Where, and when, did Sir Henry Cecil begin his training career?

The late Sir Henry Cecil, who was knighted for services to horse racing in June 2011 and died two years later, aged 70, was one of the most successful trainers in British history. In his heyday, he was champion trainer on ten occasions between 1976 and 1993 and, in a career spanning six decades, saddled a total of 25 British Classic winners. Cecil won the Oaks nine times and the 1,000 Guineas eight times, highlighting his prowess as a trainer of fillies, but also won the Derby and the St. Leger four times apiece and the 2,000 Guineas three times. In the latter years of his career, he was best known for his handling of Frankel, who retired unbeaten in 14 races in October 2012 and was susbequently announced as the highest-rated horse in the history of World Thoughbred Rankings.

Born near Aberdeen, Scotland on January 11, 1943, Cecil gained work experience at studs in Newmarket, France and America before completing his education at the Royal Agricutural College (now the Royal Agricultural University) in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. In November 1964, he became assistant trainer to his stepfather, Sir Cecil Boyd-Rochfort, at Freemason Lodge Stables on the Bury Road in Newmarket. By that stage, Boyd-Rochfort was coming towards the end of his career, but had already become champion trainer five times, in 1937, 1938, 1954, 1955 and 1958. He retired in 1968 and the following year Cecil took out a training licence in his own right, saddling his first winner, Celestial Cloud, at Ripon in May, 1969.