MICHAEL Dickinson, the man responsible for saddling the first five home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has announced his retirement from the training ranks.

The 57-year-old is winding down operations at his Maryland farm on America's East Coast and plans to have dispersed most of his horses by mid-December to concentrate on his all-weather surface business Tapeta.

In a statement Dickinson said: "I need 100% of my time to concentrate on Tapeta Footings.

"I spent most of last winter overseas and 50% of my time this summer visiting Tapeta installations in five countries, which obviously leaves little time for training.

"I have been concerned for some time about the welfare of horses racing on unsuitable surfaces and really want to repay the horse in my own small way.

"In the United Kingdom, I am most proud of being champion jumps trainer three times and of winning the Racing Post's award for the Greatest Training Feat.

"In America, I am most proud of being runner-up in the Eclipse Leading Trainer Award, to have received the CV Whitney Award of Special Achievement and of building Tapeta Farm, from which I sent out eight Grade One winners in the first eight years.

"Including my riding and training careers both in the United Kingdom and America, I have won a total of 1,312 races and 151 stakes races - 85 stakes races being won in America." Tweet