Legendary jockey and iconic trainer Geoff Lewis dies in care home after short illness aged 89

LEGENDARY jockey and iconic trainer Geoff Lewis has died in a care home aged 89.

A household name through his association with the incredible Derby winner Mill Reef, Lewis had suffered a short illness.

AlamyLegendary jockey and iconic trainer Geoff Lewis has died aged 89 following a short illness[/caption]

He was one of the biggest jockeys in the world at his peak and won all the big racesGetty

PALewis will always be remembered for his association with all-time great racehorse Mill Reef[/caption]

He becomes the second big name to sadly pass in recent days, following the death of ‘racing’s Mr Nice Guy‘ Bruce Raymond last weekend.

Both were part of the the fabric of racing in this country and encapsulated a time when British jockeys and horses were on top of the world.

Lewis was born in Wales and moved to London to work in the Waldorf Hotel as a page boy before becoming an apprentice jockey in Epsom.

There he quickly established himself as a natural in the saddle and rocketed up the ranks with multiple Group 1 and Classic victories.

But he will forever be remembered for his victories aboard Mill Reef, who was trained by Ian Balding, dad to current trainer Andrew and TV presenter Clare.

And that Derby-winning year of 1971 was the highlight of a storied career for them both.

Together they dominated the biggest Flat races, claiming the Derby, Eclipse at Sandown, King George at Ascot and the Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in French capital Paris, all during that one magical season.

In fact, Lewis was pretty much unstoppable that year, also winning the Ascot Gold Cup, Oaks and Coronation Cup at Epsom as well as the Lockinge at Newbury and Sun Chariot at Newmarket.

Epsom-based trainer Simon Dow idolised Lewis, who had a second top career as a handler that ended in 1999 with almost 500 winners, and told the Mirror: “Geoff had been ill for a short period of time and been resident in a local care home.

“He passed away yesterday.

“I will remember him as an iconic figure both as a jockey when I was a boy but also as an exceptionally successful Flat trainer.

“It’s unusual for top jockeys to go on to be very successful Flat trainers.

“He did and I remember him having success at the highest level and being a strict disciplinarian.

“He was a legendary figure in Epsom throughout his entire life.

“I am sure he will be fondly remembered and we’d want people to appreciate and celebrate everything that he was, how much fun he was and how successful he was.

“He was a truly remarkable person from a different generation who touched a lot of people.”

Lewis rode his first of almost 2,000 winners as a jockey in 1953 and, in the words of racing journalist Brough Scott, had ‘the best-loved stutter in racing’.

Asked why he celebrated so exuberantly after winning the Derby, Scott said Lewis replied: “Wh-wh-what’s the p-p-p-point of having e-e-emotions – if you never e-e-effing show them?”

He retired as a jockey in 1979 and then came close to winning the Derby as a trainer when Silver Wisp finished third in 1992.