'She was an incredible woman' - Elaine Carson dies at the age of 65

Elaine Carson, wife of five-time champion jockey Willie Carson, has died of cancer. She was 65.

Along with her husband, Carson was an integral cog in the couple's Minster Stud operation in Gloucestershire, and she owned 2013 Fillies Mile and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Chriselliam, in partnership with Emily Asprey and music industry executive Chris Wright.

She bred the 1988 St Leger winner Minster Son, who was ridden to victory by her husband, 2010 Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali and 2015 Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs.

Paying tribute, Yorkshire trainer James Bethell, a close family friend of the Carsons, said: "We were very close, we used to holiday together and Willie's been a friend of mine for 40-odd years. We've known her ever since they met and she was an incredible woman.

"She was an integral part of the stud operation, she had a heck of a lot to do with that and they built it up between them. She was a shareholder in Chriselliam with Willie, so they've had a lot of success.

"Fortunately, we managed to visit her before she passed, but she bore her illness very well and I'm at a loss for words really to sum her up other than to say she was a fantastic person."