John Leeper Dunlop (10 July 1939 – 7 July 2018) was an English race horse trainer based in

Arundel Arundel ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the Arun District of the South Downs, West Sussex, England. The much-conserved town has a medieval castle and Roman Catholic cathedral. Arundel has a museum and comes second behind much large ...

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

. He trained the winners of 74 Group One races, including 10 British Classics, with over 3000 winners in total. He was the

British flat racing Champion Trainer The Champion Trainer of flat racing in Great Britain is the trainer whose horses have won the most prize money during a season. The list below shows the Champion Trainer for each year since 1896. The Championship was originally run from November ...

in 1995. Born in Tetbury, he first took out a training licence in 1966. After a two-year apprenticeship with Neville Dent and Gordon Smyth he took over Castle Stables in Arundel, on the Duke of Norfolk's estate. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of Middle Eastern influences in British horseracing, training Hatta,

Sheikh Mohammed Sheikh Muhammad (1560–1650) was a Muslim saint-poet who is venerated by Hindus. Sheikh Muhammad or alternatively Sheikh Muhammed, Sheikh Mohammad, Sheikh Mohammed may also refer to (in chronological birth order): * Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wah ...

's first winner as an owner at

Brighton Brighton () is a seaside resort and one of the two main areas of the City of Brighton and Hove in the county of East Sussex, England. It is located south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze A ...

in 1977. He was also associated with Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum over a period of three decades, training horses such as Salsabil, winner of the

1,000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

, Oaks and

Irish Derby The Irish Derby (Irish: Dearbaí na hÉireann) is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 ...

. The main jockeys with which he was associated include the Australian Ron Hutchinson, Willie Carson, Pat Eddery and Lester Piggott . In later years he was also associated with Richard Quinn and Ted Durcan. The

2,000 Guineas The 2000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres) and scheduled to take place each year at ...

was the only British Classic that eluded him. Dunlop was appointed OBE in the

1996 Birthday Honours Queen's Birthday Honours are announced on or around the date of the Queen's Official Birthday in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The dates vary, both from year to year and from country to country. All are published in supple ...

. He was also a trustee of the

British Racing School The British Racing School is one of the two racing schools in the United Kingdom. Established in 1983, it is a charitable trust providing training for young people working in the horse racing industry. The school is based in Newmarket, Suffolk, an ...

. In 2001, he suffered a ruptured aorta, but survived. He retired at the end of the 2012 flat racing season. His sons, Ed and Harry, are also both trainers. Jeremy Noseda and Gerard Butler also learnt their trade with him. He died on 7 July 2018 at the age of 78.

Major wins

Great Britain *

1,000 Guineas The 1000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

- (3) - ''

Quick As Lightning Quick As Lightning (17 March 1977 – 1981) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic 1000 Guineas in 1980. She was one of the leading British-trained juvenile fillies of 1979, when she w ...

(1980), Salsabil (1990),

Shadayid Shadayid (10 April 1988 – April 2002) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and Horse breeding#Terminology, broodmare. In a racing career which lasted from June 1990 to November 1991 she ran eleven times winning five ...

(1991)'' *

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4,014 ...

- (1) - '' Ragstone (1974)'' * Coronation Cup - (2) - ''

Sea Chimes Sea Chimes (foaled 8 March 1976) was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Originally trained in the United Kingdom, he was beaten in all four of his races as a juvenile in 1978 and lost on his three-year-old debut. He won his four rem ...

(1980),

Silver Patriarch Silver Patriarch (foaled 1994) was a racehorse, winner of the 1997 St Leger and of seven other races. He was ridden by Pat Eddery in all but three of his races. The horse was bred in Ireland, by Saddlers' Hall and out of the American horse Ear ...

(1998)'' * Derby - (2) - ''

Shirley Heights Shirley Heights (1 March 1975 – 17 March 1997) was a British Thoroughbred race horse and winner of the Derby in 1978. The colt had previously won the Royal Lodge Stakes and the Dante Stakes, and he went on to win the Irish Derby before his ra ...

