The passing of a legend

The sad news broke on Monday morning that the legendary trainer Peter (M.H.- Miles Henry) Easterby had passed away at the age of 95. One of, if not, the greatest dual purpose trainer of the modern era, he trained 2,513 winners during a career which spanned 46 years. Champion trainer over jumps on three occasions, Peter trained 13 winners at the Cheltenham Festival including five Champion Hurdles and the Cheltenham Gold Cup twice. Equally adept on the Flat, his CV contained two Royal Ascot winners and three Ayr Gold Cups amongst others. 

Aside from all the statistics and plaudits, I was lucky enough to meet Peter on a number of occasions - mainly, whilst visting his son Tim for my books. Both he and his late wife Marjorie were always very welcoming at Habton Grange Stables in Great Habton, near Malton. During my younger days when first getting into the sport, I was brought up watching his horses at the likes of Catterick and Wetherby. I will never forget going to the former venue specifically to watch Champion Hurdle fourth Nohalmdun make his chasing debut in November 1988. Needless to say, the seven year old jumped beautifully and barely came off the bridle under Lorcan Wyer. Those sort of memories are priceless. Everyone will have their own favourite Peter Easterby memory.

Despite his advancing years, Peter remained an integral part of the team at Great Habton and he still went racing when his health allowed. Since his wife's passing, he was a regular at the local pub, the Grapes Inn in the village. My much missed Racing UK colleague Tom O'Ryan was apprentice to the stable in the 1970s and was very close to the family. Tom died in 2016 and I hope the pair are catching up this evening. Horse racing has lost a true legend.