Racing mourns Pat Hyland

Hall of Fame jockey and Group 1 trainer dies, aged 84.

Australian racing has lost one of its most enduring top-level performers following the death of Pat Hyland.

The Hall of Fame jockey and Group 1-winning trainer died on Monday surrounded by his large family following a long battle with illness. He was 84.

Racing Victoria announced his passing via a statement from the Hyland family.

"Pat passed away peacefully today. He was surrounded by all of his kids and grandkids and with his beloved wife Maree by his side," the statement read.

"He was deeply loved to the end and will be sadly missed by us all."

Hyland, originally from Port Fairy, started his apprenticeship with Jim Moloney in 1956 with the pair going one of form one of the great partnerships.

They were most famous for their association champion sprinter Vain, winner of the 1969 Golden Slipper.

Hyland was one of only eight jockeys to have ridden the 'Grand Slam' of Australian racing. He won the Melbourne Cup on What A Nuisance in 1985, the previous year's Caulfield Cup with Affinity and the 1965 Cox Plate on Star Affair.

They were among 30 victories in the saddle at the highest level before Hyland retired in 1990 to take up training.

He tasted Group 1 success as a trainer for the first time in the 1995 VRC Oaks, which he won with Saleous. That victory came 13 years after Hyland's win in the race board Rom's Stiletto as a jockey.

Hyland went on to train more than 500 winners as a trainer, including an Australasian Oaks and South Australian Derby at Group 1 level with Zarita and a Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes with Bonaria.

In the latter stages of his career, Hyland formed a training partnership with his son Chris, before formally retired from training in 2020.

Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison recognised the impact Hyland had made on the industry in his lengthy career.

"Pat's list of achievements and contribution to the sport across six decades is incredible and he sits comfortably among the greats of thoroughbred racing in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame," Morrison said.

"He is one of only a handful of jockeys to secure Australian racing's grand slam who went on to forge a career as a highly successful Group 1 winning trainer. He loved horses and this affinity flowed into his racetrack deeds.

"The Hyland name is synonymous with racing in Victoria and generations of racing fans have had the privilege of enjoying the decorated career of Pat Hyland whom we have sadly lost today."

Pat Hyland is survived by wife Maree, daughter Joanne, sons Paul, Matthew, Chris, Samuel and Patrick, along with 17 grandkids.