Ian Renton | Horse Racing Free Tips

Cheltenham will honour the late Lorna Brooke on Friday's seven-race Hunter Chase Racing card. The penultimate race on the card, the Lorna Brooke Open Hunters' Chase goes off at 7.45p.m. Brooke, 37, passed away Apr. 19 as the result of a spinal injury sustained during a fall at Taunton Racecourse Apr. 18.

“Lorna was a dear friend and rode for me on many occasions,” said Shropshire-based Philip Rowley. “I will always be thankful to her for providing me with my first winner under Rules, which was The General Lee in the Chase Meredith Memorial Trophy at Ludlow (in March 2011).

“It is just all so, so sad. I would like to thank Cheltenham Racecourse for naming tomorrow's race in Lorna's honour–it's a very touching tribute.”

Ian Renton, regional managing director of The Jockey Club, added, “[Friday]'s Race Night is the one fixture of the year at Cheltenham purely for amateur riders and it only seemed right to honour Lorna in this way.”

“It is sure to be a very emotional occasion as Lorna was such a popular figure and everyone at the racecourse will be united in her memory.”

A celebration of Brooke's life will be held Monday, May 24 at Ludlow Racecourse. For those wishing to attend, contact Ludlow Racecourse at mail@ludlowracecourse.co.uk.

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Former Cheltenham racecourse chairman Lord Vestey has died at the age of 79. Samuel Vestey, 3rd Baron Vestey, whose wife Celia, the sister of Gold Cup-winning trainer Henrietta Knight, died last year, aged 71, had a long association with the sport. Sporting his familiar blue silks, his runners enjoyed success over jumps and on the Flat.

Jamie Osborne, now a successful trainer, was in the irons when the Knight-trained Karshi (GB) (Persian Bold {Ire}) delivered one of Vestey's biggest wins.

Owned and bred by Vestey himself, he won the 1997 Stayers' Hurdle at 20-1.

“Both Lord and Lady Vestey were an absolute pleasure to have anything to do with,” said Osborne. “They were wonderful people to ride for and wonderful people to be around.

“It's a very sad day, and my thoughts go out to his family. He was a wonderful man.”

Also paying tribute to Vestey, Ian Renton, regional managing director for Cheltenham's owners, Jockey Club Racecourses, said, “We are very saddened to hear of the passing of friend and former Cheltenham chairman, Lord Vestey. He was a true gentleman and genuinely lovely man who did so much for our sport, and played a huge role in creating the Cheltenham racecourse that we know today. He will be sorely missed by us all at The Jockey Club, and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.”

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