(1978),

Erhaab Erhaab (24 May 1991 – 22 November 2021) was a Thoroughbred race horse and sire, bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom. He is best known as the winner of the 1994 Epsom Derby. In 2011 he was moved from the Wood Farm St ...

(1994)'' * Dewhurst Stakes - (1) - ''

Mujahid ''Mujahideen'', or ''Mujahidin'' ( ar, مُجَاهِدِين, mujāhidīn), is the plural form of ''mujahid'' ( ar, مجاهد, mujāhid, strugglers or strivers or justice, right conduct, Godly rule, etc. doers of jihād), an Arabic term th ...

(1998)'' *

Eclipse Stakes The Eclipse Stakes is a Group races, Group 1 Flat racing, flat Horse racing, horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown P ...

- (1) - ''

Scottish Rifle Scottish Rifle (28 February 1969 – 1984) was an Irish-bred British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After winning one minor race as a juvenile he emerged as a top-class middle distance colt in 1972, winning the Predominate Stake ...

(1973)'' * Falmouth Stakes - (1) - ''Tashawak (2002)'' * Fillies' Mile - (2) - ''Quick As Lightning (1979), Aqaarid (1994)'' * Haydock Sprint Cup - (4) - ''Runnett (1981),

Habibti Habibti (foaled 1980) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who was one of the highest-rated sprinters in European racing history. Habibti was unbeaten as a two-year-old, winning the Group Two Lowther Stak ...

(1983), Lavinia Fontana (1994),

Invincible Spirit Invincible Spirit (foaled 17 February 1997) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. After winning two of his four races as a two-year-old, he only raced twice as a three-year-old, losing on both occasions. In 2001 he won twice ...

(2002)'' *

July Cup The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs (1,207 metres ...

- (2) - ''

(1983), Elnadim (1998)'' * King's Stand Stakes - (2) - ''Habibti (1984), Chilibang (1988)'' * Lockinge Stakes - (1) - ''

Wassl Wassl (27 April 1980 – after 1998) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old he showed great promise when winning on his debut but missed the rest of the season through injury. In the following spring he won the Gree ...

(1984 dead-heat)'' * Nunthorpe Stakes - (1) - ''Habibti (1983)'' * Oaks - (2) - '' Circus Plume (1984), Salsabil (1990)'' *

Prince of Wales's Stakes The Prince of Wales's Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile 1 furlong and 212 yards (2,004 met ...

- (1) - ''Arthur (1971)'' * Queen Anne Stakes - (1) - ''Lahib (1992)'' *

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is s ...

- (3) - ''Trusted (1977), Lahib (1992),

Bahri Bahri ( ar, بحري) is a masculine Arabic given name, Bahri is also a surname in Punjabi Khatri families of India. Given name * Huseyin Bahri Alptekin (1957-2007), Turkish artist * Bahri Tanrıkulu (born 1980), Turkish taekwondo athlete Surname ...

(1995)'' * Racing Post Trophy - (1) - ''

Beauchamp King Beauchamp King (17 May 1993 – after 2007) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After finishing third on his racecourse debut he won his remaining four races as a two-year-old in 1995, including victories in the Autumn Stakes and ...

(1995)'' *

St. James's Palace Stakes The St James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 7 furlongs and 213 yards (1,603 metres). It is sched ...

- (3) - '' Posse (1980), Marju (1991), Bahri (1995)'' *

St. Leger The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a d ...

- (3) - ''Moon Madness (1986), Silver Patriarch (1997), Millenary (2000)'' *

Sun Chariot Stakes The Sun Chariot Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 ...

- (1) - ''Talented (1993)'' * Sussex Stakes - (1) - ''Posse (1980)'' *

Yorkshire Oaks The Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile 3 fu ...

- (2) - ''

Awaasif Awaasif (27 April 1979 – May 2004) was a Canadian-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After winning once as a two-year-old in 1981, she emerged as a top-class middle-distance runner in the following season, when she ...

