FORMER top-notch jockey and many times champion trainer and the only horseman to be inducted in the illustrious Hall of Fame twice, as a trainer and as a jockey, Kenneth Barrington Mattis, passed away early yesterday.

Mattis, who was retired, is best remembered for his riding association with the great None Such and for training horses the likes of Royal Dad, Legal Light, Khadullah, and Persian Invader.

Only recently (September 12) Mattis was at the track to present the trophy named in his honour. He was 78, and is survived by his widow Yvonne.

Mattis rode his first winner Booming Star in 1952, and eventually ended his riding career with a total of 446 winners, before acquiring his trainer’s licence on April 12, 1972.

He unsaddled his first winner Rumpster about two months later, and totalled 1,070 career winners, which still has him fourth on the all-time list, and career stakes earnings of $77,078,005, which helped him to eight trainers’ championship titles first achieved in 1979 and 1990.

Present champion trainer Wayne DaCosta hailed his colleague as a true icon of horse racing and as an individual who helped to develop racing in Jamaica.

“Very sad news we got today (yesterday) about the passing of Kenneth ‘Kiddie’ Mattis. For me, Mattis was dedicated to the profession of training horses. He worked hard and he got the results for the long hours he dedicated to the craft and for his unswerving commitment.

“Who can forget the days when he guided Royal Dad to the coveted Triple Crown in 1981 and his connection with Legal Light, one of the best horses ever to grace our track. Quite rightly he was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame as a jockey and as a trainer.

“Mattis was a true icon of racing and the industry will be the poorer for his passing,” DaCosta told the Sunday Observer.

Chief Executive Officer at Caymanas Park, Cedric Stewart, commenting on the passing of Mattis, said: “Racing has lost one of its leading lights. ‘Kiddie’ was an exemplary person, an exemplary jockey, and an exemplary trainer. While his records as a jockey and trainer speak for themselves, Mattis went far beyond his achievements on the track. He was ‘Mr Racing’ for a long time and many youngsters wanted to be like Kenneth, he set the bar and he did so with honour and pride.

“Who can forget his love for dominoes and even after he decided to retire he was often seen at the Park on racedays playing dominoes in the trainers’ room. Sad, sad day for racing and on behalf of the promoting company, I offer sincerest condolences to his widow Yvonne and may his soul rest in peace.”