Kenneth Mattis

Orville Clarke, Star Writer

The memorial service for the late Hall of Fame jockey and trainer Kenneth Mattis O.D. takes place this morning at the Stella Maris Church, 62 Shortwood Road, starting at 11 a.m.

Mattis died on Saturday, October 18 at age 78. He leaves behind wife Yvonne, six children, grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

'Kiddy', as he was affectionately called, had the distinction of being the only racing personality to be inducted twice into the Hall of Fame of Thoroughbred racing, firstly, as a jockey with 446 career wins in 1985, and as trainer in 2001 with 1,070 wins.

outstanding

As a jockey during his heyday in the '60s, his favourite horse was the outstanding native bred sprinter NONE SUCH, who was voted 'Horse of the Year' in 1967 under the guidance of trainer Allan 'Billy' Williams.

Prior to his retirement in 2008, Mattis conditioned a string of outstanding horses in a training career spanning 40 years. Best of them was the legendary LEGAL LIGHT, Horse of the Year in 1978 and 1979, as well as the illustrious ROYAL DAD, who distinguished himself as the first Triple Crown winner at Caymanas Park and the first to win 11 consecutive races that year; not to mention the 1985 Derby and Superstakes winner D'S A LEGEND, KHADULLAH, LEGAL MAN, PERSIAN INVADER, RAMOCAN, SHINING HOUR, NEIL'S BOY and the fillies NAHEELAH and RICOCHET.