(1982), Circus Plume (1984)'' ---- France * Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud - (1) - ''Moon Madness (1987)'' * Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp - (1) - ''Habibti (1983)'' *

Prix du Cadran The Prix du Cadran is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 4,000 metres (about 2 miles), and it is scheduled to take ...

- (2) - ''San Sebastian (2000), Give Notice (2002)'' * Prix Ganay - (1) - ''Golden Snake (2001)'' * Prix Jean Prat - (1) - ''Olden Times (2001)'' * Prix Marcel Boussac - (3) - ''Ashayer (1987), Salsabil (1989), Shadayid (1990)'' * Prix Vermeille - (2) - ''Salsabil (1990), Leggera (1998)'' ---- Germany * Aral-Pokal - (1) - ''Almaarad (1988)'' *

Bayerisches Zuchtrennen The Bayerisches Zuchtrennen is a Group 1 flat horse race in Germany open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Munich over a distance of 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year on the last Sun ...

- (1) - ''Highland Chieftain (1986)'' * Preis von Europa - (3) - ''Taipan (1997, 1998), Golden Snake (2000)'' ---- Ireland * Irish 1,000 Guineas - (2) - ''Black Satin (1970),

Mehthaaf Mehthaaf (foaled 3 February 1991) was an American-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She showed great promise as a two-year-old in 1993, winning on her second racecourse appearance and going on to finish third in both th ...

(1994)'' * Irish 2,000 Guineas - (1) - ''

(1983)'' * Irish Champion Stakes - (1) - '' North Stoke (1977)'' *

- (2) - ''Shirley Heights (1978), Salsabil (1990)'' *

Irish St. Leger The Irish St Leger is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 1 mile and 6 furlongs (2,816 metres), and it i ...

- (1) - ''

Mountain Lodge Mountain Lodge was the former summer residence of the Governor of Hong Kong on Victoria Peak on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The second building was a two-storey Renaissance style home and was demolished in 1946. The site is now the ...

(1983)'' * Matron Stakes - (3) - ''Llyn Gwynant (1988), Cloud of Dust (1992), Iftiraas (2000)'' * Moyglare Stud Stakes - (1) - ''Habibti (1982)'' ---- Italy *

Derby Italiano The Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres (about 1 mile and 3 furlongs), and it is scheduled to take place each year in ...

- (1) - ''Tommy Way (1986)'' *

Gran Criterium The Gran Criterium is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Milan over a distance of 1,500 metres (about 1 mile), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October. The event he ...

- (4) - ''Sanam (1986), Sikeston (1988), Alhijaz (1991), Hello (1996)'' *

Gran Premio del Jockey Club The Gran Premio del Jockey Club is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in October. T ...

- (3) - ''Silvernesian (1992), Silver Patriarch (1998), Golden Snake (2000)'' * Gran Premio di Milano - (1) - ''Alwuhush (1989)'' * Premio Lydia Tesio - (3) - ''Miss Secreto (1989), Oumaldaaya (1992), Claxon (2000)'' *

Premio Parioli The Premio Parioli is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run over a distance of 1,600 metres (about 1 mile) at Capannelle in April. It is Italy's equivalent of the 2000 Gui ...

- (2) - ''Sikeston (1989), Alhijaz (1992)'' * Premio Presidente della Repubblica - (2) - ''Jalmood (1983), Alwuhush (1989)'' *

Premio Roma The Premio Roma is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Capannelle over a distance 2,000 metres (about 1¼ miles), and it is scheduled to take place each year in November. History The e ...

- (4) - ''High Hawk (1983), Highland Chieftain (1989), Taipan (1997, 1998)'' * Premio Vittorio di Capua - (2) - ''Alhijaz (1992, 1993)''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dunlop, John 1939 births 2018 deaths British racehorse trainers Officers of the Order of the British Empire People from Tetbury Sportspeople from Gloucestershire