Willie Mullins awarded Honorary Life Membership to the RDS

William (Willie) Peter Mullins was recently presented with Honorary Life Membership to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in acknowledgement of his contributions to horse jump racing, both at home and abroad. While he was born and raised in County Kilkenny, he has been based at his world-renowned stable in Closutton, Bagenalstown, County Carlow for his entire professional training career.

Willie Mullins is a record-breaking champion, National Hunt racehorse trainer and former Champion Amateur Jockey.

Born in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, Willie grew up in a household deeply rooted in the horse racing world. His father, Paddy Mullins, was a respected trainer renowned for his success with both flat and jump horses, including the legendary mare Dawn Run, while his mother, Maureen, was an accomplished breeder. The family's remarkable racing tradition continues through Willie, his wife Jacqueline, and their son Patrick.

Before taking out his training licence, Willie dominated the amateur ranks in Ireland, being crowned Irish Champion Amateur Jockey on six occasions. During his riding career, he secured three victories at the Cheltenham Festival, including a memorable win aboard his own horse, Wither or Which, in the 1996 Champion Bumper. He also won the Aintree Fox Hunters' Chase in 1983 aboard Atha Cliath.

Willie Mullins began his training career in 1988 with a small stable and a handful of horses. His first winner as a trainer came with Silver Bachelor at Thurles. From those modest beginnings, he steadily built what has become one of the most successful training operations in racing history.

Today, he is the winning-most trainer in Irish racing history and a nineteen-time Irish National Hunt Champion Trainer. He is also the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham Festival, having saddled 121 winners as of 2026. His record includes five Cheltenham Gold Cup victories and six Champion Hurdle wins. His first Gold Cup winner was Al Boum Photo, who triumphed in 2019 - 2020, followed by Galopin Des Champs in 2023 - 2024. In 2026, Gaelic Warrior delivered his fifth Cheltenham Gold Cup success.

Among the outstanding horses trained by Willie Mullins is Hurricane Fly, a true legend of the sport, who won the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle twice and five consecutive Irish Champion Hurdles.

Other exceptional horses trained by Willie include Faugheen, Quevega, Douvan, I Am Maximus (winner of the Grand National in 2024 and 2026), Nick Rockett (2025 Grand National) and Hedgehunter (2005 Grand National).

His achievements extend well beyond Cheltenham. Willie has won the Irish Gold Cup fifteen times and the Punchestown Gold Cup eight times, while also enjoying considerable international success with winners in France, Australia, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

In the 2023–2024 season, Willie won the British Jump Racing Champion Trainer title, becoming the first trainer based in Ireland to claim the championship since Vincent O'Brien in 1954. He successfully defended the title in 2024–2025, overcoming long-time leader Dan Skelton on the final afternoon of the National Hunt season.

Across an extraordinary career, Willie Mullins has ridden more than 500 winners as a jockey and trained more than 4,000 winners.

In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Willie and his wife Jackie were invited to ride in the King's Procession at Royal Ascot in 2023, with Willie receiving the honour again in 2026.

The Royal Dublin Society (RDS) are proud to have presented Honorary Life Membership to Mr William (Willie) Peter Mullins and is honoured that this brilliant trainer and jockey, a leader of the Irish horse jump racing industry both here and abroad, joins the distinguished roll of recipients.