Latest news with #LuckOnSunday
Irish Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Horse racing trainer opens up on heartbreaking deaths of three stable staff
Warren Greatrex has opened up on the devastating deaths of three of his stable staff. The trainer and those in his yard were left heartbroken following the suicides of Michael Pitt, David Thompson and Billy Moffatt. Michael Pitt took his own life at the age of 19 in July 2021. He was found dead at a petrol station in Hungerford. The amateur rider's inquest heard how he consumed alcohol with friends and got into an argument. He left alone at around 11pm after refusing a lift home and was found dead by a shop worker just before 7am the next morning. The following February, David Thompson, 25, was found dead in woodland in Lambourn. He was reported missing after not turning up for work. And in May of this year, Billy Moffatt, 20, was found dead in his accommodation at Greatrex's yard. He had previously spent two years working for trainer Alan King. Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer Greatrex told Racing TV's Luck On Sunday about the heartbreak the three deaths caused. He said: "I am the trainer so when I have a member of staff I am like a father figure as well. Parents entrust you to look after their children. "I do feel responsible and all I am, and have been worried about, is everyone else. I never thought I'd have a situation like this. "Even now it's tough to talk about - but in the situation all you are worried about is everyone else. "None of those three lads you would have had any idea that they would do that. All three lads were really good young men. They were funny, good to be around. "Billy was a larger-than-life Newcastle lad who touched a lot of people because he was great fun to be around. But there aren't any signs." Greatrex praised charity Racing Welfare, who he said were at his yard 'within minutes' to offer support to his staff. "I think when you're surrounded by young people there will be times when there will be drinking," Greatrex added. He continued: "I always find when a member of staff comes into the yard I am responsible. But when they leave the yard I can't keep an eye on them and have their back or look after them all the time. "There will be times when members of staff come to speak to me or someone else senior like Tessa my wife, and of course we always do our best to help them. "But when they leave the yard I am helpless. Still, I want them to be able to come to me. "I am a father and when my children go anywhere, or to other yards, you want them to be looked after and navigated in the right direction." If you have been affected by the contents of this article, support can be found from the following resources: National Drugs and Alcohol Helpline: 1800 459 459 (Monday-Friday, 9.30am - 5.30pm) or helpline@ The Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours a day, 365 days of the year) or jo@
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Darryll Holland ‘owes everything' to Barry Hills
Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland's early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry. Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself. However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills' stewardship in 1991. 'I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,' said Holland. 'He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It's an end of an era really. 'I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot. 'It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him. 'He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).' There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour. Henderson said: 'We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times. 'He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end! 'He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.' Speaking to Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: 'It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven't been easy. 'He'd had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout. 'He would always call it 'God's waiting room' and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn't want to leave the party and that's what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all. 'That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years. 'He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.'
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Darryll Holland ‘owes everything' to Barry Hills
Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland's early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry. Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself. However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills' stewardship in 1991. 'I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,' said Holland. 'He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It's an end of an era really. 'I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot. 'It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him. 'He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).' There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour. Henderson said: 'We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times. 'He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end! 'He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.' Speaking to Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: 'It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven't been easy. 'He'd had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout. 'He would always call it 'God's waiting room' and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn't want to leave the party and that's what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all. 'That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years. 'He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.'
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Darryll Holland ‘owes everything' to Barry Hills
Tributes continue to pour in for the late Barry Hills, with Darryll Holland describing one of the greatest trainers of his generation as a 'father figure'. Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland's early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry. Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself. However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills' stewardship in 1991. 'I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,' said Holland. 'He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It's an end of an era really. 'I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot. 'It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him. 'He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).' There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour. Henderson said: 'We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times. 'He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end! 'He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.' Speaking to Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: 'It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven't been easy. 'He'd had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout. 'He would always call it 'God's waiting room' and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn't want to leave the party and that's what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all. 'That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years. 'He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.'
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Darryll Holland ‘owes everything' to Barry Hills
Hills, who died at the age of 88 and saddled over 3,000 winners during a long and decorated career in the training ranks, had a huge influence on Holland's early career and is also credited with setting many on the path to success within the racing industry. Holland enjoyed many big-race wins around the world in the saddle before setting up as a trainer himself. However, he will always remember fondly the early days of his racing life which were shaped by Hills and his wife Penny, becoming champion apprentice under Hills' stewardship in 1991. 'I owe everything to Barry and Penny, they engineered my career and guided me to where I am today,' said Holland. 'He made me champion apprentice and then first jockey and he was a tough man but very fair and a genius of a trainer. It's an end of an era really. 'I was a raw 15-year old from Manchester and he guided me through, I owe him an awful lot. 'It was a steep learning curve at times and I had the pleasure of bumping into him at the Lockinge meeting (Newbury) and introducing my kids to him and he was still as scary then as he was 30 years ago, but he was an amazing fellow and I always had nothing but respect for him. 'He was a father figure and him and Penny were like my second mum and dad and it was a very sad day yesterday when I got told the news from Michael (Hills).' There were also words of sorrow from the world of jumps racing, as Nicky Henderson reminisced about the times he enjoyed with his great Lambourn neighbour. Henderson said: 'We were good friends but he certainly taught me a few things. I was a bit younger and it was a bit of a strange duet really but we would do an awful lot of things together on and off the racecourse. We had some wonderful times. 'He always said whatever he thought and we could have had an argument, but there was no point as he was always going to win it. If he said something you disagreed with, you just went with it as he was always going to prove he was right in the end! 'He made himself but he also made a lot of people who got on the bus with him and we have to be very grateful to have been a part of it.' Speaking to Racing TV's Luck On Sunday, he added: 'It was one of those incredible innings and you get the feeling the last few weeks haven't been easy. 'He'd had a few adversities over the year but kept coming back and back, mainly through Penny, who has just been unbelievable throughout. 'He would always call it 'God's waiting room' and he visited it a few times but kept coming back and these last few weeks he just didn't want to leave the party and that's what he was all about, as he had such a will to live and love it all. 'That family has just been remarkable and Penny has pulled him through so many battles, he would keep coming back for more and what a lot of fun we have had over some fantastic years. 'He was just a man of huge integrity and friendship and the family he brought up, he would just be so proud of them all. I know he will look on it as a fantastic era, as we all do.'
