Champion trainer Henry Cecil dies at 70

Henry Cecil had been away from the racetracks of England for two months last August fighting illness when he made the trip from his home in Newmarket to York for the Juddmonte International Stakes.

The occasion was the 13th start in the career of the undefeated colt Frankel, whom Cecil trained for Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. Cecil had missed Frankel's win in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood earlier that month while undergoing treatment for cancer, but was determined to be at York.

Frankel was brilliant in the Juddmonte International, winning by seven lengths. The colt received a rousing reception. Then, Cecil walked into the winner's circle to a standing ovation from an adoring audience.

"I just cannot miss the day and wanted to be there for Frankel," he told the press.

Frankel was the greatest horse that Cecil trained in a career considered by many the finest of any trainer since World War II. Tuesday, Cecil died after a battle with cancer in Cambridge, England. He was 70.

His death was announced on his stable's website in a brief statement.

"It is with great sadness that Warren Place Stables confirms the passing of Sir Henry Cecil earlier this morning," the statement said on Tuesday.

Cecil, based in Newmarket, was the champion trainer in England 10 times. Aside from winning the English Derby four times, Cecil also won the English Oaks eight times, and won 25 British classic races. He is the all-time leading trainer at the Royal Ascot meeting, with 75 wins.

Cecil had success in the United States, winning the 2009 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita with Midday and the 1997 Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park with Yashmak.

Born near Aberdeen, Scotland, Cecil won the English 2000 Guineas three times, most recently with Frankel in 2011. Frankel, named after the late American Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, was unbeaten in his 14 starts, from 2010 to 2012, and is considered one of the finest milers in history.

Frankel was bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, which played a pivotal role in Cecil's success in the last 30 years.

For Juddmonte, Cecil also trained such notable Group 1 winners as Beat Hollow, Commander in Chief, and Twice Over. Twice Over was third in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Cecil began training in 1968, and won his first training title in 1976. At one point, he had more than 200 horses in training, a number that dwindled in the early 2000s. In 2006, he announced that he had stomach cancer. A year later, Cecil won the English Oaks for the eighth time with Light Shift.

Frankel joined his stable in 2010 and won twice at Royal Ascot - the 2011 St. James's Palace Stakes and 2012 Queen Anne Stakes.

In 2011, Cecil was knighted by the queen for services to horse racing.

Tuesday, the four racecourses operating in England - Fontwell, Lingfield, Salisbury and Worcester - observed a minute's silence in honor of Cecil.