The Newmarket racing community is in mourning at the passing of Julie Cecil, one of the town's most beloved figures, on Wednesday morning.
Born in North Yorkshire in February 1942, Cecil's life was framed by racehorses from the outset. Her father, the multiple champion trainer Sir Noel Murless, was based initially at Hambleton Lodge on Sutton Bank before moving to Beckhampton and on to Newmarket, where Cecil remained for seven decades until her death at the age of 80.
A superb horsewoman, Cecil rode out in her father's string daily, and in 1959, long before the days when women were allowed to ride in formal races, she won Newmarket's most historic race, the 3m6f Town Plate, riding the Humphrey Cottrill-trained Adam's Walk to victory for Stanhope Joel.
She met her former husband Henry Cecil when he was a young assistant to his stepfather Captain Cecil Boyd-Rochfort at Freemason Lodge in Newmarket. The couple, who married in 1966 and had two children, Noel and Katie, moved into Warren Place upon the retirement of Sir Noel Murless a decade later.
By then, Henry Cecil was already a Classic-winning trainer, and he would go on to secure ten champion trainer titles, elevating Warren Place to one of the most glamorous and successful stables in Europe. Julie, always referred to as 'Madam' by the Warren Place staff, was vital to the success of the stable, not least as a key work rider, a role in which she was fiercely competitive.
Following the Cecils' divorce in 1990, Julie began training in her own right from Southgate Stables on Newmarket's Hamilton Road, sending out her first winner, Golan Heights (GB) (Shirley Heights {GB}), on the Rowley Mile on April 18, 1991. The 4-year-old was ridden by her old friend and ally Lester Piggott, who gave the trainer a kiss in the winner's enclosure.
Along with a number of staff who moved with her from Warren Place was Golan Heights's owner/breeder Lord Howard de Walden, a long-time supporter of that stable through the Murless and Cecil years. The owner of Plantation Stud extended his loyalty to Julie and among the horses she trained successfully for him was the G2 King Edward VII S. and G2 Cumberland Lodge S. winner Kingfisher Mill (Riverman).
As the news of Cecil's passing was broken during Newmarket's Craven meeting, trainer Ed Dunlop paid a heartfelt tribute, saying, “Julie was simply the queen of Newmarket. She was a great friend to my parents. She looked after my brothers and me and she was just a wonderful lady.
“When she became ill social media was a great thing for her as she loved keeping up with everyone on Instagram and Facebook, especially through the last few years during lockdown. She had such a wonderful sense of humour; she loved having rude jokes sent to her by us all. This is a very sad day. She will be very sadly missed.”
Cecil's long-time friend Wendy Milbank said, “Julie was loved by so many people. I will so miss her filthy language and even filthier jokes, but of course she will be best remembered for her kindness and generosity. This truly is the end of an era.”
In an interview with Bloodstock Notebook in 2020, Julie Cecil reflected on her time in racing and Newmarket.
“We had so much fun, and there were so many characters,” she said. “At one point, Dad was the biggest trainer here. But now some of the trainers have 300 horses and I don't see how you even have time to look at the buggers.”
She added, “I don't think people have time now to become characters.”
Julie Cecil, a woman of great poise and charm, was one of the sport's true characters for all the right reasons. She will be fondly remembered by many throughout the racing world, not only for her infamous and devilish sense of humour and fun, but for the great interest she took in and support she gave to people of all ages within the sport.
She is survived by her son Noel, daughter Katie, and grandchildren Olivia and Jack, to whom we extend our sincere condolences.
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