'Those extraordinary words came from the heart' - friends and colleagues pay tribute to Alastair Down

Alastair Down was described as a "maverick genius" as leading figures and old friends paid tribute to the legendary racing writer and broadcaster.

The jockeys wore black armbands at Ascot, while a minute's silence was held at Wetherby on Saturday for Down, a five-time Racing Writer of the Year, who died on Friday at the age of 68. His words graced the pages of The Sporting Life and Racing Post across four decades, while he was also a key figure with Channel 4 Racing.

"We worked together for Channel 4 during an extraordinary time for jump racing," said ITV Racing's Alice Plunkett. "There were so many great champions like Best Mate and Kauto Star. To work with somebody who could not only write so brilliantly but speak so eloquently was amazing.

"He never met his deadlines, arrived in chaos and there was always drama but when the cameras were rolling and he was focused on the sport he was incomparable. You wondered where those extraordinary words came from but they came from the heart."

On what made Down so adored and admired by devotees of the sport, Plunkett added: "He spoke about racing in terms of how he felt it. He had gravitas but also a vulnerability that people could connect with, whether they were participants or punters.

"I feel very lucky to have called him a dear friend. He was a maverick genius and there was a certain irony that he managed to go to his own wake in a way last week when they renamed the press room at Cheltenham. Goodness knows what he and Mac [John McCririck] are up to now."

Former trainer Jim Old was representing Nigel Twiston-Davies at Wetherby, where he fought back tears as he recalled his old friend.

"At least Alastair went out in a blaze of glory," he said. "He had a hell of a day at Cheltenham last week. He had a couple of syndicates with me back in 1991 or 1992 and he was lovely to train for.

"We had a fire in 1996 and he heard about it and rang me. He said, 'Jim, you will be inundated with fire brigade, police, vets, insurance companies and all the rest. Give me a list and I'll ring every one of your owners. You won't have time so I'll do it for you'. He was a great fellow."

Kim Bailey was among those invited to Cheltenham last week to celebrate the naming of the Alastair Down press room, and the trainer said at Ascot: "I find it difficult that we had a drink with him only last week but it was great racing was able to recognise him in that way.

"I always enjoyed his company and he and I used to meet at the pub in Northleach for a drink – it was always a jolly evening. As a writer and broadcaster, there was nobody better. He was so good and will be sorely missed."

Willie Mullins also paid tribute, saying: "Alastair was a Group 1 writer and a Grade 1 pal. He always kept me entertained, whether I was reading one of his incredible articles or enjoying time in his company."

Remembering Alastair Down:

Alastair Down, legendary Racing Post writer and beloved broadcaster, dies aged 68 

Alastair's love of racing sang from every line - and his ability to tell the story of a race was unmatched 

'He had a gift and an extraordinary one' - AP McCoy, Nicky Henderson and more remember racing hero Alastair Down