Racing: Former champion trainer Martin Pipe has announced that he is to hand over the reins to his son David with immediate effect.
Pipe, who was champion National Hunt trainer on a staggering 15 occasions, has not been in the best of health of late and announced his decision on the Channel 4 programme The Morning Line.
It was no secret that David was due to take over at the Nicholashayne yard in Somerset but it had been thought that his father would continue at least into the next season.
However, Pipe shocked the racing world with his announcement and the career of true racing great has come to an end.
"I've not been in the best of health lately and I've taken the decision that it's time for David to take over," said Pipe.
"I'd like to be remembered for training horses who tried their best. I got a great thrill out of getting horses to enjoy their racing and getting them to try their best.
Pipe has been handed the mantle by many as the man who revolutionised training but when asked the question as to how he went about doing that he was his usual modest self.
"I suppose I just tried to get the horses fitter than any other trainer and hopefully David can continue that," said Pipe.
"I feel sure that that will happen. He is ambitious and energetic and things will continue to go the same way hopefully."
Champion jockey Tony McCoy was fulsome in his praise of a man who has provided him with a huge percentage of his winners.
"I would just like to thank Martin for everything he has done for me.
"I have learned so much from working with him and racing will be worse off without him.
"David has been very lucky that he has been able to learn from the best in the business and hopefully he will do as well as his dad.
"He was a brilliant boss and I'm not just saying that because he has retired and you knew his horses were always fit and trying their best and I think I rode nearly 1200 winners for him in seven years."
"It's a very exciting venture for David," continued Pipe. "He's really looking forward to it."