Both heroes of racing’s greatest legend now are gone, since the human element, the great Pat Taaffe has died. How well do we recall his glory days, when heroic deeds set our hearts awash in wholesome racial pride. And he rode without a magical golden bridle – such as Minerva bestowed on favoured Bellorophon - just his own great strength and matchless natural balance that conjoined rider and mount and made them one. Born to the saddle, he made the task in hand look easy, with the cool bridled control of perfect racing hands, and inspiration sprung of the keenest of racing minds. In tumult, where lesser men would falter he calmly followed his plans. The mighty performing partnership of Pat Taaffe and Arkle is thus best expressed in a musical corollary: Fritz Kreisler’s handling of the sweetest Stradivarius playing the most uplifting and exciting Irish rhapsody. However, with or without the mighty Arkle’s efforts, Pat proved his worth as the horseman supreme. He showed his mettle too in the battle of life – A quiet example of what true courage means! The fame and honours he won were easily carried by Pat Taaffe though none other could claim like him to have done it all! This giant among champions always remained unchanged – the essence of a true-born gentleman withal!