Galileo’s induction into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame has today been officially recognised through a high-profile presentation moment at Ascot Racecourse. HRH The Duchess of Cornwall presented a specially-commissioned medal by Asprey to Coolmore’s MV Magnier, whose family owned the champion racehorse. The medal presentation took place following the flagship race, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, a race won by Galileo with an outstanding performance 21 years ago.

Galileo (1998-2021) was one of the greatest racehorses of all time, both in terms of his outstanding achievements on the track and latterly as the dominant sire of his generation. He becomes the second horse to be inducted into the official Hall of Fame for British Flat racing via a public vote, having secured a tight victory against his impressive rivals, Sea The Stars and Shergar.

The public were invited to decide on one horse to be inducted into the Hall of Fame from a shortlist of three Derby-winning greats agreed by the Hall of Fame’s independent judging panel. The special Derby vote was held in recognition of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, with The Cazoo Epsom Derby having formed a part of the official celebrations.

Galileo put in a dazzling performance to win The Derby in 2001, before he went on to become a record-breaking stallion. When he died last summer, aged 23, he had already established himself as a stallion quite like no other, with a record 91 individual Group 1 winners.

Russian Emperor, Tuesday, Kyprios and Magical Lagoon have combined to give him five more winners at the highest level so far this year.

Susan Magnier, Galileo’s co-owner during his racing career, said: “We are thrilled that Galileo has been inducted into QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame. He was a very special horse to everyone here at Coolmore and Ballydoyle and we hope that his legacy will continue for many years to come.

“Given the special year of Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we were delighted that the panel focused on Derby winners for the shortlist and that the public vote saw Galileo chosen.”

As well as his victories in both the King George and The Derby, Galileo won multiple high-profile races in Ireland, including the Irish Derby. He was Champion Sire in Great Britain and Ireland on 12 occasions (he could yet win more), and became the most successful Group 1 sire, with 85 individual victors, when Peaceful won the Irish 1000 Guineas in 2020, breaking Danehill’s world record and becoming the most successful source of Group 1 winners in thoroughbred history.

Galileo’s progeny, which includes the incredible, unbeaten Frankel, continue to amaze and delight both on and off of the track; contenders at Ascot during the afternoon included his grandsons Westover, who went off favourite in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, and Broome, who also ran in the headline race.

Galileo joins recent inductees Frankie Dettori and Dancing Brave within the Hall of Fame’s ‘Class of 2022’, and is the seventh horse to be inducted into the Hall of Fame after Frankel, Brigadier Gerard, Nijinsky, Mill Reef, Dayjur and Dancing Brave. Dayjur is the only other horse to also have been chosen for entry via a public vote.