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The BBC report that amateur jockey, broadcaster, journalist and founder of the Injured Jockeys Fund John Oaksey died this morning at the age of 83.
Rob
Grew up watching him. Always seemed a lovely man with a great sense of humour. I can still see his cheeky grin.
RIP The Noble Lord!
"this perfect mix of poetry and destruction, this glory of rhythm, power and majesty: the undisputed champion of the world!!!"
Very sad news.
I doubt there have been many who have made a greater contribution to a sport he loved.
Although he was a tad before my time, it’s impossible to be unaware of the extent to which he is revered by the sport. A fact made all too clear after the victory of Carruthers in last year’s Hennessy.
I hope his legacy in the shape of the most worthy IJF lives on way beyond myself.
RIP
Very sad news and condolences to his family and friends.
I didn’t get to see of lot of him race riding, but I remember with fondness his commentating in later years. He was a true gentleman and will be much missed.
RIP.
Only seems a short while ago that he was bungee jumping. I also grew up with him on the television, he always seemed ancient when I was young.
A great man who lived a full life. I wish his autobiography had gone into a lot more detail.
The advent of C4 racing came at the same time as my true interest in the sport took off when I was but a young 15 year old lad.
While the program has its critics nowadays, at the time – thanks to the Noble Lord and co. it was pure television gold to me, especially the Morning Line which regardless of the state of my hangover over the following plethera of Saturdays I never failed to be up in time to watch.
Personal sentiment aside, I’m aware of all the good things he brought to the sport and the world is most definitely a sadder place for his passing.
RIP sir and thank you for the memories.
Lee
Wonderful, generous, brilliant man. Did so much for Racing. Knowing the disease Lord Oaksey suffered from, I don’t find the news of his death "sad", must have been a release to everyone, including family. John Oaksey’s life should be celebrated by everyone with an interest in Racing.
Value Is EverythingNot a shock to read this, but overwhelmed by all sorts of feelings to hear the news. Pleased that I spoke to him once, many years ago at Uttoxeter when we used to have the parade of stallions. Still annoyed with myself for never buying ‘Oaksey on Racing’ although it was one of the first racing books I read, and a beautifully crafted book it is. One of the great cavalier riders, associated with horses the very names of which bring a tear to my eye and send a shiver down my spine. Writer, breeder, rider and all round good guy; they broke the mould after he was born. RIP Lord Oaksey. What a legacy you’ve left us.
Saw a TV piece a few months ago on Oaksey House, the state-of-the-art rehab centre in Lambourn which is daily doing superb work.
Very fitting tribute.
Mike
How sad, although he’d been ill for some time.
My dad had a bite to eat with him at Wincanton 50-odd years ago, said what a likeable chap he was.
John Oaksey was one of the stalwarts of the old ITV 7 coverage days.
He formed something of a presenting double act with Brough Scott and they handed over to each other as hosts of the two meetings being shown.
He and Scott seemed to like jokingly winding each other up, with various jokes about Oaksey’s supposed bad tipping. He often used to use the phrase "I’m going to lumber so-and-so with my selection. Let’s see what the real experts think." This was followed by the caption showing the number of tips for each of the runners in the newspapers.
Oaksey also had a less frequent presenting double act with John Rickman. Both of them wore trilby hats but it was only Rickman who ever doffed his hat. Oaksey’s hat stayed firmly on his bald pate.
Those were the days, before Emma and the Catt’s all-smiling, all-joking love-ins.
Oaksey was also quite bumbling and error-prone in his delivery, not helped by his clipped, upper crust accent and bearing.
McCririck was the one who popularised Oaksey’s nickname of the Noble Lord and Oaksey never seemed as comfortable with the Channel 4 set-up. He was mercilessly ribbed by Simon Holt for pronouncing Master Golfer as Master Goffer, with jokes about playing "goff" instead of "golf".
His appearances became rarer but, as far as I know, he never actually formally left. He just stopped appearing but there was no fanfare farewell for him, as far as I know.
He could be quite brusque, bordering on arrogant, and did not suffer fools gladly but he was a very good writer and, although he was certainly not at home or a natural in front of television cameras or microphones, he made his mark in broadcasting.
His later good works for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund and Oaksey House do him great credit. The last time I saw him, after one of the victories of Carruthers, his appearance showed him to be a pale shadow of his former self but he continued to show great courage in battling his illness.I too grew up watching Lord John Oaksey and thought he was wonderful. Of course, I’ll never forget his brief mid-race analysis in the 1986 Arc :-
"
I’m very happy about the way he’s going though Graham because he’s settled quite beautifully. Admittedly, it’d be nicer if he was a little bit closer to the lead but he’s towards the outside so there’s no need for Pat Eddery to run the risk of any interference as they swing downhill towards the straight. I expect to see Pat move up gradually. He’s tracking Bering. I’m full of hope still
"
And we all know what happened in the great race
RIP Great Lord
That’s ruined my day!
Very sad news indeed. Everything I can remember about racing from my youth is summed up in the Noble Lord’s character.
RIP Lord Oaksey
Sad to hear of this but he leaves a great legacy. My abiding memory of him was an analysis he did back in 1992 of the fatal fall of Mr Brooks in the Breeders Cup Sprint and the associated injury to Lester Piggott. It was a short analysis but his sorrow when referring to the horse’s fall was touching. It was neither saccharine nor semtimentalised – just a simple, brief and human response to the injury and death of a well-liked horse. Funny the things you remember……….
Quiz question: (googling or IMDB not allowed!)
In which film did Lord Oaksey make his only (as far as I know) acting appearance, and what character did he play?
Quiz question: (googling or IMDB not allowed!)
In which film did Lord Oaksey make his only (as far as I know) acting appearance, and what character did he play?
He played a vet in Dead Cert.
I remember Lord Oaksey when he went by the name John Lawrence. Fulke Walwyn described the Noble Lord’s riding style as " a fine example of the Old English Lavatory Seat"
He worked tirelessly for injured jockeys’ fund.
He has also had some negative press, but thankfully for him, not a lot. His first wife, for instance, left him for a well known female artist, but the bold Lord bounced back in his usual fashion and married another, finer woman.
Rest in peace Lord Oaksey.
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