Trainer Woollacott found dead at yard
Police say circumstances are not suspicious Champion jump jockey pays glowing tribute
British jump racing was reeling from the news yesterday that Richard Woollacott, who sent out the biggest winner of his career when Beer Goggles won the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in December, has died, aged 40.
His death comes four days before the seven-year-old is due to run in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in preparation for this year’s Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle at the festival in March.
Champion jockey Richard Johnson, who rode Beer Goggles to the 40-1 success at Newbury, said: “It’s very sad news. I rode a little for him, but have known him for a long time. He worked very hard and always did the job very well. He always had a smile on his face and though he didn’t have many horses he was beginning to get a few good ones. It’s a massive shock to everyone.”
Woollacott was a successful point-to-point rider with more than 100 victories to his name. He was national champion in 2012 and Devon and Cornwall area champion nine times.
He started training pointers in Devon, near South Moulton, in 2005, sending out 130 winners. Having gradually upgraded his training facilities on the 220-acre farm, he switched to training a relatively small team of 15 jumpers under rules in June 2012. His wife Kayley took over the training of a similar number of pointers.
Woollacott enjoyed his best campaign numerically in the 2012-13 season with 16 winners although his most successful haul of prize money came last season when he won almost £100,000.
Although he had only had four winners so far this season, he was on course for his best result in terms of prize money thanks to the 160-rated Beer Goggles. He also had the smart Aintree bumper winner Lalor, now novice hurdling, in the yard.
In a statement issued by the British Horseracing Authority, chairman Nick Rust said: “We are devastated to hear the news about Richard Woollacott. It is simply tragic to lose someone so young and who had so much to offer both the racing world and, more impor- tantly, his young family. We are in contact with Richard’s family and are doing all we can to support them and assist with ongoing arrangements with his yard.”
Woollacott was quoted in yesterday’s Racing Post, who spoke to him on Monday, saying how pleased he was with Beer Goggles.
Devon & Cornwall Police said they were notified at 10.30pm on Monday “to reports of a concern of welfare for a man at a property in Rose Ash, South Moulton. A man in his 40s was discovered deceased at the scene. His death is not believed to be suspicious and a file has been prepared for the coroner”.