Trainer John Gosden has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year Honours list in recognition of his services to horseracing.
Famed most recently for his handling of the great Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Gosden, 65, has twice been crowned champion trainer and has sent out over 3,000 career winners, including eight British Classics.
Married to Rachel Hood, with two sons and two daughters, Gosden was born in Hove on March 30, 1951, the son of former trainer 'Towser' Gosden.
He was educated at Cambridge University, where he studied economics, and worked in land development in Venezuela before becoming assistant to Sir Noel Murless and Vincent O'Brien, after which he moved to assist Tommy Doyle in California.
He took out his first training licence in 1979 in the United States, training over 500 winners in California, including the filly Royal Heroine in the inaugural running of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
He returned to England to train in 1989, originally at Stanley House Stables before moving to Manton. He is now based at Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket.
Gosden's 1,000th winner in Britain came through Much Ado (GB) (Mujtahid) at Lingfield on November 14, 2000, with his first domestic Classic success having been Shantou (Alleged) in the 1996 G1 St Leger. Benny The Dip (Silver Hawk) landed the G1 Epsom Derby the following year.
Three more victories in the Leger have come with Lucarno (Dynaformer), Arctic Cosmos (North Light {Ire}) and Masked Marvel (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), while Lahan (GB) (Unfuwain) won the G1 1000 Guineas and the brilliant Taghrooda (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) claimed the Oaks, as well as beating the colts in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality) helped Gosden make history in 2008 when becoming the first horse trained in Britain to win the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, in which he was ridden by the trainer's long-time ally Frankie Dettori.
Dettori has renewed his partnership with his mentor in the last few years to particularly good effect, most notably through Golden Horn, with whom they won the Derby, G1 Eclipse S., G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in a glittering 2015.
Gosden won the Cambridgeshire with Halling before he moved to Godolphin, while other top-class horses to have passed through his hands include Ryafan (Lear Fan), Muhtarram (Alleged), Observatory (Distant View), Oasis Dream (GB) (Green Desert), Dar Re Mi (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), Nathaniel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Kingman (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling) and Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
He already has a leading candidate for Derby honours in 2017 in the shape of Cracksman (GB), a son of Frankel (GB) who runs in the Golden Horn colours of owner Anthony Oppenheimer.
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