Racing honours genius Sir Henry Cecil whose ‘closest friends were his horses’

Lady Jane Cecil (centre left) arrives at Ely Cathedral for the memorial service of her late husband Horse Trainer Sir Henry Cecil.

The sister of Wetherby trainer Richard Guest, Lady Jane was joined at Ely Cathedral by racing luminaries – and 50 staff from Cecil’s Warren Place stables – to celebrate the life of a 70-year-old who was at his happiest when saddling big race winners at his beloved York.

As well as reflections about his handling of the mighty Frankel while battling cancer, there was a moving tribute from York’s chairman Teddy Grimthorpe.

“To know Henry, you’d have to understand his closest friends were his horses,” said Lord Grimthorpe. “His maxim was ‘to feel our way, and let the horses tell us’. Perhaps Henry’s greatest friend was Frankel, with apologies to all the others. Like all great friendships, neither would be the same without the other.”

Cecil’s son Jake acknowledged his father’s rapport with racegoers. He said: “Everyone was treated with the utmost respect by dad. He would find the time to share his personality with whoever crossed his path. They stood by him when he was knocked down, and applauded him when he stood back up. They knew he was the embodiment of honesty.”