Latest news with #WarrenGreatrex
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Aspiring jockey found dead at racing yard in third tragedy there in four years
Warren Greatrex's stables saw a third death in four years over the weekend as an aspiring young jockey and trainer Billy Moffatt was found dead in his accommodation in Berkshire An aspiring jockey has died at a leading racing yard — in the third tragedy at the stables in the last four years. Stable lad Billy Moffatt was found in his accommodation at the Warren Greatrex stables on Saturday. The alarm was raised when Billy, said to be in his early 20s, did not show up for work. The North East native worked for Greatrex training horses for around a year. It is the third death in recent years connected to the stable after staff members Michael Pitt, 19, was found dead at a petrol station after taking his life in July 2021, and David Thompson, 25, was reported missing before his body was tragically discovered in February 2022. Trainer Warren said Billy's passing was 'hugely upsetting' and said: 'He was a great member of the team with a great sense of humour.' Jockey Jack Wilmot said: "Billy, words can't describe the way I'm feeling. I'm absolutely heartbroken, I'll love you forever mate and will always carry you with me whatever I do. "Please, please, if you're struggling with something, please talk to someone. Love you mate. Gone far too soon." SJD racing said: "So sad to hear of the passing of Billy Moffatt. Gone far too soon We had the pleasure of helping him in his career as he wanted to learn to jump. Our thoughts are with his family. Please check in on your friends." More than £10,000 has been raised in a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of seeing Billy return to the North East from Berkshire and the funeral. James Moffat said: "I've been asked to set up a go fund me to help get our boy and all his belongings back home to the North East and help towards his funeral. "It's not something we would even think of doing as a family but his mam has asked rather than flowers, a small donation no matter how much would be greatly appreciated towards helping cover all the costs to get him home and buried, the target is just a number set, anything at all will help, thanks for reading." Speaking in 2022, Greatrex reflected on the passing of Thompson, a keen Chelsea FC supporter, following Pitt. "He didn't ride out but he loved his horses," he said. "We heard on Saturday morning that he had died and it was really hard to take, especially in the circumstances that we lost Michael Pitt last summer who was another person that was the life and soul of the yard and was a great part of the team. "With neither lad you would ever imagine this would happen. There was no real signs. David's childhood had been a bit broken and he hit low at times but in the yard you would never see any signs of that. 'We are a big family here and to lose a member of the team is not easy to take. Everyone does get on well here from the top down but it has been very tough but we will get through it."
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Jump jockey, 21, found dead at leading racing yard - in the third tragedy at the stable in four years
A young jockey has died at the yard of a leading jump racing trainer in the third tragedy at the set-up in four years, according to reports. Billy Moffat, 21, was working at Warren Greatrex Racing as a racing groom when he was found dead at his accommodation at the yard on Saturday. As per the Sun, Moffat had been out on Friday night, with a source sharing that he had seemed 'absolutely fine' before he passed. Moffat is thought to have worked with trainer Greatex for around three years, and he described the loss as 'hugely upsetting'. 'He was a great member of the team with a great sense of humour,' Greatrex added in a short statement. Fellow jockey Jack Wilmot shared his own tribute as per the outlet, writing: 'Billy, words can't describe the way I'm feeling. 'I'm absolutely heartbroken, I'll love you forever mate and will always carry you with me whatever I do. 'Please, please, if you're struggling with something, please talk to someone. Love you mate. Gone far too soon.' The yard was previously rocked by the death of Michael Pitt, 19, in 2021, and less than one year later, the passing of David Thompson, 25, who were both found dead near the yard's base in Hungerford, Berkshire. In late 2022, Greatrex reflected on the two tragedies, saying that Thompson's death in particular had been 'as hard as anything I've been through in (his) life.' 'Michael was just as we'd moved to Rhonehurst. That was horrible,' Greatrex told the Racing Post. 'He was such a character and to lose him – at a similar age to my boys – knocked everyone. It wasn't easy. 'Michael was a happy lad and it hit us, but David's death hit me so hard. 'I remember the policeman coming round and saying it was him and having to go out to the same members of staff and tell them in the same spot a member of their team had gone, and seeing them hit the floor again. It's as hard as anything I've been through in my life. 'To see the staff stick together made me proud. They work for me, but I count them as family. 'You feel responsible for them and when two of them are gone, there are definitely questions. "What have I done?" you ask, but David wrote a letter saying the happiest days of his life were here.' In the wake of the tragedy, Moffat's family have set up a GoFundMe to cover his funeral costs, which at the time of writing, has reached £10,500 of its intended £13,000 target.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- The Sun
Young jump jockey found dead at leading racing yard – in third tragedy there in four years
A JUMP jockey has died at a leading racing yard — the third tragedy there in four years. Billy Moffatt, who was in his early 20s, was found in his accommodation on Saturday. 3 3 A source said he was out the night before and 'seemed absolutely fine'. The alarm was raised after he did not show up for work at the Warren Greatrex stables in Lambourn, Berkshire. Trainer Warren said it was 'hugely upsetting' adding of Billy, originally from the North East: 'He was a great member of the team with a great sense of humour.' Fellow jockey Jack Wilmot wrote: "Billy, words can't describe the way I'm feeling. I'm absolutely heartbroken, I'll love you forever mate and will always carry you with me whatever I do. "Please, please, if you're struggling with something, please talk to someone. "Love you mate. Gone far too soon." It is understood Billy worked for Greatrex for around three years training the horses. It is the third recent death there after Michael Pitt, 19, in July 2021, and David Thompson, 25, in February 2022. A GoFundMe account has been set up for Billy by family member James Moffatt. 3 You're Not Alone EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers. It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes. And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women. Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now. That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign. The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives. Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You're Not Alone. If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support: CALM, 0800 585 858 Heads Together, HUMEN Mind, 0300 123 3393 Papyrus, 0800 068 41 41 Samaritans, 116 123
Scottish Sun
13-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Young jump jockey found dead at leading racing yard – in third tragedy there in four years
A source said he was out the night before and 'seemed absolutely fine' 'GONE TOO SOON' 'GONE TOO SOON' Young jump jockey found dead at leading racing yard – in third tragedy there in four years Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A JUMP jockey has died at a leading racing yard — the third tragedy there in four years. Billy Moffatt, who was in his early 20s, was found in his accommodation on Saturday. 3 Tragically, Billy Moffatt, who was in his early 20s, was found dead in his accommodation on Saturday Credit: Facebook 3 The alarm was raised after Billy did not show up for work at the stables run by Warren Greatrex, above, in Lambourn, Berkshire. Credit: PA A source said he was out the night before and 'seemed absolutely fine'. The alarm was raised after he did not show up for work at the Warren Greatrex stables in Lambourn, Berkshire. Trainer Warren said it was 'hugely upsetting' adding of Billy, originally from the North East: 'He was a great member of the team with a great sense of humour.' Fellow jockey Jack Wilmot wrote: "Billy, words can't describe the way I'm feeling. I'm absolutely heartbroken, I'll love you forever mate and will always carry you with me whatever I do. "Please, please, if you're struggling with something, please talk to someone. "Love you mate. Gone far too soon." It is understood Billy worked for Greatrex for around three years training the horses. It is the third recent death there after Michael Pitt, 19, in July 2021, and David Thompson, 25, in February 2022. A GoFundMe account has been set up for Billy by family member James Moffatt. 3 Tragically, Billy Moffatt, who was in his early 20s, was found dead in his accommodation on Saturday Credit: Facebook
