996 Champion Hurdle on Collier Bay and the 1985 Irish Grand National on Rhyme ‘n’ Reason.
John Francome and Peter Scudamore were among those to lead the tributes, with Francome recalling Bradley’s quiet, patient style in the saddle and Scudamore underlining the warmth that made him such a popular figure beyond the racecourse, according to Thoroughbred Daily News.
Bradley Legacy Stretches Beyond Bregawn Gold Cup Win
Bradley’s association with Michael Dickinson’s famous 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup remains the defining image of his riding career, as Bregawn led home the trainer’s historic first five in the race.
Yet his influence was wider than one Festival afternoon. His balance, timing and coolness shaped how a generation of young jump jockeys viewed race-riding, while his later work in bloodstock kept him close to the sport after retirement.
A private cremation is due to take place in Poitiers on Friday, July 10, with a memorial service expected to follow in Wetherby.
