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Sir Henry Cecil Dies, Aged 70 (PICTURES)

Legendary Trainer Sir Henry Cecil Dies, Aged 70
The Huffington Post UK
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Trainer Sir Henry Cecil greets Frankel in the Winners enclosure after his win in the Juddmonte International Stakes during day one of the 2012 Ebor Festival at York Racecourse.
PA

Sir Henry Cecil has died at the age of 70 after a long battle with stomach cancer.

Responsible for 25 British Classic winners and crowned champion trainer 10 times, Cecil was also the leading handler by some way at Royal Ascot with a record 75 successes.

Knighted by the Queen in 2011, his later years saw him battle cancer but were illuminated by the great Frankel, officially the best horse in the world and unbeaten in 14 starts before retirement.

A statement posted on his website read: "It is with great sadness that Warren Place Stables confirms the passing of Sir Henry Cecil earlier this morning.

"Following communication with the British Horseracing Authority, a temporary licence will be allocated to Lady Cecil.

"No further update is anticipated this afternoon."

Sir Henry Cecil: a life in pictures
Henry Cecil(01 of27)
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English flat racing trainer Henry Cecil, whose horses have won many Classics, 26th April 1980. (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Cecil And Piggott(02 of27)
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Racehorse trainer Henry Cecil leaning on a car with Lester Piggott who is reading a newspaper, circa 1977s. (Photo by Chris Smith/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Henry Cecil(03 of27)
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English flat racing trainer Henry Cecil, whose horses have won many Classics, 26th April 1980. (Photo by Frank Tewkesbury/Evening Standard/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Henry Cecil(04 of27)
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6 Jul 1999: Portrait of Henry Cecil during racing at Newmarket in Suffolk, England. \ Mandatory Credit: Julian Herbert /Allsport (credit:Getty Images)
KY WEEK ELTISH(05 of27)
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4 MAY 1995: JOCKEY SHANE SELLERS AND TRAINER HENRY CECIL OF ELTISH TALK BEFORE SELLERS TAKES ELTISH OUT ON THE TRACK AT CHURCHILL DOWNS IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, THE SITE OF SATURDAY''S 121ST KENTUCKY DERBY. SELLERS WILL BE RIDING LAKE GEORGE IN THE DERBY, (credit:Getty Images)
The Vodafone Oakks Race(06 of27)
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EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 1: Trainer Henry Cecil after Light Shift returned from landing The Vodafone Oaks Race run at Epsom Racecourse on June 1 2007, in Epsom, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Royal Ascot(07 of27)
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ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: Trainer Henry Cecil stands with Father Time after landing The King Edward VII Stakes Race run on The 4th Day of The Royal Meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2009 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Royal Ascot(08 of27)
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ASCOT, ENGLAND - JUNE 19: Trainer Henry Cecil looks on after Eddie Ahern and Father Time land The King Edward VII Stakes Race run on The 4th Day of The Royal Meeting at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2009 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(09 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Tom Queally rides Twice Over to win The Emirates Airline Champion Stakes as trainer Henry Cecil looks on at Newmarket racecourse on October 16, 2010 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(10 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 16: Trainer Henry Cecil looks on after Tom Queally road Frankel winning The Dubai Dewhurst Stakes on at Newmarket racecourse on October 16, 2010 in Newmarket, England (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Cheltenham Festival - St Patricks Day(11 of27)
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CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: Trainer Henry Cecil (R) with Plato after winning The Cheltenham Festival St Patrick's Day Derby at Cheltenham racecourse on March 17, 2011 in Cheltenham, England (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newbury Races(12 of27)
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NEWBURY, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Henry Cecil at Newbury racecourse on April 16, 2011 in Newbury, England (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races - 2000 Guineas(13 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - APRIL 30: Trainer Henry Cecil chats with the press after Tom Queally riding Frankel win The Qipco 2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket racecourse on April 30, 2011 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/ Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Goodwood Races(14 of27)
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CHICHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 27: Jockey Tom Queally with owner Khalid Abdulla (L) and trainer Sir Henry Cecil after winning the Qipco Sussex Stakes on Frankel at Goodwood racecourse on July 27, 2011 in Chichester, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(15 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Sir Henry Cecil at Newmarket racecourse on September 23, 2011 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(16 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Tom Queally (L) and Sir Henry Cecil after Frankel has a racecourse gallop at Newmarket racecourse on May 05, 2012 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newbury Races(17 of27)
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NEWBURY, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Sir Henry Cecil poses at Newbury racecourse on May 19, 2012 in Newbury, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
York Races(18 of27)
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YORK, ENGLAND - AUGUST 22: Sir Henry Cecil at York racecourse on August 22, 2012 in York, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(19 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Sir Henry Cecil with Frankel at Newmarket racecourse on September 29, 2012 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-SPORT-HORSE RACING-FRANKEL(20 of27)
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Jockey Tom Queally looks towards race horse Frankel as trainer Henry Cecil looks on, following the Champion Stakes (Class 1), British Champions Middle Distance race at Ascot, England on October 20, 2012. Frankel produced perhaps his finest performance to retain his unbeaten record with his 14th victory in the Group One Champion Stakes in what was his final race. The Henry Cecil-trained colt -- winning his 10th Group One race -- had stumbled out of the barrier but recovered his poise to power home to beat last year's winner Cirrus des Aigles by 1 3/4 lengths. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
BRITAIN-SPORT-HORSE RACING-FRANKEL(21 of27)
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Racehorse trainer Henry Cecil (R) is congratulated by a passer-by after his horse, Frankel, won the Champion Stakes (Class 1), British Champions Middle Distance race at Ascot, England on October 20, 2012.. Frankel produced perhaps his finest performance to retain his unbeaten record with his 14th victory in the Group One Champion Stakes in what was his final race. The Henry Cecil-trained colt -- winning his 10th Group One race -- had stumbled out of the barrier but recovered his poise to power home to beat last year's winner Cirrus des Aigles by 1 3/4 lengths. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL (Photo credit should read LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(22 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Sir Henry Cecil poses at Newmarket racecourse on April 17, 2013 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Ascot Races(23 of27)
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ASCOT, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: Sir Henry Cecil poses at Ascot racecourse on October 20, 2012 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newmarket Races(24 of27)
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NEWMARKET, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Sir Henry Cecil poses at Newmarket racecourse on April 17, 2013 in Newmarket, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Horse Racing - Sir Henry Cecil(25 of27)
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File photo dated 15/11/11 of Sir Henry Cecil is knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:PA)
Horse Racing - Sir Henry Cecil(26 of27)
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File photo dated 15/11/11 of Sir Henry Cecil is knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:PA)
Investiture at Buckingham Palace(27 of27)
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Sir Henry Cecil is knighted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London. (credit:PA)

Cecil enjoyed his first British Classic win with Bolkonski in the 1975 renewal of the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, following up in the same race a year later with Wollow. Both horses were ridden by Frankie Dettori's father, Gianfranco.

Cecil excelled with fillies, and trained six 1000 Guineas winners and eight Oaks victors, with his last Epsom heroine being Light Shift in 2007.

Four Derby winners - Slip Anchor, Reference Point, Commander In Chief and Oath - adorn his record, as do four St Leger triumphs.

However the best was saved until last as Frankel demolished everything put in his path.

He retired to stud with an unbeaten 14-race record and was officially recognised as the greatest horse on the planet.

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