John Oaksey, the former jockey, journalist, broadcaster and founder of the Injured Jockeys Fund, has died, aged 83.
Oaksey passed away this morning at his family home in Wiltshire following a lengthy period of ill health.
Lisa Hancock, chief executive of the IJF, said: "Lord Oaksey passed away at home this morning with his family."
Born John Lawrence on 21 March, 1929, he was the son of Geoffrey Lawrence, the 1st Baron Oaksey, who officiated at the Nuremberg trials after the Second World War.
Educated at Eton and Yale, Oaksey was an enthusiastic amateur rider and enjoyed considerable success, winning the 1958 Hennessy Gold Cup on Taxidermist and finishing second in the Grand National on Carrickbeg in 1963.
The residential home of Oaksey House in Lambourn was built in his honour for the recuperation of injured jockeys and a statue of him adorns the grounds.
He was a renowned writer for The Daily Telegraph and was a member of ITV Seven from 1969 and, later, Channel 4's racing team. He retired from broadcasting in 1999.
Even in his retirement, Oaksey continued to make an impact in the shape of the steeplechaser Carruthers, whom he bred and named after a story he used to tell in his role as an after-dinner speaker.
Trained by his son-in-law, Mark Bradstock, Carruthers claimed the 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, bridging a gap of 53 years after he won it as a rider.
Trainer David Pipe was among the first to tweet his tribute to Oaksey.
He said: "So sorry to hear of the passing of Lord Oaksey who did so much for our sport.
"Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time."
Jockey Tom Malone said: "Very sad new about Lord Oaksey but he did some amazing things that will help people for ever more. Thank u.
Former weighing room colleague and now assistant trainer Carl Llewellyn said: "Sorry to hear Lord Oaksey has passed away.
"He was a true gentleman and did a amazing job for the injured jockeys fund. RIP."
