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What awfully sad news, as with many people I grew up with John Oaksey doffing his hat while presenting the ITV7. He used to be a very good presenter, much better than some of the current people doing that job, but as has been said don’t think he was good when racing moved to Channel 4.
I hope this Saturday’s snoring line, sorry Morning Line, gives over most of the show as a tribute to John Oaksey and his work in setting up Oaksey House and all the brilliant work they do there, but it will likely be little more than 5 minutes.
Reminds me of one day at Cheltenham about 10 years ago, I was nipping through the crowds one day and almost walked head on into this bald headed figure thrusting through the crowds with great purpose in the opposite direction.
A split second later, having done a double take I realised that I’d nearly collided with the Nobel Lord himself!
A huge loss for racing, but an enormous legacy left behind.
Interesting that a number on here refer to John Oaksey as "The Noble Lord", a term that Brough Scott said today he considered very patronising when used towards him later in his career.
As CrustyPatch states I think it’s something else we can thank John McCririck for.
Sad news indeed. Gave much to racing and his work with the IJF and that organisations continued work could not be bettered as a fitting legacy to a racing life lived fully. RIP
I recall my Father writing to Channel 4 Racing in the early 90’s and expecting the stock reply from the back room staff. Instead he received a hand written letter, on House Of Lords stationery, from John Oaksey. It made my dad’s day and is a great memory for me of my late Father.
I remember Big Mac going on and on about Guy Harwood’s runner Allez Milord in the build up to the 1986 Derby, cross-referencing him with the Noble Lord at every opportunity.
Another memory of Lord Oaksey was the slip up, using an old saying that had become pretty much taboo in the PC days of modern TV, when he referred to one runner as the potential "Nigger in the Woodpile"
Finally I recall John Francome highlighting his colleague’s lack of computer literacy with the comment:-
"Lord Oaksey thought Windows 98 was a double glazing exhibition"
RIP
Thanks for the good crack. Time for me to move on. Be lucky.
Sad to read this news. When I was in my teens he used to ride under the name of John Lawrence (if memory serves me) but that was probably in his pre-Lord days. I remember him just getting pipped on the post in the Grand National on Carrickbeg. He also used to write a column in the Horse and Hound under the name Audax.
RIP Sir.Sad farewell to a Racing Legend
RIP
Lord Oaksey..A real gentleman with a twinkle in his eye and a ready smile. Founder and President of the Injured Jockeys Fund, writer, broadcaster, a man for all seasons whose presence will be sadly missed in the world of racing.Things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out...Impossible not to have liked the man, a true gentleman and scholar.
R.I.P. Noble Lord
He always came across as a thourghly decent human being and extremely passionate about racing it was brilliant to watch carruthers win the hennessy for him last year and the response the win got went to show the regard the man was held in
RIPI 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
I’ll second those sentiments!
Without doubt a man who will be sdaly missed. My interest in racing started in the early eighties when he was a fixture on our screens.
For those who don’t get the Racing Post here is Alistair Downs tribute to him.Says all that I would like to but couldn’t.
I also grew up watching Lord Oaksey.
The world is better for his being here, and now a poorer place without him.
R.I.P, Sir.
Looks like Cheltenham are considering naming a race after John Oaksey. Edward Gillespie is going to discuss the matter with Oaksey’s wife, Chicky, and other members of the family in due course.
There is also a chance that Sandown and Newbury will also have a memorial race to him. They were also among his favourite courses.
He regularly used to say on television that Sandown was his favourite course and I seem to remember that Whitbread day was his favourite day’s racing.I hope they do all they can to name a race at the Festival. In terms of NH racing the likes of Sandown and Newbury are not what they used to be.
I hope this Saturday’s snoring line, sorry Morning Line, gives over most of the show as a tribute to John Oaksey and his work in setting up Oaksey House and all the brilliant work they do there, but it will likely be little more than 5 minutes.
It wasn’t even three minutes on the Snoring Line, Phil, as far as I could tell. Just a few platitudes from Lesley Graham and a half-hearted reference to Alastair Down’s tribute in the Racing Post. Why they thought his bungee jump at Uttoxeter was the most important thing he ever did and virtually the only thing worth showing about him, I do not know.
Even on the afternoon programme, the so-called tribute was lacklustre, half-hearted, shallow and flimsy. Mind you, in fairness, I don’t suppose they wanted to distract attention from the important stuff such as the market movers, what was being backed on the exchanges, the updated list of non-runners, upcoming highlights on Channel 4 and the positives and negatives in the ring.
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