‘Incredible character’ Geoff Lewis dies aged 89

Harry Herbert hailed leading jockey-turned-trainer Geoff Lewis as “one of racing’s great characters” following his death at the age of 89.

Lewis was best known for his association with the great Mill Reef during his days in the saddle, a horse he rode to victory in both the Derby and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1971.

Following the end of his riding career in 1979, he began training from Thirty Acre Barn in Epsom, the racing town where he had served as an apprentice to Ron Smyth as a teenager.

From a relatively small stable he enjoyed great success with horses such as the top sprinter Lake Coniston, who he trained for Highclere Thoroughbred Racing in the early days of their enterprise.

Lake Coniston’s triumphs included the July Cup, the Duke of York, the Abernant, the Diadem and the Hackwood Stakes, and Lewis’ contribution to the early prosperity of Highclere was significant.

“It is incredibly sad news, Geoff really got us going at Highclere,” said Harry Herbert, founder and chairman of the syndicate.

“He trained our first champion, Lake Coniston, to win the July Cup in 1995 and he was such an incredible character.

“Anyone who had horses with us and Geoff in those early days will never forget the stable visits, his daughter Mary would cook our members the most delicious lunches and Geoff and his wife Noelene were like a double act.

“They were wonderful; warm, welcoming and great entertainers.

“We were fortunate enough to have some really good horses with Geoff, not just Lake Coniston but Referendum too, who was second in the National Stakes in Ireland.

“He was very generous in his efforts to get Highclere started, he called on friends of his and other owners and we probably ended up having seven or eight horses with him because he was so supportive.

“It was a sad day when he gave up training. We have wonderful memories of a marvellous man, a hugely talented jockey, a hugely talented trainer and one of racing’s great characters. We will miss him.”

Mill Reef also provided Lewis with victories in the Dewhurst and the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with the rider claiming plenty of other notable prizes including the Stewards’ Cup aboard Tudor Monarch for Sir Winston Churchill in 1959, the Ascot Stakes and the Doncaster Cup aboard Queen Elizabeth II’s Magna Carta in 1970 and 2000 Guineas on Right Tack in 1969.

Simon Dow now trains at the stable where Lewis served his apprenticeship, and described him as a huge part of the racing community in Epsom.

“He was an Epsom legend, an icon, of course he won the Derby on the great Mill Reef,” he said.

“He was a force to be reckoned with, both as a jockey and as a trainer. For 20 years as a trainer he was extremely successful from Thirty Acre Barn.

“It is very unusual for good Flat jockeys to go on to be top Flat trainers but he was one of the few who made the transition.

“He was part of the fabric of Epsom. People of my age and generation have fantastic memories of him, he was a great character who was also extremely supportive and a friend to everyone in Epsom.”