Mick Fitzgerald leads tributes following death of Sir Robert Ogden

Sir Robert Ogden, whose mauve and pink silks were famously carried to notable success over jumps by the likes of Voy Por Ustedes, has died at the age of 86.

One of the richest and most private men in Yorkshire, he jointly owned Cheltenham Gold Cup winner See More Business, with Paul Barber, in his later career, Gold Cup runner-up Exotic Dancer and Marlborough.

He later concentrated on the Flat and enjoyed Group One success with Sans Frontieres and Amazing Maria.

Born in Wisby, Bradford, on January 15, 1936, the eldest of six children, the proud Yorkshireman built a fortune after completing two years’ national service. Having started a demolition and site clearance business, he created an empire through quarrying, mining and moving into the property development business on a huge scale.

He became one of the first to spot the potential of developing the London Docklands, but despite his wealth – he was worth £153 million according to the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List – he never forgot his roots and was a generous donator to charities in Yorkshire, notably those connected to palliative care for cancer.

For 20 years the Ogden Group was based at Boston Hall in Boston Spa. The grade two-listed Georgian house, which was built in 1807, was sold to the Yorkshire and England cricket legend Geoffrey Boycott in 2013 and the group moved to offices in the centre of Harrogate.

The company, which also manufactured equipment used in engineering, quarrying and mining, was founded by Robert and his brothers Joseph, Victor and John. Their success was crowned with the Queen’s Award for Industry.

The financial rewards of his highly successful business empire allowed Ogden to indulge in his passion for racing.

Although brought up around horses, his racing interest began via the haulage tycoon and former trainer Jack Hanson, a friend and neighbour of his in the village of Sicklinghall, near Wetherby.

Ogden’s first winner came in a five-furlong maiden on the Flat at Haydock when Midnight Melody obliged on November 12, 1975.

He owned half-shares in horses trained by Hanson, and their best winners were Frankie, Winter Melody and Smokey Bear.

Ogden, who disliked publicity and rarely spoke to the media – except about his charity work – lived at Sicklinghall Stud, although he spent winters abroad with his wife, Ana.

He was knighted in 2001 for his charity efforts, which include the Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre in Harrogate and the Robert Ogden School at Thurnscoe, with his philanthropy also including university scholarships for youngsters from poor backgrounds.

Ogden was initially a major owner over jumps and was champion in that sphere on three occasions (1996/97, 1999/00, 2000/01) with his best horses being Voy Por Ustedes, Marlborough, See More Business and Exotic Dancer.

See More Business won the 1999 Cheltenham Gold Cup and two King George VI Chases for owners Paul Barber and John Keighley, and Ogden bought Keighley’s half-share in January 2000.

Though See More Business never won a Grade One for him, he became the main contributor to his second title that season with a runaway success in the Aon Chase at Newbury and the Martell Cup at Aintree. He was officially rated the champion chaser, jointly with Looks Like Trouble, to whom he had been fourth when favourite for the Gold Cup.

Voy Por Ustedes and Star De Mohaison pulled off the Grade One novice chase double in the Arkle and Royal & SunAlliance Chase for trainers Alan King and Martin Todhunter respectively at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival.

Yet it was Voy Por Ustedes who became Ogden’s top chaser, landing the 2007 Queen Mother Champion Chase, the 2009 Ascot Chase and a pair of Aintree Melling Chases in a stellar career.

Exotic Dancer and Voy Por Ustedes were the highest-rated horses to carry Ogden’s colours over jumps and would arguably have won more top-level races had they not had the misfortune to share the spotlight with the likes of Kauto Star and Master Minded.

Marlborough, trained by Nicky Henderson, was Ogden’s first Cheltenham Festival winner in the National Hunt Handicap Chase in 2000. He also took the Charlie Hall Chase and was second to Best Mate in the King George.

The late Gordon Richards won a Great Yorkshire Chase for Ogden with General Command and also provided him with a Grand Military Chase via On The Other Hand, ridden by the owner’s son, Adam.

In business, his attention turned to property development, and he owned shopping centres in Leeds and Harrogate.

In recent years, his racing interests had also changed focus, concentrating on the Flat. He sold all his jumpers in March 2012 as he was spending his winters overseas.

He had consecutive Albany Stakes winners La Chunga and Sander Camillo (2005-06) and their trainer, Jeremy Noseda, also handled Sans Frontieres, the owner’s only Classic winner in the Irish St Leger (2010).

The David O’Meara-trained Amazing Maria was a dual Group One winner in 2015.

Ogden is survived by his second wife Lady Ana Ogden, and two sons Adam and Robert from his first marriage.

Mick Fitzgerald was among those to pay tribute to Sir Robert Ogden on Wednesday.

While in recent years Ogden’s interests had been on the Flat due to him living abroad in the winter, originally his first love was National Hunt racing.

Fitzgerald, in his role as stable jockey to Nicky Henderson, rode some big winners in Ogden’s pink and purple checked silks with classy performers such as Marlborough and Iris Royal and he also teamed up with See More Business later in his career.

“I was very fortunate that I always got on really well with him and I think my best memory of him was a trip to France a few of us had on his private jet,” said Fitzgerald.

“Myself, Joe Tizzard, I think Paul Nicholls was with us, his racing manager Barry Simpson and his stud manager Gary (Norton) went over to Paris to look at some horses.

“We went for lunch after that and we basically had a very good afternoon! He was a very down to earth man, I enjoyed his company and got on well with him.

“He liked to support the northern scene too and I remember winning the Feltham on Keith Reveley’s Ungaro, that was a great day. It was a big day for Keith and I was delighted to be part of that for them.

“He bought into See More Business after he won the Gold Cup and he went on to win good races like the Martell Cup in his colours. He also had Marlborough who was a very good horse.

“I have some very nice photos, a really good one of Marlborough winning at Cheltenham, I had a lot of success in his colours.”

Jonjo O’Neill trained the high class Exotic Dancer for Ogden, although he had the misfortune of being around at the same time as Kauto Star and Denman.

Nevertheless, in 2006 he won the feature chases at Cheltenham’s November and December meetings, joining an elite list, and went on to be second in the Gold Cup that season, as well as winning the Cotswold Chase and Betfair Bowl.

After that he found Kauto Star in his way on plenty of occasions, but did manage to avoid him by going to win the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in 2008.

O’Neill tweeted: “Very sad to hear that Sir Robert Ogden has passed away. We enjoyed some incredible days with Exotic Dancer, notably winning the Lexus and a second in the Gold Cup. He was a wonderful gentleman who will be sadly missed. My thoughts are with his family and friends.”

David Dennis, now a trainer, partnered the Martin Todhunter-trained Kingsmark to win three Edward Hamner Memorial Chases at Haydock.

He posted: “Sad news that Sir Robert Ogden has passed away. Condolences to his family. I have fond memories riding many winners for him back in the day – in particular Kingsmark to win 3 consecutive Edward Hamner Memorial Chase⁩ in my conditional jockey days #greatdays.”