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Grand National winner, Patrick Buckley pioneered racing in both Oman and the UAE after moving to the region with his late wife, Joyce, in the 1980s. His passing in early 2021, was like the turning over of an era.
Buckley was charged with starting the industry in Abu Dhabi. He oversaw the first official meeting, in 1991, and played an integral part in the formation of the Dubai World Cup.
“The year before the World Cup, there was an international jockeys’ challenge, won by Gary Stevens, if I remember rightly. I happened to be standing next to HH Sheikh Mohammed, and he turned to me and said, ‘Next year it will be horses.’
“I believe those were the founding words of the first Dubai World Cup,” he said in an interview to Laura King.
Buckley who was the racing director at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club since its inception in 1991, died at 77 following a long illness.
Coolmore’s UK representative Kevin Buckley remembers his father in an interview with Ten Furlongs:
Q: What are your earliest memories of racing your time with Pat in the Middle East?
A: Horses were part of our daily life from a very young age. Having been born in Middleham, North Yorkshire where Dad was based at Captain Neville Crump’s stables Warwick House. He rode his first winner at the age of 17 on Blue Moth in the Hearts of Oak Chase at Manchester in 1961.
On the 1st April 1978 Dad brought me to Aintree for the Grand National. Prior to racing we walked the course together and I had numerous photographs taken at Becher’s Brook and The Chair prior to meeting my heroes Jonjo O’Neill and Tommy Stack. Jonjo was the first person to kindly write to me following Dad’s passing and Tommy gave me my first job with Coolmore at Longfield Stud in 1986.
Pat and Joyce moved to Oman in 1979 where Dad worked for Sultan Qaboos. My sister Helen and I remained in the UK, but became regular visitors during the Christmas and Easter holidays. During that time Dad travelled the world sourcing different breeds of horses for Sultan Qaboos and he sent us a postcard from each country he visited (including New Zealand where he met Sir Patrick Hogan at Cambridge Stud and he became the first person to employ me in the thoroughbred breeding industry when I was 18 back in 1985).
When they relocated to Abu Dhabi in the early 1990’s I have very fond memories of regular visits for holidays with Donna and our daughters at Christmas and taking the opportunity of going racing with Dad in Abu Dhabi, Nad Al Sheba and Jebel Ali.
Q: Pat was beloved in the UAE and I dare say GCC racing industry. He made friends everywhere he went. Infact, he even charmed the nurses at the hospital during his illness last year. Who is the one person you would say is the most interesting industry friend he made?
A: Far too many people to mention, but leading bloodstock agent Peter Doyle has remained a most loyal and trusted friend of Dad’s for as long as I can remember they used to keep in contact on a regular basis and were best friends. Through the connection of Ayala and Keith Piggott, Dad was also very friendly with Lester Piggott who would often visit Pat and Joyce in Abu Dhabi and Oman. Yasir Mabrouk of the Dubai Racing Club must also be mentioned here for his long association with Pat with their involvement of racing in the Emirates (they started work there at a similar time and also remained good friends)
Q: What was it like growing up with a Grand-National winning father?
A: As a young child I suppose I never really appreciated what an amazing achievement it actually was until that day as an 11 year old I was lucky to see The National live. I always watched the Grand National on television, but it was only later in life that I really truly appreciated his achievements in the saddle and I will always be very proud of them. I always remember him telling me when he was brought down on Limeking in the 1967 Grand National at the 23rd fence after ensuring his mount was ok he went in search of his gold tooth (to no avail) which had been knocked out during the fall!
Q: What are your earliest memories of the Dubai World Cup night with him? Do you recall any specific statements about the race?
A: I only ever had the opportunity to attend the Dubai World Cup in 2014. I stayed with Mum and Dad the day prior to the race and then travelled with Dad from Abu Dhabi for the meeting. When Toast of New York won the UAE Derby that evening I received quite a number of text messages of congratulations (I watched the race in close proximity to owner Michael Buckley who is a friend, but we’re not related). Pat and I laughed about that on the way back to Abu Dhabi airport later that evening while both agreeing we wished we had owned him!
Dad was always very proud that he was at Nad Al Sheba for the inaugural running of the Dubai World Cup in 1996 which was won by Cigar and he felt privileged to have had the opportunity to meet owner Allen Paulson and jockey Jerry Bailey.
Q: Pat spent a lifetime in Abu Dhabi. What is one of your most cherished memories of him associated with the racecourse?
A: Pat was immensely proud of his association and development of Abu Dhabi racecourse. As many residents of the Emirates Racing fraternity will know he was a fantastic multi-tasker and could turn his hand to paddock announcing or commentating on a race at the drop of a hat as well as running the show……….I don’t think any of us will ever forget the “Lucky Last”!
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan was incredibly kind to Pat when he became ill and ensured he received the very best of medical care and for this I shall be eternally grateful to him and his family.
Q: What do you miss most about Pat?
A: Judging by the amount of cards, calls and messages I have received since his passing it is a testimony how popular Dad was. We spoke or messaged each other regularly and he was very interested in my career at Coolmore and regularly followed our runners from Ballydoyle with great interest. I am full of admiration how he cared for my mother throughout her illness following a stroke, it demonstrated his undying love for her and the type of loyal man he was. He loved his grandchildren Lauren, Emma, Tallulah and Noah and he was immensely proud of them (he was really looking forward to seeing Noah play football as he is signed to the Charlton Athletic Youth Academy).
I was very fortunate to be able to call Pat my father and my friend. I will miss him.