Racing community mourns the loss of trainer Zoe Davison aged 60

Gemma Johnson, daughter of trainer Zoe Davison, with Brown Bullet and jockey James Best after winning the first race at Plumpton on SundayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Earlier Brown Bullet had finished a length and a quarter clear in the 2m novice hurdle, prompting an audible cheer from jockey James Best, before Mr Jack followed up in the 2m handicap hurdle under replacement rider James Davies.

The yard, which began the day on three winners for this season, is being run by Davison's husband Irvine and her daughter Gemma Johnson.

"It's an emotional time," said former jockey Johnson – who rode as Gemma Gracey-Davison – after the second winner. "She loved this track and is going to be sorely missed.

"This means everything as it's a family business. We put everything in and she's the glue that holds it together. We just want to make her proud. I'm a bit overwhelmed we've had a double for mum."

An emotional Best said: "What a lovely family they are. I was in there this morning and I've had an awful lot of rides for them over the past 18 months to two years, but that was actually my first winner for Zoe.

"What a tough lady she's been the past four and a half years and you could probably see what it meant just to get a winner for the whole team. They work so hard and I can't even begin to imagine how tough it's been for Andy, Gemma and the whole family and team around them at home."

He added: "It means a lot and I'd like to thank Zoe for all the support she's given me over the last couple of years. They do a tremendous job with everything they have and we're all thinking of the whole family."

Brown Bullet (James Best) stays on strongly to land Sunday's opening race at PlumptonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ed Arkell, ex-Fontwell clerk of the course and now at Goodwood, said: "Zoe was a huge part of the southern racing circuit. I'm so sorry for her family and she will be very much missed. She was a friendly, happy person who everybody loved.

"As a trainer, she ran a wonderful family operation. There are less of those these days. She supported her local tracks and became a big part of them."

Davison, born on June 23, 1960, competed as an amateur rider, and sent out the first of more than 100 winners when Sails Legend triumphed at Towcester under Tony McCoy in November 1997.

The daughter of former trainer Albert Davison, the dual-purpose operator enjoyed her most successful season in 2017-18, when she trained 15 winners over jumps from 60 runners.

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Among her best horses was Ruacana, who won a Grade 1 when previously trained by John Ferguson. In recent years she has also trained stalwarts such as Frank N Fair, Sherjawy, Just Beware and ten-time winner Finnegan's Garden, while the trainer herself has listed Shirley Oaks, Dark Romance, Summer Flower and Spider Boy as others among her best horses down the years.

Davison had more than 60 runners over jumps this season, recording five winners, including Gustav, who sprung a 40-1 surprise at Leicester in November while his trainer was in hospital.

She had plenty of memorable days and followers at tracks local to her East Grinstead base, training 28 winners at Plumpton, 11 at Fontwell and nine at Lingfield, the three courses where she enjoyed most success.

Read more:

'What Zoe didn't know about horses wasn't worth knowing' – Simon Clare's tribute

'A fabulous trainer' – racing remembers Zoe Davison on social media

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