We reproduce the article below courtesy of the Racing Post.
THE long and glorious career of Britain's champion Flat trainer Richard Hannon will officially come to an end next month after he revealed to the Racing Post that son and assistant Richard jnr will take over the stable's training licence on January 1.
Hannon, who became champion for the fifth time this month, has written to owners, including the Queen, informing them that he will stand down at the end of the year.
In a glittering career that has endured since 1970, Hannon has been associated with a large number of top-class horses, including most recently star milers Canford Cliffs, Toronado and Olympic Glory.
The 68-year-old also this year trained his fourth British Classic winner when outstanding filly Sky Lantern landed the 1,000 Guineas under son-in-law and stable jockey Richard Hughes.
Hannon said on Thursday: "It has been a long career and I've trained a lot of winners but it's about time that Richard got his name on the roster of trainers.
"It was always going to happen, but Richard jnr has served his apprenticeship and you cannot keep him waiting forever. Ian Balding passed the baton to Andrew and Barry Hills did likewise to Charlie, and it is only right that Richard should now take over.
"We thought long and hard as to when to make the announcement, but I wanted to make sure all my owners knew first, especially the Queen, and now that all the yearlings are in for next season it is the appropriate moment to let everyone know. After all, it is Richard's 38th birthday today - what better present could he ask for?
"Inevitably, people will say that I have retired, but I will still be up and out at first lot and assisting Richard instead of him assisting me.
"It is not my style to lay in bed all morning - I love being with the horses, but these past couple of seasons I have started to wind down and go racing less.
"I will still go to Newbury and Salisbury and also Royal Ascot and Goodwood, but I am now 68 and maybe it is time that I dropped down a gear.
"The quality of horses he has definitely improved these last two or three years, and that is down to Richard jnr. It was him who brought in Sheikh Hamdan [Al Maktoum] and Sheikh Joaan [Al Thani] among others, and we can now go to the bloodstock sales with fatter cheque books than we have done in the past."
Hannon also reflected on some of the horses he has been involved with.
He added: "I have been lucky enough to have trained some great horses. The first Classic winner is always special and I will never forget Mon Fils [1973] landing that Guineas, while Tirol and Don't Forget Me also have prominent places in the scrapbook, but there have been plenty of others, notably Canford Cliffs, Paco Boy, Toronado, Sky Lantern and Olympic Glory.
"We have one more roll of the dice this year, Sky Lantern in the Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on December 8. We have enjoyed another fabulous season, with seven Group 1 winners and £5.5 million in prize-money, but it would be nice to finish with one more biggie, and maybe Sky Lantern can make the dream become reality. She is very well and she will love the fast ground out there.
"Then who knows Richard jnr might get off to a flying start by winning the 2,000 Guineas with Toormore or one of the others. Now that would be the perfect lift-off, wouldn't it?"
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