Racing mourns death of Lord Oaksey at 83

Oaksey, who also worked as a journalist and broadcaster, and founded the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF), died this morning at his family home in Wiltshire following a lengthy period of ill health.

He was perhaps best known for founding the IJF in 1964 after the career-ending falls of Tim Brookshaw and Paddy Farrell in the Grand National that year.

That fund eventually became the IJF and the charity has helped more than 1,000 riders since those early days.

During his riding career Oaksey won the 1958 Hennessy Gold Cup on Taxidermist and came second in the Grand National on Carrickbeg in 1963.

He went on to write for a national newspaper and was a member of ITV Seven from 1969 and, later, Channel 4’s racing team, before retiring in 1999.

Trainer David Pipe tweeted: “So sorry to hear of the passing of Lord Oaksey who did so much for our sport.”

National Hunt champion jockey Tony McCoy added: “Very sad to hear that Lord John Oaksey former jockey and founder of the Injured Jockeys Fund has died. A truly great
gentleman. RIP.”

Paul Struthers, chief executive of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “Lord Oaksey made such an enormous and varied contribution across so many spheres in our sport.”