From Racing Post: Racing legend John Oaksey dies aged 83 By Lee Mottershead 10:17AM 5 SEP 2012 JOHN OASKEY, one of racing's most revered figures, died peacefully at home on Wednesday morning following a long illness. Lord Oaksey, who was 83, earned a special place in the hearts of racing fans during a life in which he triumphed as a jockey, journalist, author, broadcaster and tireless charity worker. Oaksey's greatest legacy is the Injured Jockeys Fund, which he helped to create following injuries incurred by Paddy Farrell in the 1964 Grand National. As a rider himself, Oaksey - then known as John Lawrence - enjoyed many notable successes, particularly in 1958, during which he won the Imperial Cup on Flaming East, the Whitbread Gold Cup on Taxidermist and the inaugural Hennessy Gold Cup, then run at Cheltenham, on the same horse. Oaksey also suffered an agonising defeat on Carrickbeg in the 1963 Grand National. He told the story of that defeat in his own words as a journalist, an art in which he excelled with his account of Fred Winter's Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris triumph on Mandarin becoming as iconic as the victory itself. Through his work for ITV and Channel 4, Oaksey endeared himself to television viewers, while his popularity and good deeds were recognised in 1985 when he was awarded an OBE. The IJF further honoured him by naming its Lambourn housing project Oaksey House. More recently, Oaksey - who continued to be a regular presence on racecourses selling IJF Christmas cards alongside wife Chicky - had been cheered by the exploits of his homebred chaser Carruthers, who recorded an emotional win in last year's Hennessy Gold Cup.
That is so very sad. I was reading a piece on him only last week and grew up watching him present ITV/C4 racing coverage. His enthusiasm was infectious and certainly help propagate my interest in the sport,as it did to many others no doubt. Thats a legacy he would be proud of.
Very, very sad to hear of the passing of this wonderful man who has done so much for racing. Fully agree with Dex about his enthusiasm, I remember he used to be co-commentator with Graham Goode on C4 and can vividly recall him exclaining "Look at that leap" when Dessie pinged one in his first King George. RIP Lord Oaksey.
That is so sad. Apart from being the founder, he will always be the voice of the Injured Jockeys Fund. A great man. R.I.P. Lord Oaksey
Brough Scott has tweeted: "Sad, bad, but 'blessed release' news on John. He was my and our greatest friend, a high achiever who thought of others. May he inspire."
Really sad to hear this and it's a huge loss to the sport. Growing up he was always one of my favourite broadcasters, on Channel 4, and I used to love his 'double act' with John Francome. Also was a first class journalist and author. Although his lasting legacy will almost certainly be the charity work that he tirelessly performed. He hailed from 'my neck of the woods' and his loss will most certainly be felt in this area.
Agree with all the above. A true gentleman and a man who put much more back in than he ever took out. I grew up on the ITV seven and Oakley and Scott and helped hook me to our beloved sport. A sad day indeed.
RIP, great guy for racing he was. I seem to remember that he was a huge fan of Mill Reef and my all time fav Dancing Brave. In the 86 Arc I am sure half way through the race he commented as he cut into the commentary something along the lines of being happy he (DB) is out the back and looking relaxed as he obviously wanted Eddery to win the race on him.
Despite it being on the cards I was genuinely upset to hear about this. During the 90s Channel 4 racing ded a section called 'hoarse box' on the show and a friend was chosen to appear, as a result we had a great day at Newmarket with press passes and were treated to breakfast at the C4 hotel where Lord Oaksey spent the best part of 2 hours talking racing and much more with us, such a genuine man with a real interest in other peoples views. Great man and will be a great loss but I echo Brough Scotts sentiments that his passing is probably a blessed release. His memory lives on in the shape of the IJF. RIP
Another part of my childhood gone - what a wonderful man he was. At the risk of lowering the tone a little, does anyone remeber his commentating on a presentation when he just started talking as though he waws with his amtes in the pub and started saying "here's Lord such and such with his very beautiful wife - and there's Lord whatsisname with his er wife who, er, isn't umm, ahh, actually beautiful at all" or something along those lines. It was class!
Very sad. His name will live on in Lambourn through Oaksey House, which is a wonderful facility. His autobiography (Mince Pie. etc) is a great read and really highlights his extraordinary modesty. He was of course an excellent jockey and it made he chuckle when he wrote about his knack of 'wrestling horses to the ground'.
Here you go Dan - pity about the canned laughter [video=youtube;-178iVld-Jk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-178iVld-Jk[/video]
Several pages of tributes in today's Racing Post, I suspect they had been pre-warned and had prepared things in advance of the news. If you can, buy a copy.
