Date of birth: 18 March 1952 Place of birth: Kildare Champion jockey: 11 times (1974-77, 1986, 1988-91, 1993, 1996) English Classic wins: 14 Main trainers: John Dunlop, Roger Charlton 2002 wins: 99 2001 wins: 122 2000 wins: 127

Despite being the wrong side of 50, Irishman Pat Eddery remains one of the leading Flat jockeys.

The triple Epsom Derby winner has secured 11 champion jockey titles in his career, a record he holds with Lester Piggott.

The son of an Irish champion jockey, Eddery began his racing career with Seamus McGrath before joining Frenchie Nicholson in 1967.

Eddery had his first success in the UK when Alvao obliged at Epsom in April 1969 and he went on to become champion apprentice in 1971.

He joined Peter Walwyn's powerful stable in 1973 and the following year was champion jockey for the first time.

In 1981 he became retained jockey to top owner Robert Sangster and they teamed up to enjoy numerous big-race successes with the likes of El Gran Senor, Sadler's Wells and Golden Fleece.

He also partnered Sangster's Detroit to victory in the 1980 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the first of a record-equalling four triumphs in the Longchamp event.

In 1986 he rode the brilliant Dancing Brave to victory in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes and the Arc, and the following year became the retained jockey of the colt's owner Khalid Abdullah.

Eddery has ridden as a freelance since 1995 and rode his 4,000th British winner on Silver Patriach in the 1997 St Leger.

But his career was threatened just days later with a severe back injury and he was out of action for six months.

Now a freelance, he has landed virtually every major Flat race in Europe and has had numerous worldwide successes, including at the Breeders' Cup and in the Arlington Million.

In 2002, he surpassed Lester Piggott's tally of 4,493 career wins to become the second most successful jockey in British history - only Sir Gordon Richards - with 4,870 winners - has more.

The 2002 season ended with a slightly damp squib after Eddery ended on 99 winners - he had ridden 100 winners a season every year since 1973 (except in 1982 when he topped the table in Ireland).

The 2003 season will be Eddery's last as a jockey with the Irishman announcing that he will be quitting the saddle to head up a racehorse syndication company.