'Can anyone remember a situation when every single person's life was affected?'

Even before the bombshell that the BHA was suspending racing until May, a huge sense of worry and concern hung over Lambourn on Tuesday morning – like a thick winter fog that will sadly stick around for much longer than anyone cares for.

Until the BHA's noon announcement, things had been relatively normal in the Valley of the Racehorse.

At around 8am, Charlie Hills's wife Pip spun by after completing the school run, while work continued on Tom Ward's new premises and four of Mark Usher's string made their way to the gallops.